Finding Peace When Anxious

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Anxiety: a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome (Google)

Anxiety has become a ubiquitous struggle for men and women around the world today. Anxiety can be described as feelings of intense nervousness, restlessness, tension, sense of something dangerous approaching, a moment of panic that urges you to sense the worst thing in or about a situation. This has become a more significant issue due to the varieties of anxieties that can be diagnosed, ranging from very generalized and non-specific anxiety disorders to particular anxiety disorders such as separation anxiety or social anxiety. While some of us may not fall under any of these professionally diagnosed disorders, we all experience feelings of anxiety based upon certain circumstances. Whether it be a life-changing event, financial hardship, or sometimes our educational desires and jobs drive us into anxious states, we all experience it on a micro or macro level. However, there is good news to be shared. The Bible, God’s unchanging Word, has a lot to say about anxiety, and we are even granted access to how to overcome it. The phrase “Fear Not” appears in scripture over 300 times, and there are other verses specifically point out anxiety and why it does not have any power or authority over us.

“If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, he will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in his hands. Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:6-7‬ ‭

The word Pour here is often translated as “cast” in other English translations, but the Greek word is “epiripto,” which means to throw upon or throw at. God tells us to throw our anxieties and stress at him, and he’ll catch them because he cares for us and loves us.

How Do I Battle Anxiety as a Christian

1. Make Christ Lord over all of your life including your thoughts.

This means submitting all of your thoughts to Christ, both the good thoughts, the evil thoughts, and the thoughts in between.

2. Prayer Habit

Make Prayer a lifestyle consistently. Ask for prayer from trusted spiritual leaders. Prayer is a conversation with God. He already knows your thoughts, and our prayers will often reflect our thoughts. Constantly communicate with Our Father.

3. Take Care of Yourself

Jesus Christ says the two most important commandments are to 1, Love God with everything in you. 2. Love Others as you love yourself. To actively combat the anxiety, you have to care for yourself. The way to do that is to love God fully. It’s essential to love yourself because the way you love yourself is how you’ll love others. Spend time in moments of self-care to properly tend to the needs of the relationships surrounding you. To simplify this: Let yourself Rest!

4. Reach out to Wise Counsel

Wise Counsel in the area of anxiety specifically means seeking out professionals in this area. For believers, consult with Doctor, Counselor, and Pastor to figure out what’s going on while listening to the Holy Spirit to seek what treatments are suitable to you.

Prayer: Father God, you are holy, wholesome, and perfect, and you know our needs, our wants, and our worries. Thank you for taking on my anxiety and caring for me, and curing me of any thoughts that aren’t from Christ.