ANXIETY

What is anxiety?

Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary describes anxiety as disturbance of mind regarding some uncertain event or events. Some of the synonyms are: anguish, apprehension, concern, fear, etc.

Anxiety refers to some future event, always suggesting hopeful possibility, and thus differing from apprehension, fear, dread, terror, etc, all of which can be quite despairing. Worry is a more petty, restless, and manifest anxiety.

Anxiety may be quite and silent.

Others still describe anxiety as your body's natural response to stress. It's a feeling of fear or apprehension about what's to come. The first day of school, going to a job interview, or giving a speech may cause most people to feel fearful and nervous.

Wikipedia describes anxiety as an emotion characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behaviour such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints, and rumination. It is the subjectively unpleasant feelings of dread over anticipated events.

Anxiety is a feeling of uneasiness and worry, usually generalized and unfocused as an overreaction to a situation that is only subjectively seen as menacing. It is often accompanied by muscular tension, restlessness, and problems in concentration. Normally considered to be appropriate, when anxiety is experienced regularly the individual may suffer from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is closely related to fear, which is a response to a real or perceived immediate threat; anxiety involves the expectation of future threat. People facing anxiety may withdraw from situations which have provoked anxiety in the past. But what does the Bible say about it?

In fact, we can find it in a very clear way in 1 Peter 5:7, which says,

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

Carrying your worries, stresses, and daily struggles by yourself shows that you have not trusted God fully with your life. It takes humility, however, to recognise, to admit your need. Sometimes we think that struggles caused by our own sin and foolishness are not God's concern. But when we turn to God in repentance, he will bear the weight even of those anxious struggles. Letting God have your anxieties calls for action, not passivity. Don't submit to the circumstances. The Lord controls circumstances.

You see, passages like that can help us to have a better perspective, to ease up that stress and fear, and anxiety when we recognize that greatest coping mechanism of all.

From a Biblical perspective, then, there are some key elements of how and when God's Word can offer a great deal of comfort in the face of worrisome events.

Certainly, the first is to believe that God exists and His power is not limited. Calamitous events are not an indication that God has lost control. The universe is not a contest between good and evil in which we do not know the outcome. The outcome is certain and is moving forward on a schedule determined by God. Faith in God’s power and a good understanding of His Word can help you overcome worry and anxiety.

Believe His Word. The Bible is filled with prophetic statements about events that have come to pass. These fulfilled prophecies testify to God’s power and validate the authority of scripture. Accepting the Bible as authoritative gives us confidence regarding all it has to say about events that have not yet come to pass.

Get to know the plan. Gain perspective and understanding on God’s plan and how it is unfolding according to biblical prophecy.

In addition, let's get personal and readjust about what we think.

This “comfort”, mentioned above, is not a form of blissful ignorance but rather is based on understanding. In 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Paul finishes a detailed review of future events saying,

"Therefore encourage each other with these words"

That same strength and encouragement can be yours, you might want to reconsider how much time and attention you devote to news watching. You cannot avoid seeing first-hand the disturbing changes in our society and surrounding culture but you needn’t dwell on it.

Focus your attention on the positive future God has in store.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything". (Philippians 4:4-6)

It seems strange that a man in prison would be telling a church to rejoice, but Paul's attitude teaches us an important lesson: Our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances.

Spend more of your valuable time thinking about God’s plan for you and His plan for the future. Don’t waste time fretting about things you cannot really control anyway.

People who have this biblical perspective are not unaware of the evils all around them. They are grieved by what they see. But they are not overcome with anxiety or fear.