How to Handle Anxiety

Anxiety. Worry. Everyone deals with it to some degree. It’s an unavoidable part of the human condition—an inescapable mark of our mortality. The poet, W. H. Auden, called our era the “age of anxiety.”

On the mild side of anxiety are those common everyday worries and concerns that we typically manage fairly well. However, on the severe side are more serious issues, debilitating phobias, and nervous disorders related to chronic anxiety. These problems typically require medical attention and professional counseling.

But, no matter where you fall on the spectrum, I imagine you’d agree that worry and anxiety are significant issues in our society. Anxiety often coexists with depression as they perpetuate each other in a vicious cycle. The results can be devastating.

 

Let’s face it—many of us are “worry warts.” We stress over all kinds of things on a regular basis. Some of these issues include financial worries, relationship difficulties, work-related stressors, parenting problems, academic struggles, health and safety concerns, getting older, gaining weight, dietary restrictions, and the list goes on and on.

It comes at no real surprise that the Bible has a lot to say about worry and anxiety. Our Creator anticipated this issue being a real battle for us as human beings. Life often seems scary and uncertain to us.

We tend to make mountains out of molehills. Anxiety is an enemy of faith. It corrodes our confidence in Christ and dismantles our spiritual security and sense of hope.

So what are we to do about it? Scripture tells us around 365 times to “fear not” or, in modern English, “to not be afraid”—one time for every day of the year. That’s both comforting and challenging. It’s certainly easier said than done!

Christ’s teaching in Matthew 6:25-34 reminds us of God’s amazing care of all creation, even the tiniest birds, which are nowhere near as valuable in God’s eyes as we are as His children. If God takes care of the sparrow, surely He will see after our needs too!

Worrying about things beyond our control has no real value. It certainly won’t extend our lives. Since our Heavenly Father attends to the seasonal flowering of the lilies and grass of the field, we know He is more than capable of watching over us. In fact, He has the very hairs on our heads numbered (Matt. 10:30). Granted, some of us have less hair to count than others!

It’s important to realize that God already knows what we need before we ask Him in prayer (Matthew 6:8, 32). But, He still wants us to acknowledge our complete dependence upon Him for every blessing in our lives.

Worrying won’t change anything, but prayer changes everything. Indeed, it can move mountains. The point is this: We must trust God to take care of us! First Peter 5:7 tells you to cast “all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Therefore, only focus on things over which you have control. Avoid worrying about those concerns that fall beyond the purview of your power. Psalm 103:14 (ESV) states, “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”

When we realize that the world and everything in it belongs to our omnipotent Creator, we’ll be more apt to relinquish our worries. We all need a good, stout dose of faith and courage.

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

God holds our lives in the palm of His almighty, loving hand. So live one day at a time. Don’t get out too far ahead of yourself. Avoid borrowing trouble from tomorrow.

In Matthew 6:34 (ESV), Jesus states, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” And always remember: God is in control!