Word of the Week - Anxiety
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Anxiety
Is a mental condition characterized by excessive apprehensiveness about real or perceived threats, typically leading to avoidance behaviors and often physical symptoms such as increased heart rate and muscle tension. Anxiety symptoms include: feeling nervous, restless or tense; having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom; having an increased heart rate; breathing rapidly or hyperventilation; sweating, trembling; feeling weak or tired; trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry.
Most of us struggle with Anxiety at some point in life
Anxiety amongst adults and children has continued to increase at concerning levels in the United States. The National Alliance of Mental Illness estimates that over 40 million adults in the U.S. (nearly 20%) have an anxiety disorder. Meanwhile, approximately 7% of children aged 3-17 experience issues with anxiety each year. This has become a national epidemic we are facing as a nation. I personally struggled with anxiety in my late 20’s and early 30’s and ended up in the hospital after I experienced what I thought was a heart attack. I will never forget when the doctor told me “your heart is fine but there is something terribly wrong. You need to change your lifestyle because your body is communicating loudly that something is wrong. This is serious!”, after being rushed to the hospital by ambulance on a Sunday night and having a series of test run to figure out what was going on with me. This was my early entrepreneurial days when I was pushing myself to crazy limits and trying to do it all myself. I was not walking with Jesus and thus carrying the weight of the world. Through a series of events, I had gotten myself into a terrible situation (lonely, lack of purpose, disconnected, physically unhealthy, worried, stressed etc.), and I was trying to fix it on my own through brute force. I started having physical pains in my chest and ultimately over a period of a few months it led to me having an all-out panic/anxiety attack that landed me in the hospital at the age of 28 years old. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end leads to death”. Proverbs 14:12
God’s Antedotes for Anxiety
My pastor, Chris Hodges, recently did a Message on Anxiety that really resonated with me and my experience. He shared his own struggles with Anxiety and Depression, which led him to write a book titled “Out of the Cave: Stepping into the Light When Depression Darkens What You See.” In his book, he contends that Anxiety is not merely a malfunction of the mind but a signal our body uses to tell us that we have unmet needs in some part of our life. Through his research, Pastor Chris found 9 factors that cause depression, 7 of which are psychosocial (they’re done to us, or we do them to ourselves), and 2 that are biological or genetic. He also suggests that while there can be real biological contributions to anxiety and depression, which may require medication for treatment, many times there is a much more going on in our souls that medication cannot fix, but God can heal. Using the story of Elijah found in 1 Kings 19, we see that Elijah did at least 6 of 9 causes of depression and anxiety. His anxiety and depression came right after two major spiritual victories, which reminds us that we’re not our best when we’re tired and worn down. Before God helped Elijah emotionally or spiritually, He helped him physically by strengthening him with good food, drink, and rest. Many of us need the same thing, true “rest”. We should all evaluate our lifestyles and how we can best proactively live towards peace and tranquility vs. anxiety and depression.
Practical strategies from God’s Word to live free of Anxiety (from PC’s message on Anxiety):
Pace of Grace – In today’s digital world of technology we are inundated with inbound information and opportunities. We all have some degree of “fear of missing out” and way too many options. Research indicates that the pace of our lifestyles are a leading cause of anxiety. We must learn to refocus our lives by prioritizing what matters most. We must learn that it is healthy and best to say “no” and eliminate the non-essentials. Focus on the big rocks of life that really matter. “Better is one handful with peace and tranquility, than two hands full with strife and chasing after the wind”. Ecclesiastes 4:6
Connecting with Jesus – We need to create rhythms and environments where we can quiet our souls and connect with God. The greatest anti-depressant is a fresh awareness of God’s presence in our lives. Giving God our First Fruit’s by connecting with Him First every morning is a simple but powerful way to experience the peace of God. I personally believe that abiding in Christ is our greatest offensive and defensive strategy against the enemy of our souls. “I am the vine, you are the branches, if you abide in me, I will abide in you and your will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing”. John 15:5
Seek the Truth – Let the narrative I believe about myself come from God’s word and not from myself, others, or the world. What we believe about ourselves and tell ourselves (self-talk) can produce a false narrative. We need to quit ruminating and listening to others, and turn to the truth of God’s Word to know who we are in Christ. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jeremiah 29:11
Live with Purpose – God created each of us on purpose for a God purpose. The best day of my life was when I met Jesus and the second-best day was when I discovered my life purpose in Christ. If we have clarity in our purpose, life is just more enjoyable because we give our thoughts and energy to our purpose opposed to allowing our minds to wander toward the unknown causing fear and negativity, which cause anxiety. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do great works that He prepared in advance for us to do” Ephesians 2:10
Godly Relationships – “Show me your friends and I will show you your future” John Maxwell. God created us for relationship with Him and with others! If we hang out with the wrong people who don’t love us, admonish us and build us up, then we are likely to have negative experiences that cause anxiety and stress. On the other hand, building and nurturing relationships with solid godly friends is a key to life and health. We all need to invite the right people into our lives, connect with them regularly, and be willing to share our anxieties with them. “Two are better than one, because they have good return for their labor; If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up”. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Most of all, we should know and trust God and cast our cares up on Him because He love us and is worthy of our trust. He tells us not to worry or be anxious about anything but bring it to Him. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
I pray we can all walk in these truths and experience peace that surpasses understanding in Christ!!!
-Duane