High Anxiety
Posted by Dion Todd March 6th, 2022 4,750 Views 0 Comments
High Anxiety from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.
Something we see on the rise in the church is anxiety. It's true that we live in a perilous time. Wars are raging, and nations are under severe financial stress. There are random earthquakes, wildfires, and going to the grocery store can expose you to a plague.
Yet, we are here for such a time as this and need to keep our emotions under control. God Almighty is large and in charge. If He brings us to it, He will bring us through it. So what is the scriptural view of anxiety? The short version is it's bad. It's a lack of trust in God.
Anxiety is a subset of fear, and fear is the opposite of faith. It's a dreadful feeling that something bad will happen to you, though you can't exactly say what that is. It could be anything. Worry is closely related but is about a specific event that may or may not occur. Anxiety is just unending tension that renews itself. If you let it in the door, it becomes a lifestyle.
Christians are not supposed to be anxious. The Lord has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound, disciplined mind (2 Timothy 1:7). The amplified version states it the clearest:
(2 Timothy 1:7 AMP) "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control."
Apparently, anxiety has been around since the first sin in the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve broke the one command God had given them, to not eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Once they did, they hid in the bushes and waited on something dreadful to happen. Their sin brought in fear.
Jesus taught about anxiety during His Sermon on the Mount. I find it interesting that He included anxiety directly after serving two masters.
(Matthew 6:24–25 NASB) "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"
"For this reason I say to you." What reason? Because you cannot serve God and wealth. In other words, if you are putting your trust in what you have gathered, your world will be shaken every time there is bad news. Jesus continued on:
(Matthew 6:26–27 NASB) "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?"
If your anxiety causes you to believe that God cannot see what is happening, that He doesn't care, and that He will not provide for you, then it is ungodly. The birds don't have barns full of food, yet He takes care of them. Give us today our daily bread. Tomorrow, more will come.
(Matthew 6:28–30 NASB) "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!"
That is very clear language. If God will provide for the grass, will He not provide for you? Include Him in everything you do. Repent of things the Holy Spirit convicts you of. Learn to trust Him to take care of you. Jesus continued:
(Matthew 6:31–33 NASB) "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Our heavenly Father knows that we need things to eat, drink, and wear. How are we instructed to get them? Seek the Lord first, and all these things will be provided for you. Trees live their entire lives, unable to take a single step from birth. Yet, God provides what they need day by day. It's a supernatural existence.
(Matthew 6:34 NASB) "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Don't borrow tomorrow's troubles. Take life one day at a time. If the brook dries up, fresh grace, provision, and direction will come. Include the Lord in whatever you are doing. Have small conversations with Him throughout your day, and watch the mini-miracles begin to happen around you.
(Psalm 37:4–5 NASB) "Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it."
(Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV) "Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus."
You can pray this with me if you like:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, my help comes from You. Please forgive me for being anxious and not trusting You to take care of me. Come be a part of my day, and speak to me in a way that I understand. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” (Philippians 4:6-7) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page.