by Jacob Ninan
Anxiety is one of those feelings that naturally comes to us when we think about something in the future and it looks uncertain. It is connected with worry, fear, confusion, tension, uncertainty, etc. If we are uncertain about what is going to happen in the future and what we will do if something happens, anxiety is natural. But if we focus on expecting bad things to happen, and believe they will happen, we may go out of control. If we continue to imagine that bad things are going to happen, anxiety may also cause us depression.
If our anxiety goes out of control, it can also cause physical effects in our body. Our heart may start beating fast, feel palpitation, we may breathe faster, start sweating, experience a tremor in our hands, etc. Anxious thoughts can take control over our mind, and it would seem as if we cannot put them off. Some people may get to experience panic attacks in which the body and mind assume and behave as if some major calamity is going to happen immediately.
The normal level of anxiety is a 'friend' given to us by God to alert us about things that are likely to come up in the future so that we can take appropriate action. For example, when we realise that an examination is coming up shortly, the uncertainty associated with its result prompts us to study and prepare better. In that sense, anxiety can motivate us and provide us with a warning so that we can take the necessary action.
But there are many unhealthy ways in which we can deal with the future. Then the uncertainty will increase, and anxiety will begin to rule our thoughts and then force us to become virtually paralysed, taking no action at all, or to take wrong or unreasonable action. When anxious thoughts rule our mind, then we are not able to push them away, and the more we continue, the more anxious we become.
Think of another negative feeling we have, anger. God tells us, in effect, not to continue to be angry when we become angry (Eph.4:26). In other words, becoming angry is itself not a sin, but what we do when we become angry can be sin, and therefore we are warned not to let that happen. In a similar way, we can understand that whenever we feel anxious about the future, there is a way to deal with it without letting it lead us to sin. Without continuing with anxiety and letting it take over our mind, if we take the action that we need to deal with the oncoming situation, things work out fine.
Sometimes, the uncertainty about the future confuses us and prevents us from making a decision (Eccl.11:4). Sometimes, an imaginary fear is used as an excuse for not taking the required action (Prov.22:13). Many times we allow fears about the future that are simply imaginary and very unlikely to happen. There is a joke about a man who heard he was going to become a father, who then looked very worried. When someone asked him why he was worried instead of rejoicing, he explained that if he got a girl baby and later she was ill-treated by her mother-in-law he wouldn't know what to do!
Another common reason for anxiety is that we want a comfortable, trouble-free life but we fear that trouble might come. We want everything to be perfect, but we are pessimistic and expect trouble. This causes anxiety. We need to have a balanced thinking about this. On one side, we must accept the reality that there will always be trouble in this life (Jn.16:33). But on the other side, we must know that as long as God's grace is with us, we will be able to deal with everything that comes up (2Cor.12:9). Our usual prayer is for the thorns that prick us to be removed, but we are anxious because we doubt whether they will remain. But when we take hold of the confidence that God will be with us and His grace will be sufficient, then we can overcome our anxiety.
Whatever methods people may use to overcome anxiety, the lasting solution is to place our confidence in God who not only knows the future but He holds it in His hands. Knowing how our uncertainty about the future causes us anxiety, He assures us that He will be with us always and that He will never abandon us (Heb.13:5). During his tough life as an apostle, Paul developed this confidence that no people or circumstances could stop God from loving us (Rom.8:38,39). God reveals Himself to us by saying that His love for us is everlasting (Jer.31:3). When we take confidence in knowing His nature and His guarantees, that is what will drive away our anxiety.
We must be realistic when we deal with our anxieties. God has not promised us a trouble-free life or that He will take away all our problems when we pray to Him. Unfortunately the impression many preachers give is that all we need to do is to go to Jesus, and He will take away our problems and give us instead prosperity, health, etc. It is not at all difficult to show from the Bible that this is false. For example, Jesus said that there would always be poor people among us (Mk.14:7). There are many examples in the epistles of different believers going through sickness. What we need to keep in mind is that God has a higher plan for us than just a comfortable life on the earth. He wants to give us the character of His first Son Jesus, which will be valuable for all eternity (Rom.8:28,29). This is the ultimate goal towards which God directs every detail of our life.
With this knowledge of how anxiety can affect us negatively and what plans God has for us, we have to train our minds to think differently compared to what we have done in the past. For example, we can reject unrealistic fears that try to crowd our mind, and we can take hold of God's presence with us and His plans for us to deal with other anxious thoughts. One mistake we can make is to expect that God will simply take away our anxiety when we pray, while we don't learn to deal with it ourselves. God's plans for us are always for our good (Jer.29:11). Some people try to point out that this verse was only meant for the Jews in exile. But the whole passage describes the heart of God itself for people, including those who had strayed away from Him, and certainly we can receive it for ourselves.
"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it" (1Cor.10:13). Temptations are common for all people, and we don't have an exception. But when we go through difficult times, expect God to continue to be faithful to us. He is in control and He keeps a watch on the intensity of our temptations, making sure that they do not cross the limit of our endurance. The way of escape is not always to take away our problems, but many times to strengthen us with grace so that we can go through the trials successfully. His goal is not to protect us from suffering, but to train us to become more like Him.
It is common that while we are in the midst of trouble, we feel that it is too strong for us. But God does not think so, because He also takes into consideration what His grace can do for us. If we find we lack strength, that is all the more reason why we should seek grace. Our strength is enhanced when His grace comes, and each time we become stronger to handle bigger challenges. Believing this, let us stop grumbling and complaining when we face trials.
As we grow more confident in God, our anxiety becomes less. The more we experience His faithfulness, our confidence in Him increases. As we exercise our mind to overcome anxiety, we become able to discard imaginary fears and also to deal with the real situations with right attitude and action.
Some people have become so weak in handling their anxieties that they may need to use medication to soothe them. This should not be shunned as being unsuitable for Christians, because even as children of God we live in this broken world as broken people, and we should be willing to receive the help that God has provided in the form of medicines too. All of us have various limits, and therefore there is nothing to be ashamed of to admit that we need help in the form of counselling, prayer or medicines.
Finally, let us remember that the long-term cure for anxiety is to grow in placing our confidence in God. He has good plans for us. Let us reject unbelief and fear, and learn to trust Him.