Anxiety + Resiliency = “Anxiliency”

“You help someone by telling them your story,” says my blogger friend Mitch Teemley. Okay, that’s not a direct quote, but it sums up his purpose in story telling–I think. Since I linked back to his site, maybe he’ll chime in.🤞

My story goes like this: at times I’ve been like a leafless tree, watching the sea’s ebb and flow. This line won’t make it into a greeting card, but I suspect many of you can relate.

I’m just a regular guy who was tempted to lose all hope but did not. It was God who made the difference.

Regular David (me)

Yes. At critical life moments, when anxiety threatened to flood me out, the creator of the universe gifted me with resiliency. I call the combination of these seemingly incompatible words, “anxiliency.” Doubtless, I’m not the first person to coin this term. But feel free to make me famous by telling your beating-the-odds story using the hashtag #anxiliency.😇

Seriously, the Apostle Paul spoke of this concept when he wrote to the church at Corinth: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8,9 (KJV)

Kind reader, Paul is talking about rejoicing in hope of the glory of God! And he told another church–in Rome–how to do this. Please see my home made illustration below:

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope

Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)

Kind reader, have you been through God’s Hero Spin Cycle? Perhaps, like me, you came out a better (more godly) person afterwards. Please share your story in the comments, or write a post about it and send me the link. Because story’s matter. There I go indirectly quoting from mitchteemley.com again.😊

Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.


Photo by Soginoto . on Pexels.com


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66 responses to “Anxiety + Resiliency = “Anxiliency””

  1. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Been there, done that, and bought the Tee Shirt! You’re welcome, BG. Thanks for stopping by. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  2. BG Avatar

    Thanks Dave! I think there’s a great chance that a lot of us can say, “Been there! Done that!”

    Liked by 1 person

  3. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Beth. The spin cycle fits my tendency towards impatience. In reality, the process often takes longer than a wash cycle. 😀 Thanks for stopping by. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Beth Alisan Avatar

    I completely relate to regular David’s line. I really like the visual of God’s Hero spin cycle. It drives home Paul’s point in Romans 5.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thanks, Peggy! You make a great point. We don’t have to stay in anxiety. Blessings !

    Like

  6. peggywritesblog Avatar

    A wonderful post, David! Love the Hero Spin Cycle illustration for all of us visual learners. And because it is a cycle, we don’t have to stay in anxiety. God helps us through the steps to blessed hope. Thanks for sharing your story!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Stepping Stones – Bridget A. Thomas Avatar

    […] a Saturday, David at davidsdailydose.org wrote about Anxiety + Resiliency = Anxiliency! Yes, David’s new word will grab your attention. And I told David that I had to say it slowly at […]

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Crystal Byers Avatar

    You might’ve found an extra stream of income!

    Liked by 1 person

  9. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Maybe it is greeting card worthy!? ☺️

    Like

  10. Crystal Byers Avatar

    I would be the person buying this card: at times I’ve been like a leafless tree, watching the sea’s ebb and flow.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Gospelroad#66 Avatar
    Gospelroad#66

    Amen! Thank you brother 🥰

    Liked by 1 person

  12. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Exactly, Gary. When the going is smooth, there’s no much concern, but the rough patches reveal how much more I need to grow.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Chris. I’ve also heard this passage compared to the hand movement of and old fashioned clock 🕰️:3,6,9, 12. My spin cycle is the microwave version of this. 😊

    Like

  14. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, brother Dean. May His richest blessings be upon you, and your wife, as well!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Gary Fultz Avatar

    That is the cycle and no matter how hard I try to skip the obvious painful parts, it doesn’t work that way. “Anxiliency” …LOL
    I try that word on all too much as it get’s to the top of the pile of words that seem more wear-able.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Chris Hendrix Avatar

    Romans 5:3-5 describes this hero’s cycle perfectly. Thanks for sharing your story. I kept hearing that old hymn: this is my story. This is my song. Praising my savior all the day long.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Gospelroad#66 Avatar
    Gospelroad#66

    I love your home made Gods hero spin cycle! Great post brother, God bless you and family! 🥰

