Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. – Psalm 91:1 NLT
A few years ago, I was part of a church where there was a lot of internal fighting and bickering. I attempted to mediate issues of conflict between members, families, and former pastors. It had escalated so far that it caused me so much stress and anxiety that I had to be hospitalized as a result of heart palpitations. When the stress started affecting my health, it was a big wake-up call for me. I knew I had to surrender my anxiety to the Lord.
The late evangelist Billy Graham said, “Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered on anything short of God and His will for us.”
That seems to hold true in my life. Anxiety shows up whenever my view of God is diminished, and my circumstances become inflated in my mind. But God wants so much more for us. He doesn’t want us to walk through life filled with anxiety and stress. In fact, He wants to rid us of any anxious thoughts or feelings.
Here are five practical steps to take that I’ve found to be helpful when I start to feel anxious. Maybe they’ll help you overcome anxiety, too.
1. Surrender your anxiety to Jesus. God doesn’t want us carrying around worry. We can cast our cares—and all of our anxiety—on Him. Surrendering means trust that God is in control and not leaning on your own understanding.
2. Trust His promises and seek His presence. The apostle Paul tells us to not be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6) and God commands us on multiple occasions not to fear because He’ll be with us. Look to see how God is moving in your life and follow Him.
3. Share your heart with Him in prayer. When we lift up our fears and worries to God in prayer, we open up our hearts to receive His peace that surpasses our understanding, protecting our hearts and minds from anxious thoughts and feelings.
4. Meditate on God’s Word. The Bible is filled with beautiful and praiseworthy verses about God’s character. Read Scripture that reminds you of His faithfulness through the ages. Repeat and reflect on these verses when you feel anxiety creeping back in.
5. Shift your perspective and look to serve others. If you focus your attention on other people, it helps to put your problems in perspective, oftentimes helping you realize they’re much smaller than they are. When your efforts are focused on helping others and living out your God-given purpose in the world, you’ll be reminded of God’s love and service in your life.
The truth is, we’re human; we all get stressed from time to time. We live in a world full of things that can cause anxiety. But God desires for us to live in complete freedom from worry. May His faithfulness drive out any worry, fear or anxiety you experience. Don’t be afraid––He is with you wherever you go.
Dig Deeper
1. What's causing you to feel anxious right now? Ask God to help you focus on Him through it.
2. Of the five steps shared, what practical steps can you take this week to help you manage your anxiety?
Related Resource: Should Christians Even Have Anxiety?
