Each of us experiences anxiety at some point in our lives. Students fret about tests, grades, and friends. Adults worry about jobs and bills. Mothers and Fathers struggle with anxious thoughts about their children. Grandparents worry about what type of world their grandchildren and great-grandchildren will live in. Anxiety affects us all.
Thankfully, God does not leave us to struggle with anxiety alone. He not only cares about our feelings; He has experienced them. In the incarnation, Jesus added humanity to His divinity (Philippians 2:5-8). He lived a human life and experienced the common emotions that we do (Hebrews 2:17; 4:15).
When He prayed in Gethsemane, Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow and anxiety about the coming crucifixion (Matthew 26:38-39). The suffering He was going to endure was unimaginably painful. Despite the fear and anxiety, Christ trusted and obeyed the Father.
Our Savior is aware of what it feels like to suffer. He understands our feelings of anxiety.
Because Jesus empathizes with us, we can find help and comfort in Him whenever we face situations that make us anxious. We do so by praying, reading Scripture, and obeying Christ’s command to keep our eyes fixed on the Kingdom. Anxious thoughts crowd our minds less when we are focusing on obeying God.
Also, the Lord has provided us with the Holy Spirit who lives inside each believer and is called our Advocate, Comforter, Counselor, and Helper in various translations (see John 14:16, 26). Even if we find that we do not have words to explain the anxiety we feel, the Spirit can convey the most complex and difficult of emotions to the Father (Romans 8:26-27).
We are not alone or without help.
If you are struggling with anxiety, take heart. There are multiple ways that you can find help from God to deal with the situations and events that cause worry. The important thing is to not allow anxious thoughts to drive you away from the Lord. He cares about you and wants you to come to Him with all your worries and fears (1 Peter 5:7).
Here are five ways to let God handle your anxiety.
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1. Pray about the Anxiety
Believers enter an everlasting relationship with the Lord the moment they place faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection for salvation. Like any relationship, individuals must spend time with one another and converse regularly. Thus, part of being in a personal relationship with the Lord involves praying.
We can talk to God about anything, including our anxiety. He wants us to tell Him when we are struggling or feeling overwhelmed with worry (see Philippians 4:6). The Lord cares about every part of our life, not just what we would label as “spiritual.” He is interested in major and small events, peaceful days and stressful ones.
There are many ways to present your anxieties to God in prayer. You can pray silently or audibly. However, if you are struggling to stay focused, then writing your prayers may prove more beneficial. You could pen your prayer in a journal, notebook, or online in a document.
Using prewritten prayers, such as the Psalms or those found in a book of prayer, is also a helpful way to pray when you do not know how to articulate your thoughts and feelings.
Regardless of the way you choose to pray, whether through speaking or writing, remember to regularly talk to God in prayer. You do not have to wait until anxious thoughts fill your mind. Make it a habit to pray and converse with the Lord as you would a friend.
God might not automatically take away the anxiety, but turning your focus to Him can change your perspective and give you comfort.
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2. Lean into God’s Strength
At first glance, this point might seem cliché. We have all heard about Christians who insensitively tell those who are struggling with anxiety that they “just need more faith.” The assumption is that they are not drawing strength from the Lord or trusting in Him.
Despite these accusations, anxiety is not always something we can control. None of us willingly choose to feel anxious.
We are wrong to pit faith against anxiety. From a biblical standpoint, believers can choose to find strength in God amid the surging thoughts of anxiety and uncomfortable feelings of tension. Having faith in the Lord does not mean anxiety will disappear, but it does provide the strength to continue when worried.
For example, David experienced anxiety when he fled from Saul and hid in caves. Multiple Psalms convey his fears and worries during this challenging time (see Psalms 57 and 142). Despite the trouble that surrounded him, David trusted the Lord and found comfort in the truth that God is a refuge to those who trust Him (Psalm 57:1; Psalm 142:5).
Likewise, Esther was anxious when Mordecai instructed her to go to Xerxes and request help for her people. She knew that the king could kill her for entering his presence without permission, and therefore had a legitimate reason to feel anxious (Esther 4:11-13). However, she spent time praying and fasting, which helped her find strength in God to carry out her mission (Esther 4:15-16).
