What Difference Does God Make When I Feel Anxious？
o PSALM 55:4 - 23
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
[ PSALM 55:22 ]
ANXIOUS?
Arecent survey showed that anxiety has overtaken depression as the leading mental health problem in many parts of the world. Anxiety-fighting drugs have never been asked for so much. Maybe you know what it feels like to be kept awake with worry? To suffer panic attacks before exams? Anxiety is a scary thing to fight on your own. When King David wrote Psalm 55, he was stressed out by the same sorts of things we struggle with today. He had been gossiped about (V.3), rejected by a close friend (VV.12-14) and he’d been scared by the violence and anger around him (VV.4,9). He wanted to run away (VV.4-8)!
Because David’s worry was like our own, his answer can be ours as well. He wrote, “I call to God, and the Lord saves me . . . Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you” (VV.16,22).
Anxiety is not something we were ever meant to carry. Instead, we bring our stresses and worry to Jesus because He cares for us (1 PETER 5:7; SEE ALSO PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7).
If you are fighting anxiety today, God is ready to carry every problem you give Him. DM
Trust God with your stresses today. DAY 1
o GENESIS 22:2 - 14
So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. [ GENESIS 22:14 ]
GOD WILL PROVIDE
My anxiety increased throughout the summer. I was changing schools in the September. I love to have everything planned out, and the idea of going to a different school with people I didn’t know seriously stressed me out. However, I talked with God during the summer and had peace that even in the stress and change, God was taking care of me.
God provided, but it was in His timing that I settled into the new school, not mine. Abraham went through a far more difficult situation with his son Isaac. He was asked to take his son and sacrifice him in the mountains (GENESIS 22:1-2). Abraham obeyed and took Isaac to the mountains. This three day journey gave Abraham plenty of time to change his mind, but he didn’t (VV.3-4).
When Isaac questioned his dad, Abraham replied, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering” (V.8). I bet Abraham’s anxiety grew with each knot he made as he tied Isaac to the altar—and with every inch he raised his knife above his son (VV.9-10). What a relief it must have been when the angel stopped him (VV.10-12)! God did indeed provide a sacrifice: a ram caught in a nearby bush (V.13). God tested Abraham’s trust in Him, and He showed Himself faithful. And at the right time, to the very second, God provided (V.14). JS
God will provide, even when His answer seems long in coming.
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o PHILIPPIANS 4:4 - 9
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [ PHILIPPIANS 4:6 ]
CAST YOUR CARES
One of the psalmists wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God” (PSALM 46:10). Paul told the Philippians, “Do not be anxious” (PHILIPPIANS 4:6). And Peter reminded his readers to put all their worries on God (1 PETER 5:7).”
How can we stop being anxious and be “still” instead? Only through prayer and trust in our loving God (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7). When we bring our worries to God and put them on His strong shoulders, we can step back from the things going on in our lives and simply rest with Him.
This doesn’t mean that those who are “still” with God will never have things to stress about. This is about being able to have confidence and peace even in the stress and worry. Our problems don’t go away when we pray, but our focus is brought back to God, our Father who can and will keep us going and meet our needs.
Christians who stay calm when life is hard aren’t following a formula. There is no ‘five steps to avoid worry’. They simply know who their God is, His love for them and His promise to be with them in everything.
If you’ve never taken time out to be still with God when you’re stressed, why don’t you give it a go. Talk with Him, read some of the Bible (maybe a Psalm) and turn your eyes away from the stress and back onto your God, Maker, Savior and Provider. DR
God is bigger than our biggest worry.
o 1 SAMUEL 30:1 - 6
David found strength in the Lord his God. [ 1 SAMUEL 30:6 ]
STRENGTHENED IN GOD
It looked bad to David and his men when they arrived at Ziklag (1 SAMUEL 30:1-6). The Amalekites had attacked the city and taken their wives and children as hostages. The men were so overwhelmed that they cried until they had no more energy. And David, their leader, was “greatly distressed” because the people were blaming him and planning to stone him to death (V.6). How did David avoid being crippled by the anxiety and pressure of the situation?
“David found strength in the Lord his God” (V.6). Other Bible versions use the words “encouraged” or “refreshed”. The text doesn’t say exactly how David did this. But it makes me wonder, In what ways can we strengthen, encourage or refresh ourselves in God when things are just too much for us?
First, we can remember what God has done. We can list the ways He has cared for us in the past, and how He has given us what we need or answered a prayer request.
Second, we can remember what God has promised. “Be strong and courageous . . . for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (JOSHUA 1:9).
Like David, let’s learn to strengthen ourselves in God, and then let’s leave the rest with Him. AC
The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you.
o 1 PETER 5:6 - 10
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
[ 1 PETER 5:7 ]
BEING REAL WITH GOD
A5
t the end of the day, I close my eyes and begin to say to God: “Dear Father, I’m coming to you today as your child. Thank You for Your power and goodness. . .” Suddenly, my eyes snap open. I remember that I haven’t replied to a message from a friend. Then my mind wanders to the people I’m still fighting with, all the stuff I have planned for the week and the fact that I think I’m starting to get a cold. Before long I’m just stressing over all my anxieties!
Distractions during our prayer times are pretty normal. It happens to all of us. But one Christian speaker said something really interesting about it. He said, rather than trying to ‘force’ our minds back to prayer through our own willpower, we could use the distractions as another thing to talk to God about. After all, if they’re on our minds, it must be because they are important.
