We all have worries in life from various situations and challenges. No matter how calm someone seems, everyone has their own story. Solomon's wise words capture this idea.
Proverbs 12:25 'Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. '
What is the cause for our anxiety ? its a emotion that is created by a inner feeling of an over anticipated things. Anxiety is different from fear. Fear is defined as the emotional response to a real threat, whereas anxiety is the anticipation of a future threat.
We often find ourselves in moments of anxiety when we're uncertain about how our current situation will unfold. Because the eventual outcome is unknown, our minds tend to generate negative thought patterns that amplify this anxiety within us.
Impacts of Anxiety in Spiritual Life
As we travel with God and express our faith, there are times when we still feel very anxious. These moments of anxiety can affect our spiritual relationship with God.
1) We give a foot to Satan
When we are filled with Anxiety, we are letting our mind be a prime target for Satan to attack us.
1 Peter 5:8 'Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. '
Mind attack - When our mind is sober due to the anxieties we face in the world, we give a foot for Satan to attack us as he is looking for ways to make us weak ‘Be alert and of sober mind.’ is in the context of anxiety that grips our mind, As peter advices 1 Peter 5:7 'Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. '
Dependence with God - When we unknowingly give room to Satan, he attacks our thinking, making us feel alone in tough times and painting a gloomy picture of the future. He tricks us into thinking we're solely responsible for our situation, trying to distance us from relying on God.
Focus on Problem - We start missing our prayer, walk with God, we are constantly thinking of the problem and the possible solutions for the problem. We often forget that our God is greater and more powerful than the challenges we face, fully capable of resolving our issues.
Waling away from the Will of God - Once we start focusing on the problem we start making decisions on our own, many times it will be against the Will of God
Earlier passage in 1 Peter 5:8 he described the devil as “a roaring lion” Isaiah 30:16-17 'You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore you will flee! You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift! A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.” ' When you willingly bring your worries to Him, He seizes the opportunity; but if you flee, the adversary pursues swiftly! The pursuing hound gains the upper hand over the fleeing one! “‘We will ride off on swift horses.’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift! “
2) We slide back to Old ways
Matthew 6:31-32 'So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. '
We get our anxieties as we lack to know what the outcome is, Jesus described this very simple. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ , Translating this to the present context for better understanding: How can I manage the loan payments? How do I afford that school for my daughter? Which car should I choose? What job opportunity awaits me? When will the promotion come my way?
In times of anxiety, we often don't express, "God knows the right school for my children," or "God has the timing for my promotion," or "God guides my career choices and changes." Speaking these words with heartfelt faith in Jesus can defeat the enemy's influence in those moments.
Lots of Christians try to juggle their trust in Christ with living in the world, wanting the best of both. But this can make us anxious as we depend on ourselves and what the world wants, forgetting that God knows what we really need. As the promise from God says “your heavenly Father knows that you need them. '”
Jesus Explains very clearly “For the pagans run after all these things” , when we have our thinking like these then we are turning back to old ways of how we lived before we were born again.
We gradually slip (backsliding) away from the faith of Christ. Our thinking becomes tainted, shifting our reliance from Christ to ourselves.
God’s Advice on Anxiety
Pauls Advice
Philippians 4:6 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ‘
1st Advice - Paul who has lived a life of great struggle, gives us a practical advice “Do not be anxious about anything,” When he mentions “about anything”, it refers to our own self, our family circumstances, our surroundings, and so on.
2nd Advice - Paul gives a great advice for us “but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” When we are filled with the situation of Anxiety, he asks us to do the following
“but in every situation, by prayer” - Pray to God - When you pray to God, you express, "God, I'm uncertain about what steps to take, but I place my trust in You to resolve my issue.”
“by prayer and petition,” - The Word says it Prayer and Petition - The Bible teaches that prayer involves asking for things. Just like you ask for help when submitting a request to someone, you also humbly ask God for assistance. You let Him know where you're starting from and share your request, Go to ground Zero in front of him. For example, when you're trying to decide who to marry, you could pray, "God, I'm not sure who to marry. I trust You to make the decision and show me the way.”
“with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” - As believers in Christ, use moments of anxiety to draw closer to God. These times can make our spiritual life stronger. So, be thankful for these moments as they help us grow spiritually. When you thank God, the enemy's power lessens, and God's plan succeeds sooner.
Jesus Advice
Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV) - ' Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. '
Jesus asks us to turn to Him in the times of Anxious moments - “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Jesus says - Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. '
Visualize the yoke of a bull. When observing a bull pulling a cart, the yoke bears the complete weight of the entire cart, placing the entire load on the bull. We never witness the bull carrying only half of the load while the other half is carried by something else.
The word is clear, We are to come to Jesus - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, Give all your anxieties to Him entirely; we shouldn't partially rely on Him while also trying to handle things ourselves. When we surrender to Him, it should be a complete and full surrender.
God’s promise is “ye shall find rest unto your souls. “ During anxious times, He grants us peace. Even when things are uncertain, we can feel calm, knowing God is completely in control.
Our anxious moments makes us worry about the future, Jesus says don’t worry about tomorrow - Matthew 6:34 (NIV) - 'Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.'
Jesus asks us not to worry because he cares for all his children every day to solve our problem. Psalms 68:19 (NIV) 'Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. ' We are being deceived by Satan to make us believe that we are alone when we are in the anxious situation
God holds the keys for our lives as he knows what our past / present and future is going to be. The future is not in our hands— God holds the future! James 4:14 (NIV) 'Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. '
God’s advice for us is not to worry as we cannot change the situation with our anxiety by worrying about the situation Luke 12:25-26 (NIV) 'Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life ? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
God advice to us Luke 12:31,34 (NIV) 'But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. '
Strive for actions that bring joy to God. When you feel worried, transform those moments into prayers, expressing your requests and gratitude. Ask for God's intervention and let His glory shine in your circumstances.
Direct your focus towards God's tasks and His problem-solving actions. This will bring about a calming peace that safeguards you from anxiety during tough situations. Make a conscious decision to hold God dear in your heart and strive for His kingdom, enabling you to overcome anxiety-ridden moments.
Even if there are many troubles, God's comfort can bring happiness and peace to the situation. Psalms 94:19 'When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. '