Tackling Anxiety with the Word of God

Anxiety cripples people at different stages of their life. It can appear in various forms. Most of the time, it is the worry that causes anguish. For some, it is particular circumstances or life experiences that trigger anxiety. People who suffer from anxiety feel sadness, anger, hopelessness, fatigue, and other symptoms. The feelings can be intense and pull one into a deep dark place.

The Bible mentions anxiety in Proverbs 12:25, where it says, “Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but an appropriate word is encouraging.” Christians should be encouraged to turn to the Bible to deal with anxiety. It has examples of people who have suffered from anxiety. These characters, like the people of today, were prone to severe pressures.

Bible characters who experienced anxiety

We first see Adam and Eve express pressure after they sinned against God. Billy Graham once said, “Sin is any thought that falls short of God’s will. God is perfect, and anything we do that falls short of his perfection is a sin.”

Adam and Eve produced the first act of sin breaking the perfection they shared with the creator God. They created another problem between themselves and God by avoiding him. Imagine what went through their mind when they anticipated God’s wrath for disobeying him. This is how anxiety and fear blossomed on the earth and continues today in various forms.

Fortunately, Christians can tackle anxiety by looking to the Bible for encouragement. By learning from those before us, we can see how they handled pressure in their situation. Many characters in the Bible suffered from anxiety. Each one can shed light on those going through similar situations to tackle the intense feelings that come with anxiety.

Moses was a man of many responsibilities who was tired and weary from the weight of it. From the moment he was called by God to deliver the Israelites from the harsh hand of Pharaoh, there were stressful events. God spoke to Him through a burning bush that would not burn out. This served to remove any doubt that he might have had about his assignment. Moses felt unprepared and unqualified for the task, bringing about feelings of self-doubt.

Even in present times, we might feel that we are being called to do something much bigger than ourselves, much like Moses. God, in His wisdom, was aware of Moses’ feelings. He promised Moses that He would be with him, providing him with others who would help him along the way.

Moses was being called to trust God in this situation that seemed humanly impossible. This is also something God calls us to do now when he directs our lives. He promises not to leave us, but to provide us with the Holy Spirit that encourages us in moments of doubt.

God offers us not to be anxious. Moments of uncertainty, like relocation, job changes, and other life decisions, can make us anxious. Looking at the life of Moses, we are encouraged to walk into the unknown with the unrelenting faith that He who brought us here will see us through our trials.

In the story of Moses, we see him being obedient to the call of God. Though he goes back to Egypt to free his people, it is not an easy road for him. Sometimes life can be hard when we are doing the very thing God has called us to. It can feel like we have been let down and abandoned. This can leave us feeling hopeless and in deep despair.

In his moment of despair, Moses called out to God. Even though he was feeling let down, he still went back to the One who called Him. This serves to encourage us when things do not go as we hoped, or we are faced with challenges that make us question the love and presence of God. We should not be persuaded by what’s happening on the outside as a reflection of who God is. Our feelings should only show us there is something wrong.

Jesus tells us that we will have trouble in this world, but we are to take heart as He has overcome it. We should also be encouraged to take our worries, anxieties, and disappointments to God, just like Moses did so that we are comforted and directed to our next steps.

In Matthew 6:28 God tells us to consider the birds and the lilies of the field, how He cares for those, and how much more will He care for us, His children. This reassurance in Scripture shows us that God loves us and will never leave us, even in moments it feels like He has.

In the New Testament, we are introduced to two sisters Martha and Mary. They were close acquaintances of Jesus and the beloved sisters of Lazarus, who Jesus raised from the dead. One evening when they were hosting Jesus and the disciples at their home, Jesus tells Martha that she is anxious about many things.

She is, at this time, focused on being a good host, keeping busy, and failing to just sit and be in the presence of Jesus like her sister Mary. Just like the busyness of today’s world, we also face many things that call for our attention. For us to attend to it all may leave us feeling drained and unable to rest.

Martha’s situation helps us realize the inability to prioritize what’s important so that we are not as anxious. When we prioritize spending time with Jesus, we allow ourselves to fill and replenish so we can face whatever is staring at us. Anxiety can creep in when we feel busy and are not paying attention to the things that matter. Jesus is calling Martha to a world that balances worship and service. It can also speak to those people who find it hard to rest.

Bible verses to confront anxiety

In today’s world stress and busyness have become a badge of honor without taking time to rest and letting others serve us. Many situations can cause us to be anxious in this life. God our Father is aware of that. Below are more Bible verses about anxiety that should bring us encouragement when faced with an anxiety-inducing situation:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. – Philippians 4:6

Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened for you. – Matthew 7:7

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55: 8-9

The fact that there are Bible verses about the issue of anxiety and fear means God is aware that we will feel that way sometimes. It is not a sin to be anxious, but He encourages us in those moments to go to Him because He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)

God wants us to be free from anxiety as he mentions in 1 Corinthians 7:32. However, as life has it sometimes, anxiety is not always a question of faith but the result of so many things that could be out of our control.

When it is time to get help

As much as we have the advantage of using Bible verses about anxiety to encourage us, Christians are not immune to toxic work environments, abusive relationships, or any other situations that threaten our sense of safety. Because of this, it might be hard to walk the road to recovery alone. When anxiety is limiting one’s ability to function it might be time to consider seeking therapy.

Christian and Bible-based therapy can help in the following:

• Identifying the particular causes and triggers of your anxiety.
• Identifying the specifics of your condition.
• Working on a personalized recovery plan.
• Integrating the use of medication if needed.
• Validating feelings and fears.
• Giving hope for the future because of having someone to help.

If you or anyone you know is struggling to make the best of their life because of anxiety, do get in touch with our offices. We have qualified Christian therapists who are trained to walk the journey with you and bring about noticeable change. There is hope. Reach out to us today to set up an appointment!