“Anticipatory stress” is a term that psychologists use to describe a feeling of deep anxiety today about things that could happen to us tomorrow. Causes of anticipatory stress are legion. They range from political turmoil to shortages and pandemic. Looking into God’s word, we find a number of things about anticipatory stress. Firstly, it is predicted. It is one of the signs that will characterise the end time. “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.“ (Luke‬ 21‬:25‬-26‬ NKJV‬‬). Rather than get caught up in the web of paralysing anxiety, believers should wax ever more confident in their God that what He said is coming to pass before our eyes.

Rather than get caught up in the web of paralysing anxiety, believers should wax ever more confident in their God that what He said is coming to pass before our eyes.

Secondly, we should take solace in the promises of God to handle this season. Two critical areas where we are often tempted to be anxious are provision and protection. On the former, Jesus taught that if the Heavenly Father could feed the birds and clothe the lilies, He is more than sufficient to provide for all our needs. On the latter, He taught that as seemingly valueless as the sparrows are, not one will fall down without the Father’s permission. We are of a greater value than many sparrows. To show how much we are cared for, He added that the hairs on our heads are numbered. God cares for the minutest details of our lives.