How To Deal With Christian Anxiety

By Flossie Gibbs


Scripture contains a command: "Be anxious for nothing." This is not a suggestion, but many people find this divine order hard to obey. However, the peace that God promises to give us is destroyed by worry. What is a believer to do when Christian anxiety takes over?

Anxious thoughts are normal for human beings. However, God knows that stress is bad for us, both physically and mentally. After all, He made us. He gave us free will, we choose to sin, we then face consequences that trouble us, and we choose to worry. God has provided a way out. He forgives our sins and He promises to work all things for good for us who love Him.

Sounds like a deal to me. However, to allow God to work, we must surrender our will to His. He never forces His will on us in a spiritual sense. If we choose to hold on to our worries and our fears, He allows us to do so. He may woo us gently with His Word and with godly testimony and counsel from out fellow believers. He may let circumstances bring us to our knees - the perfect posture for surrender.

God made us. Therefore He knows our weaknesses, just as He knows that stress is bad for us. God asks us to turn our worries over to Him and to trust Him to bring all things to a good conclusion. Jesus defeated sin and death on the cross, and He promises to be with us as we live in this fallen world.

So we have to surrender all to Him. We meed to acknowledge that His will is supreme, that our expectations are not the framework for our lives, that we do not know best, and that we are not and cannot be in control. This is hard for human beings to accept, but surrender is the first step to peace. We give up so God can and does step into our circumstances.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way. These words from a popular hymn tell the truth. Faith is really trusting the Lord to know all and provide all, working always to our best advantage. Our part is offering praise and thanksgiving, bringing our petitions and burdens to Him, and knowing that His grace is sufficient. We do not need to see more than the next step as we follow our God.

This turning over of control is not easy. Many people never do learn to trust and obey. Human nature leads all people to worry and fear, but our lives are not meant to be ruled by human traits. Fortunately, God gives us the gift of faith - which is really belief in Him - and much evidence of His care and His goodness.

If you suffer from Christian anxiety, use it as a signal that you need to spend time with Jesus. Read the Word, praise and pray, and listen to His voice. Godly counsel can help as well, so fellowship with believers is important. Above all, don't waste time and energy worrying when you could be full of joy and peace.




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