Week Five | Fighting Words
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Week Five | It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way Online Bible Study
Reading Assignment – Chapters 9 & 10 | Pages 150-205
Anxiety is something I have struggled with my entire life. At the age of three, I told my parents that Santa had to leave all my presents on the porch. Why? Because I didn’t like the idea of a strange man coming into my house while I was sleeping, even if he was leaving me presents. I was three y’all, what child thinks like that?
Unfortunately, I wasn’t officially diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder until 2016. Honestly, until my diagnosis, I didn’t realize how I was feeling wasn’t typical. I assumed everyone felt the same sense of fear and worry at all times, but I was convinced they were just better at hiding it. So, in the years before my diagnosis, I developed a lot of unhealthy coping strategies, especially when I headed to college.
When I started college, my anxiety was all-consuming. I woke up with a knot in my stomach and struggled to fall asleep at night. Worry and fear took over my life. So, to ease the pain, I turned to alcohol. This form of self-medicating lasted for years and only intensified once my grandpa died. I was seeking freedom in sin, but friends, we can search all we want but we will never find the freedom we long for in sin.
As a Younglife leader, we ask our high school friends all the time, “What are your high places? When life gets hard, you’re stressed, disappointed, or in pain, where do you run to?”
Friends, whatever you answer to this unless your answer is Jesus, is only providing you with a false sense of security.
“God is the author of the Truth that empowers us. Satan is the author of the deception that imprisons us. And once he’s isolated us, his plan is to destroy us.”
Lysa TerKeurst | It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way (Pg. 158)
2 Peter 2:17-19 illustrates what we can become if we allow the enemy to succeed in his plan.
“These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”
People are slaves to whatever has mastered them. Friends, let that verse sink in. What are we allowing to master our lives? What are we slaves to? I can speak from experience that for years alcohol and relationships were the masters of my life.
It wasn’t until I realized that no matter how much alcohol I consumed, I still felt empty inside. That no matter how full of life I was at a party, I still felt like ultimately, my life had no meaning. The emptiness I was aching to fill, and the purpose I was desperately searching for could only come from Jesus.
“What we are truly desiring is more of God; His best is the only source of true satisfaction. He is the only answer to our every desire. He holds all the answers to all our disappointments and will direct our desires in His way, in His will, and in His timing. He’s got a good plan for good things.”
Lysa TerKeurst | It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way (Pg. 161)
Ephesians 2:1-5 tells us that while we were dead in our transgressions, by grace we have been saved. The enemy may be vicious, but that doesn’t mean he gets to be victorious!
COMMUNITY CHAT
Let’s chat! We’d love to hear from you once you’ve had some time to read through this week’s reading assignments. Come back to this space & share your thoughts in the comments below about:
Identify – In this week’s reading we’re considering what it means to keep our eyes focused the only thing that satisfies, Jesus.
What are your high places? When life gets hard, you’re stressed, disappointed, or in pain, where do you run to?
In the Word – This week’s Scripture focus comes from John 10:10 (NIV). Download our weekly Scripture card. Print it and hang it in a place where you’ll come across it often this week, to aid in memorization.
Share with us in the comments; we’d love to hear from you!
Paige is a third grade teacher and YoungLife leader from Buckhannon, WV. She has a passion for reading, writing, photography, and sharing the love of Jesus with others, specifically high school students. She is the proud dog mom of one rescue pup named Millie, who keeps life interesting, to say the least. She loves to travel and go on “adventures” even if that’s just a late-night drive with friends. She is very excited to be a part of the Intentional Filling team for the current book study.
Paige’s favorite Scripture comes from Matthew 25:35-40.
I can completely relate, I had a lot of hurt still to work through. While in word I had said I had forgiven my parents, I hadn’t yet in deed or heart. I jumped from relationship, some extremely casual, to relationship looking to fill the hurt. But it wasn’t until I started thinking about what Christ would have me to model for my children that I was able to start that journey of healing and true forgiveness. It was a long, hard road but with Jesus at the forefront I was able to put foot in front of foot little by little and eventually found that I no longer had a gaping hole in my heart. Jesus was filling places I didn’t even know needed it.
I’m still amazed at the journey. I’m surprised I didn’t turn down a different path, and that’s all by God’s grace.
Jesus is still filling holes. I remind myself so the time that everyone is going to disappoint me at some time, and that’s ok, they’re human. I now know I can fully trust Jesus, he has never disappointed.