    Liked by 1 person

  18. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, brother Rainer. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. The Devotional Guy™ Avatar

    Congratulations on your promotion, David! I love your new word anxilliency. It fittingly describes what is often involved in the process of our spiritual growth. Excellent post!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. FlowIntoWords Avatar

    That’s a beautiful thought and one worth always remembering “one’s mental and spiritual health is more important than productivity”. Well said! ❤️ It’s true for each or us, and everyone we meet.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Nicola. Life certainly comes in waves, at least for most of us. And our spiritual lives are no exception. I am grateful for your interaction. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  22. seeingliketheeagle Avatar

    Going to be remembering and using that new word David. Loved this post. Encouraging and real. Sums up many of our lives. When the next wave hits (which it surely will) I’m going to remember the Hero Spin Cycle and Anxiliency. 😊🙏

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Don't Lose Hope Avatar

    I appreciate everyone who’s been there for me, and everyone who shares their journey from wounded to healing – like you. Blessings on your weekend. Make sure you take time out to relax!

    Liked by 1 person

  24. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Apparently so. The boss of my boss told me it comes in waves. Here’s hoping the surf isn’t up every day. 🌊🏄‍♀️🙏

    Liked by 1 person

  25. davidsdailydose Avatar

    “God fuels us when fuel is needed.” This is exactly what I tried to say in this post! And in far fewer words.😊

    I created the illustration for an earlier post. I called it God’s hero spin cycle with the conviction that such heroic growth is our Heavenly Father’s work, not ours. Well, at least not ours alone.

    Thank you for your thoughts, Jeff. I’m way behind in my reading, but will catch up soon. I haven’t forgotten about your posts on the end times. I will read them. Blessings!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. jesusluvsall Avatar

    the life of admin 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  27. davidsdailydose Avatar

    I got the last two weeks of May—sorta, and have the first two weeks of July. June is summer school.

    Liked by 1 person

  28. jesusluvsall Avatar

    Thank you for reading my book. So do you get a summer break?

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Jeffrey H. King Avatar

    I enjoyed this article very much! I can identify, having been through several episodes in life, including layoffs, bankruptcy, and complete loss. That’s before we get to the multiple nearly fatal health issues since double bypass in 2003. Some I’ve born pretty well, some have found me shaking my fist at God like Job demanding to know why after – I think – being a pretty faithful Christian.

    You made a very important point in telling us that … when anxiety threatened to flood me out, the creator of the universe gifted me with resiliency.” We often look at others in some sort of trial or even persecution and diminish ourselves for not currently having that kind of faith. I read somewhere else that God fuels us when fuel is needed. I don’t currently have the faith or resiliency of those who went willingly to the coliseum to be tortured or eaten by lions. I’m such a wuss that I wrote in one of my articles that all you’d have to do is merely show me an intubation kit, and I’d give up my own mother! Yet, I believe God would give me that sort of heroic faith when needed.

    I don’t know if it was your intention, but for as much as I love your Hero Spin Cycle, I can’t help thinking how dizzy it makes us when it’s running! And just like a spin cycle in our washing machines, it wrings all the watery badness out of us the faster and longer it goes. Yikes!

    As for my story, I know you’ve listened to it, but for those who haven’t, here’s the link to my story of medical mayhem from the earliest to the latest: https://jeffreyhking.wordpress.com/2022/08/27/my-testimony/

    Liked by 1 person

  30. davidsdailydose Avatar

    I can only imagine, brother. I plan to read some more of your first book today. Looking forward to the second one!

    Liked by 1 person

  31. jesusluvsall Avatar

    Yep been through that cycle many times. It is all to help us grow to be more like Christ

    Liked by 1 person

  32. BerryBunch.family Avatar
    BerryBunch.family

    Awesome 👍😎

    Liked by 1 person

  33. God Still Speaks Avatar

    Love it! 🤪

    Liked by 1 person

  34. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Andy B. I’ll be checking my PO Box. I also have a supply of international stamps to write you and Alan.

