Anxiety is similar to Fear, but different. I see Anxiety as cousin to Fear.
Fear mostly are more specific to certain things, like speaking in public, heights, fear of rejection, etc.
Anxiety is really about dealing with a lot of “what ifs” constantly, uncontrollably floating in your mind. It feels like our mind is being pulled apart.
So I have been on a diet and exercise regimen starting in July and I feel physically well! But recently, I was with some friends at work and we were having a competition of who has the lowest blood pressure. I know it’s silly but when I checked my blood pressure and it was high.
I didn’t believe the results because I normally have low-normal blood pressure and so I checked again and the more I do it, the more anxious I get and the result was worse
I realized that in addition to making more changes to my personal lifestyle, there are recent events and situations that caused me stress and anxiety. And these things according to medical professional can cause a rise in our blood pressure. So I began to think about anxiety. Am I an anxious person?
Dealing with Anxiety differently
My beautiful wife, Joy can tell you that she deals with anxiety. And she’s pretty vocal about it and that’s how she deals with it.
As for me, people say that I am a more calm and even keeled person even when dealing with high pressure and stressful situations. But I realized that, that does not mean that I do not deal with anxiety. As I began to observe this in my life, I recently discovered how my body reacts to “suppressed” anxiety from different situations and triggers. I discovered that I do have a lot of anxiety. I just deal with it differently.
I recently read an article detailing a research that showed that the level of anxiety our elementary children experience daily is about the same level with patients in psychiatric wards in the 1950s technology.
Another research shows that 1 in 4 Americans suffer with anxiety problems.
Why is that? It is found that the amount of stimulus and information bombarded towards us today because of technology is astounding and it’s causing extreme mental fatigue that results in things like depression and anxiety.
And for the first time in a long time, recent research shows that life expectancy of our children are now shorter than their parents. I know this could be from many different factors but I do believe that anxiety stimulated by an overload of information and entertainment plays a big part!
If you are from the older generation, don’t look down on the kids today as if they are weaker and inferior to you. Mental health professionals have stated, and I agree with them, that if this type of technology exist when you were their age, you would be affected just the same.
But this article is not about going anti tech. I’m a tech guy. I love tech, gadgets and how we can use it for good.
But about how we deal with this thing called anxiety? As I studied the Word to help with my own situation, I felt like this study is a blessing to me and I want to share that with you today, hoping it will also bless you.
Philippians 4:6 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Just don’t. Have you ever asked someone for an advice about how not to worry and not to fear and their answer is..
“Just don’t” with a condescending tone? I have given that answer to Joy when she would discuss about her anxiety.
Why did I do that? Partly was because perhaps I was slightly annoyed by the same questions or topics being discussed repeatedly? Or maybe because I have ran out of answers? Or perhaps I was dealing with my own anxiety and I just couldn’t deal with hers at the moment. I don’t know for sure. But I know I have many times given her the “Just don’t” answer with a condescending tone.
This scripture I believe does not carry that tone. This verse in my view comes with a very gentle, loving, understanding and comforting tone saying “do not be anxious..”
Not Super-Christians. I believe that Jesus commissioned the church, not so that everyone in it are like “super christians” who are immune to fear, anxiety and depression.
That is sometimes how we present ourselves -like we have it all together- and we treat others who come to us with the problem according to that “mask”.
We treat those who are struggling with anxiety or fear or depression like they are inferior to us and almost shame them for feeling that way. When in reality we are struggling just the same.
Yes, I understand that there are people who dwell in their state of struggle for too long and need to be pushed or pulled out of it, not “babied”. But I think anxiety is a different type of monster.
You take an anxious person and pressure them and they will be more anxious. I just don’t think shaming them out of anxiety by making them feel bad for being anxious in the first place is not the intent of Paul writing this exhortation to the Philippians.
We will return to this scripture, but the point I want to make is that I disagree with those Christians who use this passage in a condescending way to shame those who are currently struggling with anxiety.
Supporting one another. I believe that Jesus commissioned the Church to be a place where the broken come together and experience healing together. Supporting one another.
Dealing with anxiety is not a solo act. I believe it’s a joint adventure. Do not do it alone but join a community of believers that are abiding and devoted to the Word of God and practicing love one another radically.
Galatians 6:2 (NIV) Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Carrying each other’s burden is not a solo act. There are others involved here.
We need others to carry our burdens and we need to carry others’ burdens. So to deal with Anxiety I believe being in a good community is a good start.
But the enemy sometimes use us to push people away from our own community with our self righteousness and judgmental spirit. The writer of Proverbs said,
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV) Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
Kindness to one another in our words and deeds.
Yes that means being kind to someone comes to you and share about their problems and struggles even when we have our own problems.
Yes that means being kind when someone is putting their needs above yours.
Yes that also means being kind when someone is rude and offensive to you.
Guess what? Those who are acting selfish and rude are most likely dealing with anxiety whether they know it or not. The Bible’s advice is to be kind.
And by kindly carrying each other’s burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ! That’s huge.
