CHRISTIAN AND ANXIETY

CHRISTIAN AND ANXIETY

Israel could already tell the anxiety medicine he had given for me was working as I sat in his office.

“I had no idea life could be this difficult. Concerning my children playing in the front yard, I have no worries. My thoughts don’t race through the night and scare me. The “fight or flight” response doesn’t seem to apply to me. And these are really the little details,” I added.

Christian and Anxiety, I’ve had depression for years, and I’ve taken my medication religiously. But because of the tension, life remained challenging. I didn’t know it was anxiety at the time; I thought I had a terrible medical condition. As soon as a buddy advised this kind of intervention, I went to the doctor and then a counselor.

Just believe more, everyone kept urging me. Just be more faith-filled. Just give it more prayer.

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Since anxiety is frequently mistaken for just being the result of excessive stress, it is not as straightforward as that. The mental health condition known as anxiety, which is marked by physical alterations in the brain, is distinct from the sin of anxiety. Anxiety is a problem with both mental and spiritual wellbeing.

A mental health condition called anxiety is defined by significant sensations of worry, anxiety, or dread that interfere with daily tasks. It frequently includes obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and panic attacks. For people like me, anxiety and depression often coexist, and I’m not alone in this. Unfortunately, anxiety disorders are on the rise, making it essential for the Church to comprehend the epidemic we are dealing with.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that:

• The most prevalent mental ailment in the US is anxiety disorders, which affect 40 million adults (18 and older) annually, or 18.1% of the total population.

• Only 36.9% of people with anxiety disorders obtain therapy, despite the fact that they are quite curable.

• When compared to individuals who do not have anxiety disorders, those with anxiety disorders are three to five times more likely to visit the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric illnesses.

• An intricate web of risk factors, such as genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events, contributes to the development of anxiety disorders.

Biblical Methods for Managing Anxiety

If you’re anything like me, worry and anxiety occasionally lead to issues in life. Some of us have a sincere background. Some of us have it in our genes; it’s a family trait. Some of us develop anxiety problems as we navigate the myriad challenges of life.

I have personal experience with the feeling of anxiety. Concerns appear to keep me from achieving my goals at work, at home, and in my relationships. Worry and anxiety can act as anchors that prevent me from moving forward.

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Can you identify with this? But that isn’t how it ought to be. We have the tools necessary to live an anxiety-free life as Christians.

In this piece, I lay out one Christian’s viewpoint on how that is possible and provide biblical techniques for managing worry. But first, let me explain why anxiety has no place in the life of a Christian.

The Ineffectiveness of Anxiety

Who among us, according to Matthew 6:27, can lengthen their lives by worrying all the time? There is no response. How can we do anything if we are worried all the time? We get trapped and distracted by anxiety.

Anxiety Renders Us Unable to Enjoy the Present

Whether our concern is focused on the future or the past, it pulls us away from the moment. We miss everything the present has to offer when we are not in the moment. If we don’t take use of the current moment while we have it, we will miss it later.

Anxiety is in contravention to God’s Word.

Many instructions in the Bible address anxiety:

• Do not worry about nothing (Philippians 4:6).

• Fear not (Isaiah 41:10). By the way, there are 364 other times in the Bible when this is commanded.

• Be not worried in your hearts (John 14:1).

• Do not be alarmed (Joshua 1:9).

The enemy of faith is anxiety.

Anxiety is a Waste of Time and Energy

We squander time and miss out on the important things in life when we let our anxious thoughts and concerns consume us. We might overlook the following:

• interaction and ties with relatives (spouse, parents, children, etc.).

• interacting and relating to God.

• interacting with and reaching out to those in need around us.

• Organizing, organizing, and focusing our efforts productively.

Christ Empowers Us to Overcome Anxiety

So focus on taking action and practice restraint. (1 Peter 1:13)

Love the Lord, your God, with all of your mind, soul, and strength. (Matt. 22:37).

Focus on things that are above rather than on things that are on earth. (See Col. 3:2)

Fix your attention on things that are real, honorable, right, pure, beautiful, and admirable. Consider the best and most deserving things in life. (Philippians 4:8).

How to Shift Your Attention from Worry to Christ

Here are some strategies to assist you manage your anxiety and shift your attention from your own issues to Christ.

Change Your Thinking

By being more conscious of the situations that make you feel anxious, you can alter your way of thinking. You can be aware of your emotions and make deliberate decisions to turn your attention to Christ. Accept that He is enough to assist you and deliver you from whatever is causing you to feel anxious.

Be Grateful

According to studies, those who feel grateful have longer, happier lives. Create a gratitude diary, send a letter of appreciation, volunteer your time at a nearby nonprofit, or spend some time in focused prayer of thanksgiving to God. You have a lot to be grateful for thanks to God. Your attitude can change from concern to tranquility if you take the effort to find it and acknowledge it.

Self-Care is a Good Practice

Prioritize your health by putting exercise, a balanced diet, enough sleep, and social interaction first. Find the things that make you happy and energetic, and schedule time for them without hesitation. Ensure your own wellbeing.

Create Space for Joy

The brain releases endorphins in response to laughter. Additionally beneficial to your heart and immune system, laughter also relaxes your entire body.

Consult a Christian counselor to manage your anxiety

Christian counseling is a great place to start when you want to address whatever is making you feel uncomfortable or concerned. You can start to locate the answers you’re looking for with a qualified Christian counselor’s assistance.

