What is your life purpose? How you can achieve healing from anxiety
Mia Dinoto, a Christian young adult YouTuber, courageously shared her testimony about overcoming anorexia and anxiety through the saving grace of Jesus. Mia revealed that, during her darkest moments, her life purpose revolved around pleasing herself. She lived for her desires and aspirations, oblivious to the more remarkable healing awaited her.
As you read about Mia's journey, reflect on your own life. If you find yourself facing similar struggles, consider this:
What is your current focus? Are you, like Mia once was, primarily living for yourself? In times of suffering, understanding where your priorities lie is crucial. It could be the key to unlocking the healing and freedom you desperately need.
Are you focusing on yourself and pleasing others?
If your focus remains on yourself and pleasing others, the healing you seek might seem elusive, leaving you questioning if this is how your life will be forever. Mia’s story reflects a similar struggle.
Despite growing up in a Christian family, she lacked a meaningful relationship with God. Attempts at prayer were sporadic, and by the age of 8, she faced the challenges of OCD and anxiety, leading to debilitating panic attacks and social withdrawal. Despite therapy and medications, her condition worsened, culminating in an all-consuming battle with anorexia.
Like Mia, you too may be experiencing a comparable situation. Are you grappling with overwhelming anxiety, feeling isolated, and pushing away those who care about you? The possibility of questioning your purpose and priorities might be causing distress. If you find that your life is becoming consumed by self-imposed standards and the opinions of others, it is time to introspect and consider whether a shift in focus toward pleasing God could lead you to the healing and freedom you crave.
The turning point
You might be trying various improvement methods, exploring healing programs, and even turning to new-world practices like chakra cleansing, healing, and manifestations. And who can blame you?
All you want is to feel better. It is not as if you are the only one attempting these treatments—Mia, too, delved into such practices. She testified about her journey, explaining how she initially embraced these methods after listening to a podcast and conducting her research.
However, a turning point in Mia's story may resonate with you. Fortunately, she stumbled upon a video that shed light on why, as a Christian, there might be better paths than engaging in such practices. This revelation struck a chord with her, even though she was deeply involved in these new-world approaches.
Identifying as a Christian, Mia realized the conflict between these practices and her faith. She did not want to do anything that might anger God. This realization marked a crucial moment for her, making her understand that her attempts to control her destiny through these practices were pulling her away from God, not leading her toward the healing she sought.
Are you focusing on pleasing God?
As you shift your focus to pleasing God, your view of the world will change. The only thing that truly matters is what God thinks of you. His love for us stems from our being His children, created in His image. Recognizing this, we find reason to love ourselves.
Reflecting on key verses can reinforce this perspective shift:
Proverbs 3:5-6 emphasizes trusting in the Lord with all your heart and leaning not on your understanding. Acknowledge God in all your ways, and He will direct your paths.
Matthew 6:25-34 encourages focusing on God's provision rather than worrying about material concerns. Seek His kingdom and righteousness first, and all these things will be added unto you.
Romans 12:2 calls for a transformation by renewing your mind, aligning it with God's will, and proving what is good, acceptable, and perfect.
John 7:7 highlights the tension between the world's values and God's truth. The world may not understand you because it does not know God.
John 15:18-19 reminds you that if the world hates you, remember it hated Jesus first. You are not of the world; you belong to God.
That said, you should not live to please other people because it does not matter. And even if you are far from Him, it is not too late to turn back.
God wants you to turn to Him at every point of your life because challenges are just tests that prepare us for eternity. Remember, Jesus did not come for the righteous; He reached for the sinners, and we are all sinners.
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Need approval? Only seek it from God