A big worry or anxious thought that interrupts a prayer could become the center of that conversation with God. God wants us to be real as we talk with Him and open up about our biggest stresses and struggles. He is not surprised by anything we say. His interest in us is like the attention we would get from our closest friend. That’s why we are told to give all of our worries and cares to God—because He cares for us (1 PETER 5:7). JBS
God of all grace will make you strong, firm and steadfast.
God is with me in my panic attacks
Iwas hanging out with some of my friends. We went to get something to eat and were having fun together. I was enjoying myself, when suddenly I looked around at all the people around our tables. I became uncomfortably aware of all the conversations going around me, the sound of people chewing food, utensils clattering, and food orders being yelled in the kitchen. The smells of the different foods became too much to take in and I started getting dizzy.
Knots tightened in my stomach and it was becoming difficult to breathe calmly. I quickly got up and made straight for the exit. It wasn’t much better outside though. People and cars seemed to be swarming all around me. Within seconds it had all completely overwhelmed me.
The tears started coming and I felt myself going down another one of my dark spirals of fear, confusion and insecurity. I walked until I found a small, lonely alley and tried to calm down enough to do the breathing exercises I had been taught. Standing in that alley trying to ground myself in reality again felt like it took forever, but the intense fear finally faded and I felt safe again.
That kind of thing has happened many times in the three years since my battle with anxiety started. I panic when my brain realizes it can’t control its surroundings and the way they make me feel.
The struggle is constant and ongoing. Panic comes unexpectedly and for no obvious reason. Often I’m frustrated—why can’t I be like my friends who can enjoy themselves without falling apart?
God Comforts Me
But even in the fear and confusion, I am increasingly realizing that God is near. No matter what we’re going through, God always has what we need (PSALM 91:15). And He has been teaching me to listen to His voice, even when I feel anxious, so that I can push past my feelings and hear what He has to say. God created me, and He knows all my weaknesses and problems. As I learn to trust Him through my hardships, I see more of His generosity and love. He has surrounded me with close friends who understand my struggles, who know when to keep me company or talk me through my panic.
Each time I have a panic attack, I also discover how much comfort even the simplest prayer or insight can bring. I’m starting to realize that my senses and feelings are a gift from God so that I can experience His amazing creation. God wants me to take hold of His gifts and enjoy His goodness which is everywhere to be found. My senses don’t have to control me; I can use them to focus on my God who is my “ever-present help in trouble” (PSALM 46:1).
Learning to Love Others
With this in mind, I am learning how to take my panicattack triggers, turn them around, and practice seeing God in them. Most of my triggers are people-related (crowds, noises, busyness), so I’m trying to see past my difficulty and love people around me more. After a panic attack, I will often focus on being useful or kind to people around me, so I can take my mind off my panic. Sometimes I pray for anyone I can see. Other times I look for someone I can help (which can be anything from giving a person directions, to helping clear away the table after a meal).
It’s amazing what happens when we take time to look around us and see how we can serve others. This is what Jesus did (MATTHEW 14:13-14), and as His
followers, we’re to do the same. This can be very hard to do when we’re caught up in our own issues. I have often found great relief and peace by focusing on other people and looking out for them, rather than myself.
Be Willing to Ask for Help
Improving mental health is a process. If you are struggling with panic attacks or anxiety, know that getting better really is possible, even if it takes time. Prayer and Bible reading have been vital for me, but they were not enough on their own. I had a one-toone mentor for some time, to help me learn to start breaking the cycle that led to panic. God also uses doctors and other medical professionals—and there is no shame in getting help from them. Whatever we do, and whoever we talk to, the most important thing is that we do talk. The worst thing we can do is keep our battles to ourselves. Who can you open up with about your mental and emotional battles?
Through all our struggles, God is right here with us. Even in our darkest places, we can come close to Him. We just have to be open to Him—spend time with Him and make it a priority to talk with Him throughout our day. Don’t push away those who care for you and want to be there for you. Everyday there are invitations to experience God’s love and grace.
Even on your worst day, there is still a God of love and power holding you and seeing you through it all: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; . . . For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (ISAIAH 43:2-3).
Our Daily Bread Ministries wants to help you learn about how to trust Him to deal with your anxiety. If you would like to receive some introductory material that will help you think about this further, visit us online at www.odb.org and browse our extensive selection of printed and digital resources.
Find Out More!
Are you keen to discover who Jesus is and what He has done for you? You can read A Story of Hope, a booklet that can tell you more about him.
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What difference does God make when I feel anxious?
How do you stop anxiety?
Maybe we can’t. After all, anxiety isn’t just a switch we can flick on or off. But maybe we can bring our anxiety, stress and panic attacks to the God who is so much bigger than us. There may be no simple answers to something as tough as anxiety—but we do believe that “with God nothing will be impossible” (LUKE 1:37 NKJV).
These Bible readings are not here to give you a quick-fix recovery program. They are here to show you the real difference God can make to your anxiety. He understands you better than you could possibly realize, and He can help you live with, manage and find growing freedom from the crippling battles you have with anxiety.
Lots of Bible characters struggled through anxious times; and there are plenty of lessons about anxiety in the Bible’s pages. At the very least, this means God ‘gets it’ and knows how to be your strength and hope in your struggles.
