Anxiety, tricky word to spell and an even nastier booger to develop.
I used to think people with anxiety were rather weak individuals that couldn’t handle things for themselves, but then life happened and I realized I had anxiety all along it just became more pronounced in certain situations. And I know some people still hold the view that I once did, but they just haven’t had their “moment” yet. That moment when you realize that there is nothing you can do to change something, or prevent something from happening, or that no one has control over the situation at all and you fear the worst may happen. Yeah that moment. And honestly I hope that moment never comes for those people, because that moment STINKS!
Fear is one of the enemy’s most popular weapons to use against us. We all know that fear, it’s what was sometimes used on us as children – be good because Santa Clause is watching is a powerful motivator for acting right to children around 12 and under during the month of December. However, the enemy, Satan, uses fear against us as we age too – and not as a motivator but as a stumbling block becoming a thick shadow of darkness influencing our every move and decision.
Anxiety isn’t something I really heard about as a child. Sometimes people would call older ladies “worry warts”, but I just figured it was a term of endearment about someone who worried about them which meant they cared for them. But today it is so much bigger than that. Anxiety today can bring fully functioning people to a grinding halt in a matter of minutes. I know for me personally it has a major effect on my mood – just fine one minute and crabbier than that old crab on the cartoons the next. There is so much CRAZY going on around us today (wars, persecution, violence, crime, unemployment, economic uncertainty, disease, death – the list could go on) and with the internet providing an all access pass to the latest horror story it’s a wonder more people don’t struggle with anxiety. There’s a lot out there we could potentially worry about!
“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.”
John 14:27
Yet reality tells us that a large portion of what we worry about will never come to fruition and living under the weight of “what-if’s” is a hard place to dwell. Right now it may seem as though the tiniest thing could set you off on a never ending downward spiral, but through time, patience, His word, and His love you will find those things no longer have the same effect on you.
“‘What’ and “If” are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What… if?”
Letters to Juliet (2010) – Clair, an excerpt from Sophie’s letter
The one thing that has helped me the most, and from what I’ve read it’s helped others as well, is to read scripture. Everyday. And when you come across a scripture in particular that speaks to you or your situation commit it to memory. Write it down, doodle it, draw it, sing it. Whatever it takes to memorize that verse make time and take the effort to do so. Because you’ll be amazed at what happens next – when you’re not feeling well and the anxiety and fears of this world start to creep up on you His word will come to mind and strengthen you and give you hope and peace. Have you ever heard the saying, “you are what you eat”? Well the same principle applies here – you can only defend with what you fill your mind and spirit with. You get out what you put in! His words are “life” words, soothing to our soul, calming to our spirits, giving power to our days, and only through Him can we find that true peace.
While spending time in His word is good and gives us a defense in our hearts and minds there is another tool we need to take advantage of in our fight against anxiety – prayer. Prayer is how we petition God to help us with our wants and needs. God is a loving God and knows what we need before we ask, but He wants us to ask all the same. He wants to know that we believe in Him and trust Him to take our cares away so much that we personally go to Him with our problems. Matthew 21:22 says, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” This verse has knocked me down a few times lately because I know I can take my worries and wishes to God, but sometimes I find myself asking and still not expecting it to come true. Scripture says believing, you will receive. So not only do we have to ask, but we have to believe that He can do it. In Philippians it says to pray about everything. Big things, small things, in-between things, pray about them. In that same verse it also says to be anxious for nothing so prayer must be an answer to anxiety.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
I know I just made it all sound so easy – do this and say that and you’ll be fine. But in reality we know it’s not that easy. Oh these things will help certainly, but often times it comes down to a choice. Choosing not to let fear and worry control our minds, hearts, and actions. Choosing to prepare ourselves and guard our hearts. Choosing to trust Him and lay all our worries at His feet. We might still feel afraid or uneasy, but we know that God is with us. We may feel uncertain, but we trust that He is in control. We may not know the future, but we serve the God who does.
I heard in a Bible class once that anxiety was “unChristian” and I think that is wrong. Giving in to anxiety isn’t biblical not just having it. Just like having money isn’t evil, the LOVE of money is. You worry, you get anxious, you cast your worries on God – that’s how it works, just like sinning and repenting. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect, but He expects us to try.
So if you’re feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders and like anxiety is holding you back go to Him, read His word, and let Him take your burdens from you.
Life Thereafter 