Anxiety...BE STILL!
Many people struggle with overwhelming feelings associated with anxiety and fear. Having had anxiety attacks myself, I can appreciate the total loss of control and alarming sense of worry that one suffers during these attacks. In 2018, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America reported that anxiety is very common, affecting 40 million adults, age 18 and older, every year.
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by uncontrollable apprehension and worry in which an individual helplessly anticipates impending danger. It is the body’s response to a perceived threat. Your heart may start racing, your blood pressure may rise, you may begin to sweat and even become lightheaded. You may experience shortness of breath and trembling. Anyone who has experienced an anxiety attack can understand how it can leave you out of sorts and undone, trying to regain your frame of mind and composure. Let me be the first to say, if you are experiencing anxiety attacks, you should see your primary care physician and talk about it. They have many options available to help you.
In the meantime, let’s look at what the Bible says about anxiety and see how people in the Bible dealt with their anxiety. Many times, the Bible states that God wants us to bring our worries and fears to Him so that He can care for us. For example, in I Peter 5:7 we are asked to cast all of our cares upon Him, because He cares for us. In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul tells us to not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and supplication, and with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. He goes on to say in verse 8 that “whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.” That is a great way to refocus during a panic attack. Think about things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. Look at the positive in that very moment and focus on God’s love for you and His promise to never leave you.
Throughout the Bible, God recognized that people experienced anxiety. He provided them with the power to defeat it as well. Today, we can use some of those same techniques to overcome our anxiety. In every story, the anxious person spoke the name of Jesus with authority. When you sense an anxious spirit rising inside of you, speak the name of Jesus! James 4:7 says “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Resist the devil and he must flee. Sounds easy but it is not always easy. Anxiety is rooted in our lack of trust, but God can replenish that trust during our hardship. So, let’s look at how some people in the Bible dealt with their anxiety.
Naomi was a woman deeply loved by her daughters-in-law. After Naomi’s husband died, she and her sons traveled to another land to restart their life. Her sons met good women whom they later married. Again tragedy struck and both of Naomi’s sons died. Naomi was so overwhelmed trying to figure out why God would allow such sadness to come upon her family. As an older widower, she felt hopeless, unable to provide for herself or her daughters-in-law. As a result, she encouraged her daughters-in-law to go back to their homeland. Naomi became bitter and felt as though her life was over. But even during despair, her faith remained grounded on God’s word. Yes, she struggled, but she continued to faithfully stand on His promises, knowing that God was with her. In the end, not only did God provide for her and Ruth, but He continued her family lineage as well. Interestingly, Naomi’s daughter-in-law Ruth became the great grandmother of Jesus!
Another person in the Bible who experienced anxiety was Hannah. For years she suffered from anxiety and infertility. But she fervently prayed and stayed within God’s will for her life. Each month, she realized that her prayers to conceive had not been answered. Each month her anxiety increased. Although her spirit was broken, she found her self-worth through her faith in God. And like Naomi, Hannah trusted God’s will and His timing. How did Hannah manage her anxiety? She called out to God and abided in her close relationship with Him. She knew God’s promises were true and that He would not dismiss her prayers. She walked by faith, not by sight. And finally, she conceived a precious son, who she immediately gave back to the service of the Lord.
And then there was Paul. I can only imagine the level of his anxiety as he was persecuted, thrown in prison, and managed the insecurity and unrest within his churches. He wrote many letters to the churches, reminding them of their great commission to follow Jesus and support peace and unity by loving others. He was often weighted down by those daily struggles, and he was anxious about things that were totally out of his control. However, his framework for achieving peace and contentment was through his relationship with God. Even in a cold, dirty prison, and under distress, Paul found perfect peace by singing and worshipping God. Like Naomi and Hannah, Paul trusted in God’s will and remained faithful to the cause, demonstrating how to focus on God to rid himself of worry.
Finally, let’s consider how anxious Jonah must have been while sitting in the belly of the whale. Jonah knew better, but he was defiant that he would not go to Nineveh as God requested. Jonah even tried to flee from the presence of God by getting on a boat headed in another direction. While on the boat, a fierce storm came up and began to break the boat apart. The other men on the boat could not understand how Jonah could still sleep. They woke him up and started asking him questions. Jonah was honest and told them that he had gone against God’s wishes. He even told them that if they threw him overboard, the sea would calm. The men did not want to be responsible for Jonah’s death, but the waves worsened. And in fear for their life, they hoisted Jonah up, tossing him over the side of the boat. Immediately the sea became calm. Now that is not where this story ends, but where the story of mercy and grace begins.
Jonah was swallowed by a large fish upon hitting the water. Deep inside the fish’s belly, Jonah cried out to God, begging Him to take his life because he thought it would be better to die than to live. Jonah was at the lowest point in his life, hopeless and anxious about what was to come. But in Jonah 2:2, he realized that God had heard his prayers. Upon God’s command, the fish vomited Jonah out and onto dry land. Needless to say, Jonah had no problem journeying to Nineveh to preach God’s word! Just like Naomi, Hannah, and Paul, Jonah knew who to cry out to. His humble conversation with God helped him refocus on God’s plan instead of his plan.
We can learn a lot from the people in the Bible and how they handled anxiety. To manage our anxiety during stressful times, we must refocus our mind away from the moment and back toward God’s presence and the peace that only He gives. Here are a few suggestions when you begin to feel anxious:
· Stop and realize that the spirit of anxiety is beginning
· Take a deep breath and relax
· Identify the source of your anxiety
· Evaluate your feelings
· Discern what is true and what is manufactured by your emotions
· Replace your thoughts by recalling the times that trusting God helped you through
Being prayed up helps too. Study God’s word and store it in your heart so you can recite the Word as you tackle your anxiety. Spend time talking to Him, like He is your best friend because spending time with Him allows you to refocus on that same peaceful feeling that happens when you spend time together. Remembering those peaceful feelings will reconnect you with Him while dealing with stress.
I am also a big fan of music, as it sets the tone of your spirit. There is a song that I love to listen to when I try to refocus my anxious mind. The song is The Truth by Megan Woods. Lyrics in this precious song include:
“The truth is I am my Father's child
I make Him proud and I make Him smile
I was made in the image of a perfect King
He looks at me and wouldn't change a thing
The truth is I am truly loved
By a God who's good when I'm not good enough
I don't belong to the lies, I belong to You
And that's the truth
I know who I am
'Cause I know who You are
And I hold Your truth inside of my heart”
LINK to the song:
So how does today’s blog correspond to the picture of my watch above? I use this watch face to help me refocus when I feel the spirit of anxiety creeping in. It is very easy for me to glance at my watch. Psalm 46:10 reminds me to “be still and know that He is God.” It instantly refocuses me to assess the situation and discern what is true and what is imagined. And look at the time on my watch when I took this picture. When I see the time as 12:34, I sense that the numbers 1-2-3-4 are a sign to take things one step at a time, calming myself even more. I believe guardian angels give us signs that impress upon our spirit. We just have to look for them. You would be surprised at how things like that will spark a spiritual awakening.
When you sense anxiety creeping into your thoughts, recognize it, discern it, and tell the devil to flee. Because the truth is that you are your Father’s child and you make Him proud and you make Him smile. Remind the devil that you were made in the image of a perfect King and He looks at you and wouldn’t change a thing! You are loved by a God who is good and you know who you are because you know who He is! Therefore, proudly proclaim in Jesus’s name “Anxiety….BE STILL!”
コメント