Anxiety is everywhere. Anxiety is in your home, office and it’s reached epidemic proportion. Everyone suffers from anxiety at one time or another. No one is exempt. It can kill productivity, relationships and steal your joy. Where your anxiety comes from and how you deal with it is what matters most.
There is no longer a stigma attached to anxiety and the search for treatment has led to opiod addiction, a boom in counseling and whatever else will work. Anxiety is worry and nervous concern over the unknown that stems from a lack of control. Anxiety is the fruit of many ills but a lack of faith in God and His sovereignty is the deeper problem that has resulted in widespread anxiety.
Mainstream treatment of anxiety is medication and counseling. Anxiety is so widespread even psychics advertise on TV. Psychics promise to relieve your fears and provide a glimpse of things to come. Pharmaceutical companies blanket the airwaves encouraging you to self diagnose. It is acceptable to tell your physician the medication you need to relieve your anxiety.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), prescription drugs are the number one cause of death in the U.S. and 60-70% of emergency room visits are attributed to side effects of pharmaceutical prescription drugs. Real problems need real answers but in many cases emotional and physical pain is a reflection of spiritual pain. There are real physical issues, but many of today’s social ills result from a lifestyle that separates us from God. In Christianese, much anxiety and physical ill is the result of sin.
Medication and counseling are a legitimate prescription. The Holy Spirit and the Bible should be the first line of treatment when you’re anxious. If you think another prescription, a psychic or eastern holistic methods are options, then turning to God should not be so far-fetched. It may be hard to tell if your anxiety stems from a disease or a spiritual problem. In the New Testament, ‘…Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.’ Luke 7:21.
Jesus cured people from disease…and demons. Demons haven’t gone away they’re just not mainstream headlines and everyday conversation. The mere word just made some of you anxious. There hasn’t been any resistance and intolerance built up to demons, only a lack of faith and belief in God’s word. Maybe the starting point with anxiety is to ask for greater faith and help with your unbelief.
The Bible gave a prescription for anxiety thousands of years ago. ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:6-7. God is the counselor, go to Him. Thank Him…for everything. Tell Him…what you’re anxious about and ask Him…to heal you. His remedy is peace. The peace of God is the cure to your anxiety about anything and everything. God gives peace and it doesn’t come with negative side effects.
The gorilla in the room is that a lot of anxiety comes from the fact we are children of God but choose to live as children of the world. ….’We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.’ 1st John 5:19. Being a child of God can mean you have to make unpopular choices…AND if you choose to live as a child of the world and not of God, the consequences for those choices will separate you from God and cause anxiety.
Some of the choices that separate us from God have become socially acceptable. ‘But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity or greed because these are improper for God’s holy people….For all this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person -such a person is an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.’ Ephesians 5:3-5. The world says sex before and outside of marriage is fine, homosexuality is a legitimate lifestyle, sexual orientation is a choice and greed is good as long as it helps you retire early and doesn’t hurt anyone. These are lies that can cause anxiety and separation from God.
The stark dichotomy between the life we were created to live and the choices people make leads to anxiety, alcoholism, stress and opioid addiction. Everyone has anxious thoughts about your job…finances…kids…sexuality…mistakes in the past that led to divorce, broken relationships, abortion? If you’ll take a pill or a drink when you have anxious thoughts regarding these things, why not give God a chance to help? The key is the choice we make to deal with our anxiety.
‘Search me God, and know my heart: test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.’ Psalm 139: 23-24. Submitting and trusting God is cheaper than the mainstream alternatives the world is advertising. Repentance is easier and much more effective.
Either God is a liar or He is a cure for your anxiety. Try this Rx. ‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast ALL your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1st Peter 5:6-7. This advise comes from a man who made enough mistakes to be manic depressive and have a lifetime prescription for Xanax; but he wasn’t. In the next verse, Peter also pointed out the main culprit behind so much anxiety and social ills. ‘Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.’ If you’ve seen the devastating effects of anxiety, alcoholism or opioid addiction you recognize someone being devoured.
If you have anxiety regarding where to send the kids to school…how and when to expand the business…managing a personal life and work, politics, whatever, turn to the Holy Spirit and meditate on His Word. ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault, and it will be given to you.’ James 1:5
God is the great healer. The Holy Spirit has cured anxiety for centuries. Take a knee and not a pill. Make a relationship with God the choice to get rid of YOUR anxiety.