    Liked by 1 person

  35. BerryBunch.family Avatar
    BerryBunch.family

    😊

    Liked by 1 person

  36. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thanks. Kind of along the lines of “What doesn’t kill you makes you stranger?” 🙃

    Liked by 1 person

  37. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Good! I look forward to watching the video or reading the post.

    Liked by 1 person

  38. God Still Speaks Avatar

    Your “Regular David” comment would make a lovey greeting card message!

    Liked by 1 person

  39. BerryBunch.family Avatar
    BerryBunch.family

    It’s coming towards the “US”…

    Liked by 1 person

  40. BerryBunch.family Avatar
    BerryBunch.family

    Expect some surface mail by the way 😁

    It’s coming towards the UK so, despite it being sent air mail, it may take a little while lol

    Liked by 1 person

  41. BerryBunch.family Avatar
    BerryBunch.family

    Hebrews 12 is the one in my head

    Ok.

    Taking that tag

    Liked by 1 person

  42. davidsdailydose Avatar

    I love your line of thinking here, Andy B. God does everything for a reason. I believe your eyes on the prize reference comes from the book of Hebrews? It’s a great cross reference to Romans 5–one that could be a post in itself. Tag, you are it, brother!

    Liked by 1 person

  43. davidsdailydose Avatar

    I thought you could relate to this post, brother. Most of us have scars we wish weren’t there, but we wouldn’t be who we are today without them. Of course, I say this from a growing in God perspective, not one of self reliance. God’s best to you and the Kearns clan.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

    Liked by 1 person

  44. BerryBunch.family Avatar
    BerryBunch.family

    “I’m just a regular guy who was tempted to lose all hope but did not. It was God who made the difference.”

    Totally with you there buddy.

    That Romans 5 scripture is a ‘go to’ for me when life is getting tense, or hard, or overwhelming…it is not for nothing that God walks with me through those times.

    ‘Keep your eye on the prize [of salvation]’ comes to mind here too, for me anyway.

    Andy B

    PS #anxiliency – love this

    Liked by 1 person

  45. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Majik. I echo your sentiments. There’s an older song that says,🎶”It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.🎶 Forever is a long time. I bet you’re right, in heaven what happened to us on earth won’t matter so much.😇 I appreciate your stopping my little blog. God Bless!

    Like

  46. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, Manette Kay! I’ve also heard this passage compared to a small set of stairs one keeps going up and down. God bless you, too.

    Liked by 1 person

  47. Majik Avatar

    Late in my life, I’ve learned to thank Jesus Christ, my possibly imaginary Friend, for the storms and, even, terrors that wander into my life all uninvited because they always drive me back into His Arms where I most want to live forever . . . except for when I forget and find that I have wandered away from Him until the storms or, even, terrors arrive, and the cycle begins again. One Day I expect to be done with this craziness and just spend forever with my Friend and all our friends who also believe in Him. I wonder if we’ll even remember this crazy life or if those are the tears that He promises to wipe from our eyes in Glory.

    Liked by 1 person

  48. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thank you, SimplyB! By the way, I have fully adjusted to my hearing aids and feel weird when I don’t wear them. Blessings!

    Liked by 1 person

  49. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Thanks. Like you, I am a wounded healer. And a part of my healing is encouraging others to heal as well. Together, we can do so much more than we ever could apart. Thank you for checking in. I am behind in my reading, but will catch up today. Blessings!

    Like

  50. davidsdailydose Avatar

    “God is most in control when we are not.” This is a sermon in itself, Pastor Pete. This reminds me of a place in the Psalms where it says He is close to the broken hearted. God doesn’t walk away when the going gets tough; He comes closer. Brother, this will preach! Thanks for stopping by. I’ll watch out for those spit balls! God Bless.

    Liked by 1 person

  51. Alan Kearns Avatar

    Hi David, I remember your illustration of “God’s Spin Cycle”… it stuck in my mind bro. But I love the new word…check that spelling Alan…”anxilliency!” I can definitely relate to this; anxilliency reminds me of times where severe illness has knocked me down, maybe even put me in hospital, but Father God sends His comfort to lift me up again. He is a Good Father – Hallelujah!
    I was thinking of you earlier today when out shopping, thus I was looking forward to reading your post when I got home. God bless you and Nancy this weekend brother 🙏

    Liked by 1 person

  52. musingsofmanettekay Avatar

    Excellent post, David. I can relate to this so much. Fighting anxiety best happens in the “spin cycle” you aptly illustrated. God bless you.

