Overcoming Anxiety and Fears of the Future
If you find yourself feeling constantly anxious and experiencing highs and lows, then finding that you mentally shut down, often unable to conquer the waves of fear and sadness; then you are most likely feeling anxious. Worries of the past present and future can be overwhelming, if it goes unmanaged.
Do you feel like you are a failure? Do you feel like you are failing the tests of life because your heart is constantly restless? If so, then I want to remind you of the story of Musa A.S’ mother.
As a mother, she was tested with the greatest of all tests! She gave birth to a son at a time when the Pharaoh was killing every male child that was born to the Children of Israel, due to an interpretation of a dream he had. For a mother nothing can be more painful than to know that her new-born child’s life will be taken; the anxiety, sadness and fear that comes with it are inevitable. It’s natural.
So, first and foremost, embrace that it’s normal to have feelings; accept that. When you accept that feelings are ok, you can learn to manage them better.
To feel is ok, to live in it, is not. To stay in that state doesn’t help us. So, Allah teaches us to shift from that. Allah’s words of solace to Musa’s( عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) mother. ..
“ do not be afraid, and do not grieve,”
teaches a great lesson. When the heart finds solace with Allah it will find the strength to withstand the greatest of trials. He gives relief to the hearts of the believers.
In Surah Qasas Allah says:
“We inspired Musa’s mother, saying, ‘Suckle him, and then, when you fear for his safety, put him in the river: do not be afraid, and do not grieve, for We shall return him to you and make him a messenger.’ And the family of Pharaoh picked him up [out of the river] so that he would become to them an enemy and a [cause of] grief. Indeed, Pharaoh and Haman and their soldiers were deliberate sinners. And the wife of Pharaoh said, “[He will be] a comfort of the eye for me and you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.” And they perceived not. And the heart of Moses’ mother became empty [of all else]. She was about to disclose [the matter concerning] him. Had We not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers. And she said to his sister, “Follow him”; so she watched him from a distance while they perceived not. And We had prevented from him [all] wet nurses before, so she said, “Shall I direct you to a household that will be responsible for him for you while they are to him [for his upbringing] sincere?” So We restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true. But most people do not know.” [Quran 28:7-13]
Pharaoh’s household took him in, adopted him as their own child, to later become an enemy and a source of grief for them. Pharaoh’s wife said, ‘Here is a joy to behold for me and you! Do not kill him: he may be of use to us, or we may adopt him as a son. ‘Allah caused them to not realize what they were doing. The very child he was searching to kill; he adopted! That’s Allah’s plan.
We can make as many plans as we like, but Allah’s plan is always greater.
Musa’s A.S mother felt a void in her heart, and Allah gave her this feeling, yet very soon after that, Allah strengthened her with belief, she then acted upon her belief, with certainty that Allah has her back. She sent his sister to, ‘Follow him.’ Because a mother’s heart is connected to her child. She will naturally want to know where he is and be close to him.
Then Allah facilitated that Musa’s A.S mother was the one to become his wet nurse in the palace of the Pharoah, in this way Allah fulfilled his promise to her and “restored him to his mother” so that “she might be comforted, not grieved, and know that Allah’s promise is true, though most of them do not know.”
In the midst of all this fear, Allah preserved Musa A.S so he would later on save his nation by becoming a prophet. Allah SWT educated us through her story, of how as believers we can find peace, even if we cannot see any hope in that situation right now. We learn that though we cannot see the future, we cannot comprehend what is to come. But if we trust Allah and do not give up hope, we will find the solace we are searching for.
It’s natural to feel saddened as even the greatest of all Prophets, our Nabi SAW was saddened at the death of his uncle and beloved wife Khadija R.A.
That whole year was named “the year of sorrow…” But he took that grief to Allah and Allah SWT was the one who helped him with his sorrow. Like that, when we go through hard times, naturally we will feel sad, but remember to take it to Allah.
Although right now you are sad over what has passed and afraid for what is to come. Never give up hope and trust in Allah! Obey Allah, Put your heart at ease and trust in His Promise. We need to remind ourselves and each other, to intentionally focus on connecting to Allah, take our minds to him, and open up our hearts to him. Cry to him about our hardships and fears. That’s the ultimate place where we will find the peace that we need.
۞ قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful..
