“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:23 NLT
Anxiety has the ability to influence every area of our lives. A problem arising under the banner of mental health, it has a tendency to seep into our physical and spiritual health as well. Knowing the far-spreading reach that anxiety can have might give you cause for concern, but knowing how it works and where to look for symptoms can be the very tool that helps you overcome it.
The Root of the Problem
As with all mental health issues, anxiety begins in the mind. A pattern of thought that triggers a sense of unwarranted panic, fear, or worry. Because there is not always a direct cause—such as a tangible problem to be solved or stimulant in our environment—it can be hard to address the right step toward overcoming anxiety.
Since we know that anxiety arises in our minds first, we must deal with it there as well if we want to remove the problem at its roots. Alongside professional and clinical support where necessary, you have the great offer to invite the Spirit to renew your mind.
The Mind of Christ
Paul exhorted the Church in Rome to “let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2 NLT). If we want to overcome the issues that our hurting minds present, we must invite the Spirit into every nook and cranny of our brains so that He can begin to rewire our way of thinking.
This is a slow process in which we begin by surrendering our thoughts to God (i.e. sharing them with Him and trusting that He’ll respond in the ways we truly need). But it doesn’t stop here. We must then allow Him to give us His eyes to see the world—and by extension, our lives—from His perspective. Such a shift changes the way we perceive, process, and think about the world. As a result, our minds will begin to be refreshed with new, God-inspired thoughts.
An Overflowing Well
As your mind experiences a new way of thinking, your spiritual and physical health will follow. The tension you feel in your muscles will begin to relax. Your racing mind will settle into peace. Your weary soul will be restored. Your doubts will be driven out by God’s faithfulness.
Our entire being is integrated—mind, body, and spirit all connected. They each play an integral part in comprising who we are. And when one is out of line, the other two have the potential to be as well. So when it comes to anxiety, we attack it at the core, starting in our minds. And as we find healing for our minds, we can be confident that our spirit and body will follow suit.
