A Call to Partnership with the Prophets
Join us as we partner with the prophets the Holy Spirit is raising in this season.
Let’s dedicate time to fellowship with the Holy Spirit, share the word of the Lord, and faithfully pursue the work He has called us to do.
Anxiety, Trauma, and the God Who Comes Near
SARI RUSSO – Thurs July 16, 2026
My anxiety tells me, “You cannot make a mistake!”
Every decision becomes a battle in my mind. Especially if my choice may disappoint or inconvenience someone else. The mental response does not change if the inconvenience is only minor. I begin imagining how angry they must be, how badly they must now think of me, or how much they must hate me because I could not meet their expectations.
That voice inside of me does not come from God. We want to draw close to Him when we are hurting and He would never condemn someone who comes to Him in times of need or at any other time for that matter.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
God corrects us, guides us and helps us grow. He would never terrorise us with shame. He does not demand perfection before we are allowed to feel safe in His presence. Anyone who tells you anything different does not truly know His heart.
They may have read the bible, but the Spirit of God did not help them, they just read with legalism.
Trauma leaves a person frightened, overwhelmed or paralysed in the land of indecision. Trauma affects the way a person thinks, responds and trusts. What may look like weakness, avoidance or indecision from the outside may be a person’s nervous system trying to protect them from being hurt again. They can’t help it and they need a people to show understanding no add extra judgment to their situation.
Jesus does not respond to wounded people with cruelty.
“A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.”
Isaiah 42:3
Jesus does not crush people who are already bruised. He does not extinguish the small amount of hope they have left. He meets people in their pain and gently leads them toward healing.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Jesus doesn’t want you to fix yourself before you come to Him.
He did not say, “Work harder, serve more, attend more meetings and prove that you deserve help.”
He said, “Come to Me.”
The belief that “God only helps those who help themselves” is not Scripture. The gospel teaches almost the opposite. God came to us because we could not rescue ourselves.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
We do not come to God because we have something impressive to offer Him. We come because He is merciful, loving and able to help us.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16
God is not standing at a distance waiting for us to become stronger. He invites us to approach Him while we are still struggling.
Jesus is not an impatient master who is constantly disappointed by our limitations. He is a faithful friend.
“No longer do I call you servants … but I have called you friends.” John 15:15
He is like a loving father who knows how to sit with His children, laugh with them, listen to them and be present without demanding that they perform for His affection.
“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:13–14
God understands our humanity. He understands our history. He understands the wounds that other people may not see.
Healing does not always begin by doing more.
Sometimes healing begins by stopping.
Stopping the desperate attempt to earn love.
Stopping the belief that one mistake will make everyone abandon us.
Stopping the pressure to serve more, attend church more, volunteer more or constantly prove our faith through activity.
There is value in worship, community and service, but these things are not payments we make to convince God to care about us.
We are saved by grace.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works.” Ephesians 2:8–9
Our service should grow from knowing that we are loved not from fear that we will lose God’s love if we slow down.
Jesus told Martha:
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.” Luke 10:41–42
Martha was doing good things, but she had become anxious and burdened by them. Mary simply sat at Jesus’ feet.
Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is sit with Christ and allow ourselves to be loved.
God is perfect, but His perfection does not make Him distant or unforgiving. His perfection means His love is not unstable like human love. He does not withdraw affection because we disappointed Him. He does not abandon us because trauma makes progress slow.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
You do not need to heal before you come to Jesus.
You do not need to become useful before you are worthy of care.
You do not need to perform your way into His presence.
Come anxious.
Come exhausted.
Come confused.
Come afraid.
Come exactly as you are.
The God who created you is not frightened by your trauma. He is not impatient with your healing. He will walk with you gently, faithfully and without condemnation.
“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7