I would be honored to work alongside you as you begin this difficult and significant healing process.

How to Conquer Anxiety

Give your Life and Your Thoughts to Christ 

At its finest, anxiety keeps us from our connection with God and the reality that He is “Lord of heaven and earth,” as Billy Graham famously remarked ( Matthew 11:25). At its worst, anxiety is a debilitating illness that takes over our minds and causes our thoughts to become dark.

The Bible continues, “but in everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God,” in Philippians chapter 4. And in Christ Jesus, the peace of God, which transcends all comprehension, will keep watch over your hearts and minds.

Putting your life in the hands of Jesus Christ is the first step to overcoming anxiety. Following this action, you should practice training your thoughts to stay on Christ and his promises. (John 14:2-3). We are to train awareness of our ideas and capture them captive in the battleground of our brains.

Lastly, brothers, give thought to all that is true, all that is honorable, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, all that is admirable, all that is excellent, all that is praiseworthy. Practice everything you’ve learned, gotten, heard, and seen from me, and the God of peace will be with you Philippians 4:8-9, ESV, emphasis added.

Ask for a prayer of anointing

It’s crucial for Christians to comprehend how anxiety alters us. It modifies how we see things. Our physical bodies are put to the test. We are aware that the adrenaline rush that feels like we are fleeing from the Zombie Apocalypse has no rational basis. We are aware that we should pray our concerns gone.

We are aware that we should turn to God and fix our minds on Christ. We are aware that our bodies and minds are battlegrounds. We are aware that it is not a Philippians 4 issue. We are aware that that is absurd. However, we can pray for anointing.

We can request that our fellow Christians put their preconceptions aside and lay hands on us. We can request that. We may request for help.

The Gospel is Everything

We who experience anxiety often feel as though our emotions and thoughts are actively attempting to harm us. At the same time, we are aware that our emotions are deceitful and never to be trusted.

Our guts drop to the floor as a result of the feeling of dread and panic. The feeling of impending doom is extremely draining. We do, however, have one anchor. The gospel secures us while our emotions work to sever us. Our lifeline is it.

We are aware that God pre-selected us and that the world we inhabit is a fallen one. Without a doubt, we know that God is with us. He can heal us and doesn’t want us to be in pain. We don’t know how he will heal us, though.

Will it continue to be a pain in our sides as I am? I have a medical issue that causes anxiety and depression. I’ve had to carry this cross in order to dispel the stigma associated with mental illness, suicide, and the church.

My platform has been to help individuals who are affected by the condition understand it and to provide the truth to others who don’t.

Will God grant us a miraculous healing? Will He employ family, friends, Christian therapists, intercessory prayer, and medicine? All of these methods of healing by God have been observed occasionally in combination.

Self Care is God’s Care

Sometimes when we least expect it, anxiety strikes. When we have too much on our plates, it occurs. When we add excessive amounts of hustling, busyness, action, and yes votes. Our bodies can only refuse in order to protect itself.

And our bodies shut down in unexpected ways. God did not intend for us to work nonstop. We were created by God to be still and know. Being still refers to finding peace in God’s presence.

This verse wasn’t composed with a spa day in mind. It was written with the idea of conflict in mind. The Psalm urges readers to put an end to their efforts and their conflicts.

It means to recognize the identity of our God and to be in awe of him. We should practice being still before God every day. It prevents the world in our brains from whirling out of control. That refers to ceasing to be active and not hustling.

We are to put spending time with Him first and pay attention to what our bodies require. Get plenty of rest, work out, establish a regular nighttime pattern, get eight hours of sleep, and eat healing foods. This is how we fight the anxiety struggle.

Consult the Three Counselors

To treat anxiety, you should consult with three specialists. Your physician, your therapist, and your pastor.

The next step is to see your pastor for spiritual direction, accountability, and prayer after you’ve seen your doctor to see whether it’s a chemical imbalance in your brain. The following expert is crucial: a biblical counselor. Christian values-based cognitive talk therapy is crucial.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NIMH) estimates that the effectiveness of current treatments for mental diseases in lowering symptoms and enhancing quality of life ranges from 70% to 90%.

The NIMH adds that the importance of early detection cannot be overstated. It lessens the possibility of additional brain damage. Faster healing is also achieved with early intervention.

Scripture about Anxiety

Throughout my recovery process, there were times when all I could do was hold my Bible, which gave me a great deal of comfort. As frequently as the anxiety, depression, and terror passed through my mind, the promises of God did as well.

As I worked through counseling, saw my pastor’s wife, friends, took my medication, and discovered how to be still before God, I started to heal over time. Here are a few crucial verses that will encourage you to put your trust in God and lessen your fear.

Have I not told you to? Be fearless and strong. The Lord, your God, will be with you wherever you go, so do not be frightened or disheartened. Joshua 1:9.

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one that is full of power, love, and wisdom instead. Second Timothy 1:7

Love is free of fear. But since fear is associated with punishment, pure love dispels it. Fearful people are not made perfect by love. ~ 1 John 4:18

“When I was experiencing a lot of anxiety, your comfort made me happy inside.” ~ Psalm 94:19

“However, the Lord now says…

Do not be alarmed because I have redeemed you and have called you by name; you are mine in Isaiah 43:1.