Overcoming Dangerous Emotions: Dealing With Anxiety
The Bible tells us not to worry, but what if we are stuck in a vicious cycle of anxiety? How can we identify anxious thinking and replace it with positive thinking?
With a variety of associated disorders and ever-growing awareness of its effects, anxiety has literally become a household term. How often have we wished that we could get through a day without thinking the worst will happen in every situation?
A healthy concern about upcoming events and an awareness of the need for planning in our lives is normal and even responsible. Planning and meditating on our actions and preparing for either inevitabilities or possibilities are healthy and encouraged by Scripture. Proverbs talks about how the ant is wise and prepares for things to come (Proverbs 30:25).
Is anxiety dangerous?
Consider these scenarios:
- Our hearts are beating rapidly when we are forced to mingle and engage in small talk with people in a group setting.
- Our stomachs churn as we think about going to our job or a social gathering in a few hours.
- We feel constant worry during a work video meeting, fearful of our boss calling on us to speak and everyone focusing on us.
- We feel anxiety as we walk through a store, fearing we may catch COVID-19 or be reprimanded for walking the wrong way down an aisle.
Sound familiar? Though some professionals may recommend medication for some anxiety disorders, they all agree that it stands little chance of being of lasting benefit without our commitment to change our thinking.
Don’t underestimate the impact anxiety can have on our spiritual attitudes. Paul wrote, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, emphasis added throughout). God’s Spirit is not one of fear, and it involves having a sound mind that is not clouded by constant dread of what is going to happen next.
A life full of anxiety makes it very hard for us to believe and trust in God’s perfect will and plan of salvation.
That being said, our Creator knows when we are diligently taking steps to fight against our anxiety. However, He also knows when we are not committed to overcoming (we won’t write anything down, we won’t seek help from friends or professionals, we won’t try to incorporate any suggestions, we try something for one day and say it doesn’t work, we refuse to pray and study more, etc.).
A life full of anxiety makes it very hard for us to believe and trust in God’s perfect will and plan of salvation. It also causes us to trust more in the physical environment and less in the invisible Creator who makes sure that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Anxiety is a huge threat to the fruit of faithfulness, and thus it needs to be dealt with immediately.
Identify the cause of anxious thinking
The biggest step is admitting that anxiety, clinical disorder or not, demands a change in thought patterns.
To change, first we need to find out what are the main causes of our anxiety.
Write down the answers to questions like the following and talk to a friend, minister or professional about your answers:
- What is it about being around people that sets me off?
- What parts of my job make me fearful?
- How is this person intimidating to me?
- What part of this particular action makes it so terrifying?
- If the horrible thing I think is going to happen happens, what will the result really be?
- Does social media cause me to become anxious? If so, what in particular on social media is triggering those feelings?
If we can identify major stressors or causes of anxiety in our lives, then we should act on changing them as fast as possible! Unfortunately, many causes of anxiety (such as our careers, relationships or responsibilities) cannot be just abandoned without being irresponsible. So we must begin by changing our thinking.
Analyze and compare anxious thinking to reality
It’s time to jot down those thoughts that go with the events or questions. They might include:
- I’m going to look stupid and everyone will openly laugh at me.
- I won’t be able to excel at my job working remotely.
- They’ll make fun of me and talk about me behind my back.
- I’ll get hurt for sure.
- They’ll think badly of me.
- My entire world as I know it will come crumbling down.
- I’m worried about the image I project on social media or feel insufficient when compared to the images others project.
Take a good look at the thoughts. When we stop justifying the thoughts as being part of us and something we can’t help, we will likely see that they are caused by being overly concerned about what other people think of us and pride, and they certainly don’t include God anywhere. So, analyze them.
- Is it fair/rational to think that everyone in a room or in a situation is fixated and staring at every little thing we do? Think about how often (or little) we notice other people and how quickly we forget things people do.
- Is it fair/rational to think that the worst-case scenario will happen, or that we need to be prepared for every possible thing out of our control? We can plan, but do we remember that God is ultimately in control: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
- Is it fair/rational to think that in the situation we are in, God has abandoned us and is not available to help us? Is it fair/rational to think that God can’t protect you from something if He wills it?
Substitute the irrational with rational (and godly) thoughts
We know that thoughts not in line with God’s thinking have to be changed. When anxiety rears its head, we should fill our minds with encouraging Bible verses and thoughts:
- God is with me in this.
- I can handle this.
- I don’t think like this anymore, remember?
It will definitely take work, patience and dedication. Anxious, irrational thoughts will continue to invade our heads thanks to Satan’s influence, but we can be ready for him with God’s truth.
What if I’ve already lost control?
Pray immediately to God and ask for His Spirit of power, love and a sound mind. Repeat an encouraging scripture in your mind or, better yet, say it out loud. The longer we go without praying and writing down our thoughts, the more we dwell on and let anxiety fester in our minds.
Now ask, “Do I believe that God can help me in this?” “Am I committed to changing my anxious thinking to peaceful and faithful thinking?” “Do I control my anxiety, or does my anxiety control me?” Then review what you’ve written and prepare for your next fight with anxiety.
This is the second in an eight part series on Overcoming Dangerous Emotions. To read part 1, see “Overcoming Dangerous Emotions.” To continue the series, see part 3 “Overcoming Anger.”
Originally posted on July 4, 2017; Updated on July 3, 2020.
Date Posted: July 21, 2020
About the Author
Eddie Foster
Eddie Foster was born in Ohio, and after living in several parts of the northeastern United States, he once again lives in the Buckeye State, most likely for good this time. He lives in the Dayton area with his wife, Shannon, and two daughters, Isabella and Marley. They attend the Cincinnati/Dayton congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.