Believers today can also find hope amid anxiety by remembering that God is their refuge. He is “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). We might still have worries about a task or event, but we can find courage by leaning into God’s strength instead of our own.
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3. Memorize and Meditate on Bible Verses
Another way that we can let God handle our anxiety is by memorizing and meditating on Bible verses. Scripture is “alive and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12, NLT). It is also a weapon in the armor of God that can help us cut through the anxious thoughts that distract us (Ephesians 6:17). By memorizing and meditating on Scripture, we store up God’s truth in our minds and hearts which the Holy Spirit can use to protect and guide us.
Whenever we struggle with worries or anxious thoughts, we can recall a portion of God’s Word. The reminder may not immediately alleviate our discomfort, but it can ground us in truth. A verse or passage can serve as a rock or anchor that we cling to during challenging moments.
The following list of verses is a good place to start storing Scripture in your mind and heart. Take time to carefully read, memorize, and mull on them.
Some individuals memorize by regularly reading and practicing the verse, while others hold onto the verse by copying it into a journal or notebook. Listening to an audio version of the verse is another way to allow the truth of God’s Word to sink in deeply.
At the end of the day, though, the goal is not to memorize tons of verses for the sake of checking off a spiritual checklist. Spending time meditating and memorizing the Bible is meant to impact your everyday life.
The Holy Spirit can remind you of a verse when you worry, but other times, you will need to make an active effort to turn your mind toward the truth. Engage with the Bible and allow God to transform you and give you a new perspective.
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4. Spend Time with God
Praying, finding strength in God, reading the Bible, and memorizing verses all happen within the context of a relationship with the Lord. Are we making our relationship with Him a priority? Or do we only read the Bible at church and pray a few seconds before going to bed?
The modern world is filled with anxiety-inducing distractions. Noise surrounds us, whether from the physical noises of cars and chatter or the informational “noise” of news and social media. In the Western world, we are so accustomed to hectic and stressful lifestyles that we have trouble finding room for God in our everyday lives. We need to carve out time to slow down and spend time without our Creator and Savior. Doing so will help us be still and rest in the presence of the Lord.
Personal time alone with God is essential in the life of a disciple. We all need to set aside time to be with the Lord, listening and talking to Him. To do so, we should find a regular place and time to meet with the Lord.
You could go outdoors or find a small area in your house where you can read Scripture, pray, and worship. If Susanna Wesley, the mother of Charles and John Wesley, could make space and time in her busy life to be alone with God by covering her head with an apron, then surely, we have no excuse.
Enjoying our Savior by intentionally spending time with Him can renew our hope and peace, even if we regularly struggle with anxiety. Jesus invites us to come to Him and receive rest (Matthew 11:28).
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5. Accept Medical Treatment and Therapy as Part of God’s Grace
Finally, we can also allow God to help us with our anxiety by accepting medical care as part of His general grace to humanity. This is a critical point to note since some Christians are hesitant to seek medical care if they struggle with chronic and overwhelming anxiety. We need to end the stigma surrounding mental health and recognize treatment as part of God’s goodness.
The Lord gives all people numerous gifts of provision. He allows the sun to rise and sends rain to the earth to bring forth crops (see Matthew 5:45 and Acts 14:17). Under this general grace, He has also provided medical advances, such as medicine, surgery, and therapy. Therefore, Christians should utilize modern treatments for anxiety and any related illnesses with a spirit of gratitude. No believer should feel ashamed for taking medication for excessive worry or anxious thoughts. Neither should they think they are less spiritual for going to therapy.
Church leaders need to educate members about the reality of mental health and provide support to those who are struggling. All believers need to learn to better approach topics of mental health like anxiety so that they can more fully demonstrate God’s love to others. We are better witnesses of Christ and His goodness when we do so.
If you have excessive worries and ongoing anxiety that impact your daily life, then know that there is nothing wrong with seeking help. The Lord, in His kindness and goodness, has given us doctors, counselors, and therapists who can help with various treatments and support. One way that you can let God handle your anxiety is to utilize the resources He has graciously provided.
Everyone experiences anxiety. However, believers have the promise of God’s presence and help in every circumstance. When we are anxious and afraid, we can turn to the Lord and find peace, trusting that He understands and cares about us.
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Originally published Tuesday, 30 January 2024.