Two Truths and a Lie About Anxiety


In the Christian community, many of us fall prey to the lie that mental illness is a sign of weakness that we just need to surrender to God.  We are told things like, if we “had more faith” and “put our trust in Jesus,” we wouldn’t have it.  Some of us may even believe that anxiety or depression is a punishment for our sins or that we are a disappointment to God.  This is simply not true.

Out of all the countries in the world, the United States has the highest rate of mental illness, including anxiety and depression.  Eighteen percent of our population (almost 1 in 5) is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder with females being 60% more likely to suffer from symptoms than men.  Our anxiety is a product of living in a fast-paced, performance-driven, fallen, and broken societyit is not our identity.

We are all broken because we live in a fallen world, but the good news is that God uses our brokenness to bring us closer to Him and to cultivate a deeper faith. Hear me on this – it is okay to not be okay because we can trust that God will use our brokenness.  This is why author and pastor Charles Stanley states, in his book The Spirit Filled Life, “Part of His plan is to bring you to the end of yourself, to a point where you get so sick of yourself and your inability to change that you throw up your hands in surrender.  When that happens, you are closer than you have ever been to knowing the joy of the Spirit-filled life.”

Joy.  Peace.  An inner sense of calm in the midst of the chaos going on around us.  This fruit of the Spirit comes through the sanctification process as we are made whole through the power of Christ.  In many ways my anxiety, which is heightened in certain seasons of life when I am under more stress, is actually a gift.  Why? Because it has helped me develop a greater awareness of my natural tendencies, grow closer to God, and surround myself with other Christians who prioritize their physical, mental, and spiritual health.  I believe God gives us the tools to battle anxiety so we can experience the peace that He promises.  My prayer is that you will also invite Jesus into your broken places and allow your stress or anxiety to bring you closer to God and deeper into community.


TWO TRUTHS

One of the most powerful strategies for me to battle against anxiety is to shift my “what if…” worries, such as “What if I have this health condition?” or “What if miss God’s calling?” to “what is” statements.  This process of shifting from fear to truth helps me focus on what is right, noble, and praiseworthy instead of jumping to conclusions (Philippians 4:6-8).  At a basic level, this can be as simple as asking, “What am I believing about this and why?  Is this within my control?  If so, what can I do about it?”  On a deeper level, it involves digging into God’s Word to address the root cause of the 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.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Philippians 4:6-8

Two Biblical truths that have helped me fear less so I can focus on what is true are:

1. GOD IS IN CONTROL

In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus is in the boat with his disciples when a furious storm arises.  Waves begin to pour into the boat, threatening to sink it while Jesus is in the stern with his head on a pillow sleeping.  Frustrated, the disciples wake him and ask, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

Jesus calmly gets up, rebukes the wind, and says to the waves, “Quiet!  Be still!”  In that moment, the wind ceased, the sea became smooth, and Jesus reprimands His disciples.  “Why are you so afraid?” he asks. “Do you still have no faith?”  The Message translation states that the disciples were in absolute awe, as I am sure we would all be if we were to witness such a miraculous event!

Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Settle down!”  The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass.  Jesus reprimanded the disciples:  “Why are you such cowards?  Don’t you have any faith at all?”  They were in absolute awe, staggered.  “Who is this, anyway?” they asked.  “Wind and sea at his back and call!”  Mark 4:39-41 MSG

Have you ever felt like you’re drowning in a sea of worry or overwhelm and Jesus is sleeping?  If so, you’re not alone—Jesus’ closest friends experienced the same thing.  They were terrified they were going to die and Jesus simply stands up and says, “Be still!”  He challenged them to shift their focus from the waves to the One who controls the waves and calms the storms.  We can do the same.

Some of you may be thinking, “Jesus hasn’t calmed my storm. I’m calling out to Him and He’s still sleeping.”  Or maybe, “If God is in control, why doesn’t he take away my suffering—my fear, worries, and anxiety?

I don’t have all the answers, but one thing I know is this: God’s goal is not our happiness—it is our holiness. He wants to make us mature and complete—to chisel us into the image of His Son—and our suffering is God’s greatest shaping tool.  This is why Paul says, in Romans 5:3-5, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”  To rejoice in our sufferings, God—not our circumstances—must be the Source of our hope.

Our suffering, whether physical or emotional, matures our faith, refines our character, and reveals to us the fullness of God’s grace. God wants our trust more than He wants our understanding.  He wants us to cultivate a deeper dependence on Him, a greater intimacy with Christ, and growing sense of compassion for others who are also struggling.  He does this through our suffering.  God’s grace comes in our anxiety and fear because it requires us to trust and have faith in someone who is greater than the troubles we face.

Looking back, I can see how God used the struggles in my marriage to help me grow in my relationship with Him and bring awareness to issues I needed to address (e.g. pushing boundaries, defensive posture). Seeing how God used that for my good and His glory helps me trust He will do it again with my current situation.  How might God’s faithfulness in the past help you more fully place your trust in Him for your future?

