Hello Everyone! My name is Janel (@janelandherbible) and I am from St. Louis! I have a passion for Jesus, my family, adoption, art and design. I am an elementary school art teacher by day and a Bible Journaler by night. I stumbled upon Shanna Noel and Illustrated Faith about a month ago and not a day goes by that I’m not all up in my Bible now :)
I have struggled with panic attacks and anxiety for almost half of my life. This “thorn” of mine altered my life completely. There are moments of fear, sadness, “what if’s” times a million, and straight up freaking out. I do want to preface all of this by saying that I have come to be thankful for my anxiety, that I, in some ways, feel blessed with this “thorn.” Without anxiety and panic attacks I would never have come to trust and rely on the Lord as much as I have. My relationship with the Lord would not be as intimate and transparent if I wasn’t struggling through my days.
The opposite of anxiety is faith (look it up, it’s true).
And nothing has helped me manage and overcome anxiety like my Faith has.
There are key Bible verses that play on repeat in my mind while I am feeling anxious. These verses are repeated to me by my husband, they are written on cute prints from Etsy hanging on my walls, they are typed in my “Notes” on my phone, and scribbled on index cards in the bottom of my purse.
Naturally, when I first got my Journaling Bible last month, they were the first verses that I Illustrated! Bringing these verses to life, through art, on these pages, has ingrained them in my mind even more. I can visualize the page that I created and I feel at peace.
Supplies*: Journaling Bible (this one is currently in stock) | Alphabet Stickers (these are almost gone but these are similar) | Liquitex Heavy Body Paint | Washi Tape | Decorative Paper Clips | Tabs | Kraft Tags | Square Alphabet Stickers | Journaling Pen *affiliate links, thank you for your support!
I love creating a visual reminder of God’s amazing promises. He has blessed me over and over with His care and concern for my heart. I created a fun little reminder for you to pin as a reference of where you can find some of these verses in your Bible.
May the Peace of Jesus guard your hearts my friends
-xo
This are great verses to journal and I find Janel inspiring! (Ps. Psalm is misspelled)
Thank you so much Jenni!! xo
Awesome post! Looking forward to more from this guest blogger!!!
Thank you!!
thank you !!
xo
It was my own crippling anxiety and depression that led to my own surrender to God, and you are right— my trust and faith has grown by leaps and bounds. I remember my mom asking me what I was “taking” to be in such a good mood- because I’ve been on every anti-depressant/anti-anxiety EVER- and I told her “Nothing- just praying and and trusting God!” It’s made an unbelievable change in my life that others notice too (which is always reaffirming)! Things for sharing your pages and verses :)
Amen to that!! No medicine has ever helped like prayer has. God is so good!! Thank you so much for sharing this me :)
Great job. I love your pages!
Thank you Cindy!!
Janel, thank you so much for your post. I have anxiety too and I always recite 1 Peter 5:7 to myself. Your art work is beautiful!
Peace and blessings!
1Peter 5:7 is definitely one of the main ones that plays on repeat for me. IT’s so cool how God put these words here just for us and knew that we would need to hear them during our struggles.
xo
Janel, you have noooo idea how much I need this right now, thank you!!!
God knows :) xo
Thank you for your post Janel. I struggle with anxiety and panic attacks too. Your post was just what i needed. Thank you for the scriptures! Grace and peace!
Peace to you too!!! I would love to hear any other verses that work for you during your times of anxiety and panic!
This was beautiful. There is something so special when we are able to share our fears and struggles and what helps us get through them. That is God working! I love your journaling as well ;)
That is absolutely God working!! Those are the times where I feel like I was “blessed” with this thorn, when I can share with other people and help in any way with my experiences
Thank you for sharing! I too have struggled with anxiety & God’s Word has been my lifeline!
I love your journaling pages & it has encouraged me to do some of the verses that have helped me so much.
Yes!!! I would LOVE to see some of your pages :) Tag me in them so I can check them out
I am going thru the same struggles & have bookmarked this post so I can check out the scriptures you listed. Thanks for sharing, I find that illustrated faith is helpful in many ways.
It is definitely so helpful in so many ways. It is really cool how God has been using Illustrated Faith to reach specific needs for different people. He definitely knows what He is doing :)
Thank you so much for sharing your story!!! I also struggle with anxiety & panics… It is amazing how God uses our creative flow & anxiety to point us to HIM <3
Thank you so much Janel for sharing. My daughter also struggles with anxiety. I will share these verses with her and pray them over her. Your posts are beautiful! You have been an inspiration to me as I start my bible journaling journey. It has been such a joy to breath new life into my time in God’s word.
Wow, thank you so much Kim. I will be praying for your daughter as well. I know how hard it is to struggle with anxiety and I also see how hard it can be on my parents as well because they want to do everything that they can to help and it hurts them to see me hurting. I will be praying for you as well :) ox
Great work! Thank you for also including the verses..
Thanks!! xo
This was so awesome! I have been in love with your pages and have looked forward to see what you’ve created daily. To hear the story behind some of your journaling gave more meaning to the beautiful creations that I’ve viewed of yours. May God continue to bless you and yours :)
– Nicole -aka- Freeman Nikkinikole (facebook name)
Thank you so much Nicole for your sweet words :) xo
Yes, if not for my intense struggle with fear and anxiety I don’t know that I would have come to such a dependence on the scriptures. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome!!!!! What a lovely post!! Thank you for sharing so transparently! Your bible pages are just gorgeous – wow! What a gift! I love them all! May you be blessed as you have blessed us!!
thank you! xo
Your journaling and testimony are beautiful!! Thank you for sharing:)
thank you so much Jean :) xo
I couldn’t print the reference card quick enough.. Thank YOU!!!!
Getting ready to make some bookmarks with those verses. :-)
Yes!!! I want to see your bookmarks :) xo
Girl I totally understand you. I have been dealing with health issues (which might be anxiety induced) and I have been clinging to the word while creating. It helps to have verses and know that God is there.