anxiety: the problem and the solution

'is anxiety a disease or an affliction? perhaps it is something of both. partly... because you can't help it, and partly because for some reason, dark reason, you choose not to help it. you torment yourself with detailed visions of the worst thing that could possibly happen.' - frederick buechner

most of what we worry about doesn't happen. we worry about things that are out of our control.

'you will keep in perfect peace, him whose mind is steadfast, because He trusts in you.' - isaiah 26:3

'do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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

but, it's not that easy... you say?

there are real concerns. true. over 19 million americans are diagnosed with clinical anxiety disorder. women are twice as likely. lucky us. let's take a look at the definition of worry...

worry--the condition of being drawn mentally in different directions. distraction of the mind. painful agitation in the presence of anticipation/danger. uneasiness of the mind, usually over an impending or anticipated ill often marked by self-doubt of being able to cope with it. dread.

sound familiar? :)

worry=fear. there are over 300 references to 'fear' in the Bible. (i.e. matthew 6.34) we clearly have two choices--to fear or to trust. when we worry, we take our eyes off the Lord and become fixed on the problem.

'worry causes us to regret the past and fear the future--what bondage! worry robs the present of our Presence.' - jerusha clark

lie: 'if only...'
truth: i can trust God with my past, present, and future. (isaiah 43.18-19)

no matter what decision i make, God makes a way. He's always doing a new thing. (luke 18.27, jeremiah 32.17) we can choose to remember God's faithfulness, or we can choose to worry.

lie: 'what if...'
truth: greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. there is a hope for our future.

though we are vulnerable and sometimes life is out of control, we are not powerless! in fact, we have the greatest Power within us. the Spirit cannot be controlled and we are called to submit to His move. (john 16.33, hebrews 6.18-19) God cannot lie! (psalm 103.10, isaiah 54.10) our minds need to be just as active, alive, and consious to worry as they are to excerise faith. think about that.

lie: 'if i don't control my circumstances, no one will.'
truth: only God has the power to bring things, all things, under His control. (phillipians 3.21, 1 timothy 6.15)

when we poke holes in the truth of God's sovereignty, we dangerously undermine His character. God refers to Himself as the 'sovereign Lord' 303 times in the Bible! 'the Fear' is a hebrew name for God. fear of God banishes the terror that shrinks from His presence. fear of God=drives out worry. (genesis 32.22-31)

most worry is about ourselves. it is selfish. when we focus our minds on the needs of others, we no longer have an unhealthy focus on ourselves.

what can i do?

admit that worry accomplishes nothing. seek the presence of the Lord. in His presence there is peace and understanding. lean on others. verbalizing our worry helps us to tame it. don't be discouraged when fear arises. fear diminshes our memories of God's faithfulness and love for us.

pray. pray. pray.




seek Truth.