    Liked by 1 person

  53. SimplyB Avatar

    Perfect word to describe most of my life. Certainly describes my childhood. You are so right…our stories do matter. They can bring hope to those struggling to find their anxiliency. Thank you for always sharing your stories. God is using you through your words. Blessings today!

    Liked by 1 person

  54. Don't Lose Hope Avatar

    “I’m just a regular guy who was tempted to lose all hope but did not. It was God who made the difference.” what a crowd-drawing opener. It draws us all in, and gives hope to us all.

    Liked by 2 people

  55. davidsdailydose Avatar

    I hear you. The shame that comes from buckling under anxiety can be worse than the feelings themselves. I’ve experienced panic attacks I didn’t see coming and couldn’t stop. But God was still right there, and it was enough. Meanwhile, I’ll learned to heed the warning signs and make adjustments. In reality, one’s mental and spiritual health is more important than productivity. 🙏for your journey. Thank you for sharing! God Bless.

    Liked by 2 people

  56. pastorpete51 Avatar

    I used to call that passage from Romans, “God’s Arithmetic” but I like your Spin Cycle better. It reminds us that God is most in control when we are not. Your best posts make me feel like I am back in the classroom with a chalkboard illustration and all. Just watch out for those kids who are shooting spitballs when your back is turned!

    Liked by 2 people

  57. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Amen, brother! I had a poster in my room as a teenager that said, “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for.” Rain or shine, we sail on with Jesus—the captain of our faith. Ok, enough of the nautical analogies.😀 His richest blessings to you, Chris.

    Liked by 2 people

  58. Chris G Thelen Avatar

    Congrats on the promotion! May the Lord bless you in this new role (Genesis 39:2-3).

    Liked by 1 person

  59. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Yes, this made up word is quite a mouthful! I don’t think I can spell it without looking.☺️ It can be hard to hold on to faith, in the middle of a life storm, but God is still God—wherever we are.

    Thank you for stopping by, Bridget. I look forward to your encouraging and insightful comments each week. God Bless!

    Liked by 1 person

  60. Chris G Thelen Avatar

    Oh man, I’ve been through that spin cycle many times, and then hung out to dry. But I must say going through the wringer has helped squeeze the self out of me and filled me with more dependence on Jesus. (Okay, enough of the laundry phrasing.) I agree with you that the most difficult times in my life have drawn me closer to God—to seek him more in prayer, scripture, and worship. I am grateful those times have strengthened my faith. Thanks for this post.

    Liked by 6 people

  61. FlowIntoWords Avatar

    This was a very encouraging read for me. I do feel anxiety sometimes gets the best of me. And I can get very frustrated with myself for having it, even though it’s largely out of my control.

    But I feel you are right, hope and faith can allow us to push through it, and in doing so we grow. ❤️

    Liked by 3 people

  62. My Life in Our Father's World Avatar

    Enjoy your new adventure, my friend!

    Congratulations 🎊

    Liked by 2 people

  63. Bridget A. Thomas Avatar

    Anxiliency – I had to say it slow the first time 😂 My instinct is to run from suffering. But you are right, God uses anxious times to help strengthen us. Thank you for the reminder. It is comforting to know we can always trust God, no matter what we are facing.

    Liked by 6 people

  64. davidsdailydose Avatar

    Yes! Thankfully, it comes in waves. I was promoted to assistant principal early this month, and it’s already been quite stressful. Our district’s summer camp starts Monday. I am the admin for my home school’s site. Thanks for reading and commenting, Barb!

    Liked by 4 people

  65. My Life in Our Father's World Avatar

    I am joining you in the anxiety + resiliency = anxiliency spiral.

    I love the new word that you invented!

    Liked by 2 people

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