Our trials teach us hard lessons we wouldn’t learn any other way, which is why author and preacher, Charles Spurgeon, says, “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.”  This doesn’t mean we have to love stress or anxiety, but rather that we can choose to see it as an opportunity to draw closer to Christ.  We don’t have to love going through trials, but we can acknowledge their role in helping us become more resilient in the face of adversity.  We can learn to smile at the waves because we know they make us stronger and God is in control of them.


2. GOD IS WITH ME

Take a moment to consider the story of Joseph, who was abandoned by his brothers, sold into slavery, and imprisoned, yet he remained steadfast in his faith because he felt the presence of God and knew God would work all things for good (Genesis 37-50).  Throughout Joseph’s story, you will notice a phrase that is consistently repeated:

And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him.” (Acts 7:9).

The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.” (Genesis 39:2)

But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” (Genesis 39:21).

We know how this story ends – Joseph was restored from prison to a position of authority, became second in command after Pharaoh in Egypt, and saved his people from the famine – all because He looked beyond His circumstances and trusted God’s plan.  The point here is, there is going to be hardship, but God is with us. He knows what we are going through and walks with us through the fire, knowing that our trials produce perseverance and purify us to become more like Jesus.

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.  So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.  1 Peter 1:7

The song, Another in the Fire by Hillsong United, particularly resonates with me in this season as I struggle with chronic pain.  A year ago, I found out I had a herniated disk that doctors told me would take six weeks to heal.  It’s been a year since that diagnosis and I’ve seen over a dozen different specialists, but none of their treatment plans have eliminated the pain.  They say I’m not a candidate for surgery, yet every day I feel a burning sensation in my feet and legs.  On a good day it feels like I’m walking on a heated floor; on a bad one it feels like my lower body is on fire.  Yet, every day the Lord reminds me that I am not alone because He is with me and that He is in control.

VERSE 1
There’s a grace when the heart is under fire
Another way when the walls are closing in
And when I look at the space between
Where I used to be and this reckoning
I know I will never be alone

CHORUS
There was another in the fire
Standing next to me
There was another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
Of how I’ve been set free
There is a cross that bears the burden
Where another died for me

Songs like this one help me focus on what is true, pure, and praiseworthy in the midst of the storm.  They are a reminder to live free, choose joy, and remember the suffering Jesus endured for our victory.  In Him, we are triumphant over sin, death, fear, and discouragement.  God’s greatest gift—salvation through His Son Jesus—was born through sacrifice.  Likewise, our greatest gifts are often born out of suffering, humility, and service.  Let’s close in prayer…

Dear God,

When we feel weighed down by concerns of this world, help us cast our anxieties on You.  We accept your invitation to come to You when we are weary and overwhelmed so You can lighten our load and provide us rest (Matthew 11:28-30).  When we fall into the trap of “what if’s” and faulty thinking patterns, help us replace them with Your truth and trust that You are working all things for our good and Your glory (Romans 8:28).  When life feels chaotic, remind us that You are in control and that Your goal is to make us mature and complete—more like Your Son, Jesus. 

Lord, when we feel alone, comfort us with Your presence.  When we feel anxious, bring us Your peace that surpasses all understanding.  When we are afraid, be our Source of courage and help us take the next step in faith while continually seeking You for wisdom and direction.  May we remember that your name, Immanuel, literally means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23) and that, when the waves of life come, You are right there by our side.  Help us remain calm in the midst of challenging situations because we trust that You are bigger than our problems and that You know what is best for each one of us.

Today, I choose to trust You.  I refuse to allow fear to keep me stuck.  Today, I choose to prioritize You.  I refuse to allow the busyness of life stand in the way of a fulfilling relationship with You.  Today, I choose to believe that I am chosen, valued, and eternally loved as a daughter of God.  I refuse to allow my anxiety to impact my identity.  Help me accept Your love and grace so I can pour it out upon my brothers and sisters in Christ.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


Call To Action: For practical strategies to manage stress and anxiety so we can fear less and live life to the full, click here to access my Freebie’s Library.  (Current subscribers can click here to login.)  Under the section titled “Mental Health” you’ll find Fear Less – 10 Strategies to Combat Stress & Anxiety, Printable Scripture Cards to Win the War on Anxiety, a free Anxiety Assessment used by doctors and health professionals, and a list of other Mental Health Resources.

2 thoughts on “Two Truths and a Lie About Anxiety

  1. Jen, An idea to think about regarding your back – Have your family pray over your back each day. It can be a simple prayer for healing or comfort. It can be a short prayer – nothing complicated.
    Love, Aunt Kathie

    1. Thanks, Aunt Kathy. My kids pray for my back every day before bed, it is so sweet! This past week my pastor talked about praying for daily bread – praying for what we need that day, trusting God, and praising Him when He answers our prayers. I’m choosing to take that approach and not look too far into the future. One day at a time, one step at a time, I do trust that healing will come. Thank you for leaving a comment! Love you!

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