How can I overcome anxiety?

While science gives you hints on how to deal with anxiety, like requiring a timeout, yoga, counting to 10 slowly, the Bible gives us the cure for anxiety that is by prayer. But does it actually work? The solution is simple and profound because of its source, Jesus Christ Our creator.

What does anxiety look like?

When things go well, we feel happy and when things don't go well as expected we get nervous. John Piper says, Anxiety seems to be an intense desire for something, accompanied by a fear of the consequence of not receiving it. In another sense, we imagine the future in the worst possible way and we freak out about it. We can freak out about whom we marry, Will I ever have a perfect marriage as I always wanted or I don't know what to do moment.

So what does Anxiety do to you?

2. It will only weigh you down. (Prov 12:25), you feel like you have the whole universe along your shoulders.

3. Anxiety makes you forget God's promises.

4. Anxiety Kills Joy and Peace.

Tony Merida, explains it succinctly, Anxiety is a joy killer. Anxiety will also make you self-absorbed. When you’re consumed with your worries, you will be less likely to serve others wholeheartedly. Worry distracts you and keeps you from the mission. It also robs you of peace, which Paul says will fill the hearts of praying believers. All of these results in spiritual issues. There may also be physical results that display signs of anxiety. Here are just a handful of them: unusual mood swings, irritability, anger, sweating, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, exhaustion, nervous twitching, decreased concentration and memory, nausea, shortness of breath, hair loss, weight gain or loss, panic, indecisiveness, canker sores, muscle tension, insomnia, self-medicating, high blood pressure, eating comfort foods, and reckless driving.

How can we overcome the problem of anxiety?

We may be caving in many ideas including exercise, feeding well, obtaining adequate rest, taking deep breaths. While God blesses us with many pieces of evidence of His common grace through some of these means, we should start with what He said to us about the issue specifically in His word. In Matt 6:25-34, Jesus tells us three times, 'Don't worry' and that tells us that it is important to note.

Here are the high spots of its passage Matt 6:25-34 and Philippians 4:6-8 together as a reminder and how we should respond to this problem.

God supplies for birds and flowers; He will surely bring home the bacon for us (Matt 6: 26, 28-30). - HE IS SOVEREIGN
Worrying is pointless (Matt 6: 27, 34). - DON'T DO IT.
Worrying is a pagan practice, not a disciple’s practice (Matt 6: 31-32). (My Favorite)
God knows our needs more than we do (Matt 6: 32) - TRUST HIM
God will supply everything we require when we seek His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt 6: 33). - ASK
Cast all of your cares on God who cares for you (Phil v4: 6-7) - BELIEVE
Fight anxiety with Faith in God's Promises (Phil v4: 5-7, 19) - SOLUTION
In addition to Paul highlights the need to think of admirable things. Think about what's true, not fictitious. Think about honorable, not dishonorable. Think about just, not unfair. Think about purity, not impurity. Think about being a blessing, not hostile. - ACT

Jesus never broke his promises and neither has he ignored the problems we confront. Rather, he offers a way to defeat it and he assures that he will be with us as we deal with this. Because he cares (1 Peter 5:7) for you.
Christ is our intercessor, problem solver, and the deliverer. Surrender your thought life to Jesus, and don’t allow it to drift into the gutter. The God who gives peace will be with you.

• #Anxiety
• ##depression
• ##worry