Find Help for Anxiety: A Christian Perspective

Do you find yourself waking up in the morning, your mind already racing with worries about the day ahead? Maybe it's the literal never-ending to-do list, the looming deadlines at work, or the uncertainties about the future. Whatever it may be, chronic anxiety can feel like a heavy burden to carry, but as a Christian therapist, I want to share some practical insights and scriptures to help you understand anxiety from a biblical perspective and what God has to say about it.

Anxiety is a common experience for many women… even Christian women.  From the small, nagging worries to the overwhelming sense of panic, we all encounter moments when anxiety creeps in and threatens to steal our peace. You're not alone in this struggle, and it's important to acknowledge the feelings of fear and uncertainty. However, though the world may accept and even embrace anxiety as “normal,” Christians should not simply put up with a spirit of fear (yes, 2 Timothy 2:17 calls fear a spirit)- we are called to live differently by acknowledging that ongoing fear and anxiety is a spiritual battle that should be fought with the Word!

Something I’ve noticed in other Christians and even in my own past is that we’ve stopped believing God-

We have let the cares of this world drown out the truth of the Bible. We tend to believe that what we see, hear, and feel trumps what the Word of God says… and this becomes our downfall. I used to think is that the promises of God for safety, protection, and provision were just not true for me since they were not evident in my life. The ironic thing is that because of my prior unbelief and the tendency to judge the Word of God by my experiences, I missed out on those promises. Yes, faith (unwavering belief) in God’s Word is that crucial. It’s when we believe God wholeheartedly, despite our experiences, that we begin to see His promises come to fruition.

"Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11 speaks of the absolute power of faith as it is a spiritual principle to receive the promises of God. Every person in the Bible had to hold on to God’s promises as a “done deal” in order to receive them. I’ve determined that if something goes awry in my life or if I constantly feel like things are not going as I had hoped, it’s never God’s fault.  It’s my responsibility to believe and speak God’s truth and that is what sets the course of my path.

With that said, let’s look at examples of frequent anxiety and what the Word says about it.

A common form of daily anxiety is anticipatory anxiety, where we fret about future events or outcomes that haven't even happened yet. For example, you might find yourself worrying excessively about an upcoming presentation at work, imagining all the things that could go wrong. Maybe you’re worried about how to pay your bills or the safety of your children. In moments like these, it's important to remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:34: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." This verse reminds us to focus on the present moment and trust that God will give us the strength to face whatever challenges come our way.

Jesus himself commanded us not to worry about what’s to come. Yet, you may be wondering how can I obey that command? The answer to this is full trust in the One who knows all things and has an answer to all things. The answer is knowing the fullness of his love and devotion to you because perfect loves casts out fear (1 John 4:18). My child trusts me to care for him, provide for him, and teach him the answers to life’s problems. If I do all these things for my child, how much more will the best Father take care of you? Your faith in Him and His goodness gives Him the yes to move on your behalf.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.” Jeremiah 17:7

I lived most of my life with anxiety over just about every facet of my life. At one point, I began having panic attacks and then I became fearful of the panic attacks themselves. I was once engulfed with fear, until I got the revelation that thoughts are the enemy’s warfare against me in His plan to make me doubt God. My war is not against circumstances or people… it’s against the seeds of doubt and unbelief the enemy attempts to plant in my mind. This is why knowing the truth of God and about God is the main spiritual weapon we have.

As believers, we have a crucial job- believe! “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5. This means that when we feel fear or anxiety, we recognize it as thoughts that are not obedient to Christ and we believe and speak the truth. The truth can really set you free!

Friends, God is the source of your peace. This does not mean that you will not face trials- in fact, we are promised to go through some things that will develop our faith and our dependence for Him. It does mean that through it all, God does not leave you and He has a plan for you that is good. Will you trust the God of miracles and wonders today?

Practical Tips for Reducing Anxiety:

1.    Acknowledge: It is not helpful to ignore anxiety. Acknowledge when you notice fear creeping in and identify the source. Take a moment to notice what thoughts are creating these feelings and write them down.

2.    Examine: Take a moment to examine whether the thought(s) are a real and viable threat to you. Make sure to use facts not feelings when determining this. No need to let your mind wander about the possible outcomes of the threat. Is there actual danger or is this worry?

3.    Breathwork and Meditation on God’s Word: When you notice anxiety, take a moment to do the 4-7-8 breathwork. Breathing deeply sends signals to your brain that you are calm and not in a panic. Breathe in for 4 seconds through your nose, hold your breath for 7 seconds, and breathe out of your mouth for 8 seconds. As you do this, meditate on a scripture that speaks to your anxiety. Here's one I like to use: “This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him” Psalm 91:2.

4.    Journal: If you wrote down what you are anxious about, begin to write what God’s Word (the truth) says about those things. This will be a process of renewing your mind as is mentioned in Romans 12:2. God’s Word is transformative, but only if you know it and put your trust in it.

5. Gratitude: It's harder to worry when you're thankful for so much. Think about this- if you woke up tomorrow with only what you were thankful for today, what would you have? This questions prompts us to think about the abundance of blessings we live with. Take time to pray and/or write down what you are grateful to have. In everything, give thanks!

In a nutshell, the answer to your daily anxiety is trusting God again. Let's be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Allow the words of the Bible to renew your mind to truth and let's not give the enemy one ounce of space in our minds with his lies of worry, doubt, and insecurity.

Devotionals and Journals