Now let me be clear that kindness is not compromising. Kindness is being considerate. Kindness in action could just mean being a good listener. But I know that kindness is not being judgemental and shaming others out of their struggles.
All I’m saying is, let us be a church that would be the “hospital” for the anxious.
Regarding anxiety Jesus said this.
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We are all hopefully very familiar with this passage and I won’t go into details on what I hope we all already know about changing our mindset through the understanding of God’s love, care and providence for us, which is certainly a powerful way for us to deal with anxiety.
Look at nature. I saw a different perspective from that passage that I found very interesting. Jesus encourages us to look to nature when we are in a state of worrying and anxious.
Maybe there is something to that.
When was the last time you just take a walk in the park? Unplug from technology and just enjoy nature? Just enjoy the beauty of God’s creation? Breathe the fresh air in? And in silence just consider that if God cares about his creation of flowers and grass on the field, how much more does he care for you?
A few weeks ago after a Bible study, two youths came up to me for prayer and the first one shared about how she was struggling to deal with problems at school and her personal life at home. She felt overwhelmed and was going into depression because of it.
So I started praying and basically just crying out to God for this youth. And I felt the Holy Spirit instructed me to stop praying, and He inspired me to start speaking to this youth.
I told her “This week take time to unplug. And to pursue silence. Take some time alone in nature and just allow God to speak to you out of the silence.”
That was it. Nature
I believe there is something that God placed in nature, when enjoyed, we feel a sense of calmness but also a sense of smallness compared to the vast beauty of God’s creation.
I remember hiking up one of the mountains in Mammoth, CA a few months ago and I felt so small when I looked up at the big beautiful mountain in front of me. I think the sense of smallness allow us to realize that God is big and our problems aren’t bigger than him!
So after praying and speaking to the first youth, the other youth shared her struggle about being in a constant state of anxiety because she was holding on to a feeling of rejection that she just couldn’t let go and it is eating her up.
This time the answer was different. This scripture came to mind.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
And she said, “Yes, I’ve been trying! But how do I do that?”
Then I remembered Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians,
Philippians 4:6 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
In every situation, pray.
I thought, “Is that all?” Isn’t there like a more spiritual, mind blowing, inspiring and catchy-social-media-post worthy answer that I can give? No. That was it.
I think most of us think that our circumstances are unique and require unique and fresh idea type of cure.
But recently I also was reminded that it is in the simplest, most plain and practical way, God would work and deal with our biggest issues.
I think this is the one most practical, simplest way to deal with Anxiety.
In every situation, pray. Yes every situation.
Ordering McDonalds, shopping at Target, browsing Facebook? Pray.
Really? What do I pray about? Like asking God which milk to buy or In-N-Out’s double-double or go animal style?
I don’t know. Maybe just a simple conversation with God?
But I do believe this. When you are intentionally praying in all situations, the Spirit will tell you what to pray for. And if the Bible tells me to do this so that I will not be anxious, I will at least give it a shot. I hope you will too.
But the Bible didn’t stop there. Do this (In every situation, pray) first.
And then add this to your constant praying. Thanksgiving.
Once our constant prayers turn into constant Thanksgiving prayers, I think we are casting our cares and anxiety on the Lord
I was conversing with a good friend after the service last week and she was sharing about how her grandson is struggling with anxiety. And by the amazing work of God, he is now being seen by specialists that have found ways to help lessen even cure this illness.
The idea behind their treatment is activating a certain part of the patient’s brain that was not being used which creates imbalance that causes anxiety. This treatment will require time, but they are very confident in this method.
Listening to her talk, got me so excited. Because this connects with everything that God was teaching me.
Prayer and thanksgiving balances our anxiety levels! Here is what I believe. I believe when we are in constant prayer and thanksgiving to the Lord, we are activating that part of our brain that balances our brain activity therefore reducing our anxiety level.
Yes, I’m saying that the Scripture has the cure for Anxiety
Philippians 4:6 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
When we are anxious, we are like in a fog. We feel disconnected and not grounded.
Our brain is like spaghetti noodles just swirling around, unplugged.
But through constant prayer and thanksgiving, I believe we are plugging in/connecting that part of the brain that is just swirling around to God.
We stay connected to God through our prayers, therefore we activate that part of the brain that was inactive, imbalanced and create balance.
I believe we can defeat anxiety through the practice of the word of God and I believe this is scientific.
Now I know to some of us this may not be an instant cure. This is a journey.
To constantly be praying to God in every situation requires intentionality and willingness on our part. Then God will do the rest!
But for me, anxiety helps remind me to pray. When I’m starting to feel anxious, I think “Oh I need to pray”
But I want to pray even more than that. I want to pray (connect with God) in every situation, anxious or not.
As I begin to implement this in my life, I have found that praying in the Spirit has helped me tremendously when I don’t have any words to say to God.
But again, this is a journey. A journey that we all need to make to deal with our anxious self.
I hope that as I go on this journey, you will be there to help me carry my burden as I will carry yours.
Do not fight anxiety alone. Unplug and enjoy nature often and in every situation pray.
Philippians 4:6-9 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Amen
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