Understanding Anxiety and Finding Peace

Anxiety is one of the most common experiences of our generation. Although anxiety is common, it is also deeply individual. People struggle with varying degrees of anxiety, ranging from it being irritating to debilitating.  In this article, we will define anxiety and explore God’s answers for healing and hope.

Anxiety: Emotional, Physical and Spiritual

Anxiety is something many people experience. For example, Kelly lies awake at night, her mind racing with all the things she wished she said differently in her meeting that day. What did people think about her? Anne’s palms begin to sweat, and her pulse quickens when asked to call and order the pizza for the group. She feels paralyzed. Frank believes he’s having a heart attack, but after a hospital visit, he learns nothing is physically wrong. Each scenario illustrates how anxiety can present itself differently depending on the person and the situation. The common desire for each of them, however, is to resolve the feelings of anxiety and experience peace.

In our efforts to rid our life of anxiety we will typically first notice the emotional and physical aspects because they disrupt our daily living. Some of the common emotions we might feel include helplessness, hopelessness, or a sense of doom. Some frequently experience physical symptoms include sleeplessness or insomnia, a racing pulse, stomach aches, digestive issues, nausea, headaches, and more. A third less-addressed aspect of anxiety is our spiritual condition. This includes things like unbelief, idolatry, unrepentant sin, and patterns of sinful behavior. To address anxiety thoroughly we must consider all three areas. The Bible enables us to do just that!

God’s Call

Now that we see the different aspects of anxiety, how can the Bible help us find relief from anxious thoughts, physical symptoms, and our spiritual condition? A common passage that gives us practical steps in addressing the whole of anxiety is Matthew 6:29-34.

“And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

The first thing to notice in this passage is that anxiety is acknowledged as real, “And why do you worry...” It is comforting to realize that God knows we feel anxious. He cares about what we are feeling, but instead of letting this be an excuse for us, in his perfect love He refocuses our attention.

Where does He ask us to look?  He asks us to consider and observe the lilies of the field. He takes care of them and gives them all they need to grow and thrive. How does this help us with our anxiety? Well, God makes clear we are different from the lilies. “If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you?” (verse 30). We are greater than the lilies. We are unique in God’s creation as His image bearers. He has done much more for us. He has given us Jesus and as we see the lilies, we are reminded to turn our eyes to Him the Creator of it all. As we look to Jesus, we have the ability to put our thoughts, feelings and physical symptoms into His hands and walk with Him.

Surrendering control to Jesus is the first step in unplugging the anxiety in our lives from its power source - our desire to control our own circumstances and outcomes.

We are susceptible to being blinded by our emotions and thoughts. All we want to do is make our anxious feelings stop. God wants to free us from them and give us His peace that passes all understanding, which He declares will guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).  When we look to Jesus, we can see the reality of God working in our lives and the world. This helps remind us that God is at work and He is in control. We are not meant to bear the burden of orchestrating every moment of our day. We are simply asked to observe and enjoy what God has done, is doing and will do. When we worry God says we are not doing what we were designed and created to do. We are not trusting God. Our faith is little (verse 30). Why might this be true? God leads us to this answer as well. 

In verse 31 God commands (not suggests) that we not worry. He explains that this is what those who have not been born again into a new relationship with God do. Worry and anxiety characterizes those separated from God by sin. However, when we put our faith in Jesus, we now have access to the power in us that raised Jesus from the dead. Trusting God characterizes his children. It is important to first ask yourself, am I worried and anxious because I have not yet put my faith in the finished work of Jesus? If you do not know how to answer this question your next step is to read Ephesians chapters 1 and 2. Ask the Lord to give you the grace to put your trust in Jesus as your Savior and by faith to become a child of God. Talk to God about the Truth you read in these verses and ask Him to make them true of you. If you are a Christian, then remember that putting off worry is how we are called to live regardless of our circumstances. This is not a once-and-done event, but rather something we pursue daily as a Jesus follower - a lifestyle. In other words, we choose and keep choosing to rely on God’s sufficient grace to meet our every need. On the day when we see Jesus face to face, we will be perfected and anxiety will be removed forever. Until that day we look to, trust, and actively obey God each day.

This passage gives us the next practical step to stop worrying. It tells us to, “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” This means we need to keep God first in our hearts, first in our thoughts, first in our wants, and first in our actions. It is important to state that our natural bent is to think of and serve ourselves first. This leads to worry and anxiety.

When we seek God’s kingdom first, we force our minds to shift from ourselves to God. We remember that we are not God and we can trust Him.

Our minds are then renewed to think about what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy (Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 4:4-13). As these things fill our minds, anxiety begins to shrink.

Where do you look first when you begin to experience anxiety? Is it Jesus? If not, will you commit to seeking Him first and expect that He will provide exactly what you need when you need it? Here are a few practical steps to help you apply God’s Truth to your struggles with anxiety.

Practical Steps When Experiencing Anxiety

Pray. Ask God to help you seek him first and cast your cares to Him.

Read. Grow in your knowledge of Truth and who God reveals Himself to be in Scripture.

Observe how you see God at work in the Bible and around you daily.

Serve. Join God in his kingdom work.

Rest in the provision and care of your Heavenly Father.

Helpful Resources

Anxiety: Knowing God’s Peace (31-day devotional) by Paul Tautges

Consider the Lilies: Finding Perfect Peace in the Character of God by Jonny Ardavanis

Running Scared: Fear, Worry and the God of Rest by Ed Welch

Liesl Wright has more than 10 years experience counseling women and training women to counsel. She loves to join God in his work meeting women where they are and helping them grow in Christlikeness. Liesl holds Master degrees in Speech/Language Pathology and Christians Ministries. She is a certified member of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors.