I’m one of those people who have been decimated by anxiety off and on through much of my life. I didn’t realize what I was dealing with for many years. As I began to grow in my freedom in Christ, one of the areas Jesus gently brought to my attention was my anxiety addiction. It was an addiction because I found myself over and over engulfed by its grip in my life. Little by little, Jesus has loved me through those years and has given me answers that have helped me live with his peace.
Do you know anyone who seems to be addicted to anxiety, too? Is it you? I’ve had pastors even tell me they experienced anxiety. You may not be a pastor, but I’d like to share what I’ve learned.
Anxiety is a type of fear. It’s often the fear of the future, the “what if” scenario, that we are tempted to create, which wrecks us for a few minutes to many days. I call it the “worst case” story we write in our minds.
God tells us 365 times in the Bible not to fear. He knows this isn’t good for us and that he has something better. However, many of us have heard this number before, but it has not provided the help we need to break our anxiety addiction.
Let me share with you up front that sometimes, anxiety has a biological element to it. I recall a lady years ago who knew the spiritual truths about addiction, but she was still stuck. I recommended she see a doctor, and she was prescribed medication to help her brain calm itself. When I saw this Christian a few weeks later, she had a smile on her face as she said, “Thank you for recommending I see a doctor! My anxiety is gone since the medication has kicked in.”
There is often a spiritual aspect that we need to understand. For in it, even for those on medication, God has provided Himself as our peace within. Let’s take a look at these Scriptures.
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NKJV This inner peace is experienced by keeping our minds on Jesus and what He has done for us and to us. Also, please notice that trusting Him is a choice we make regardless of our feelings or circumstances. Make that choice when fear comes knocking at the door of your mind.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27 NASB Jesus said this to his disciples, knowing they were about to face a horrific reality. Their rabbi, their leader, their Savior was about to die. We see here that Jesus has ALREADY given us peace within, not based on the future or present. HE is our peace Who lives within us.
“Consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11 NASB As believers in Jesus, we have died to sin as our master. We haven’t died to being tempted with fear and anxiety, but we have died to being compelled to give in to that temptation. The next time a fearful thought comes into your mind, why don’t you tell it this? “I died with Jesus on the cross to you, fear. You have no power over me because I am alive to peace because Jesus, the Prince of Peace lives in me. BE GONE!
If you struggle with anxiety, you don’t have to face it alone. We often have openings in our counseling services, but we currently have some available for you or someone you know. Please call or text us at 704-522-9026 to find out more.
