It's not that anxiety is a sin, but that anxiety is the act of experiencing fears and worries that one wouldn't experience if they truly follow and show commitment to God. It says, My son, do not make light of the Lords discipline, and do not lose heartwhen he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.. He concluded that it must be how God shows He is strength in our weakness. Before we get into Scripture, lets first look at what anxiety is from a medical and scientific perspective, what causes it, how it manifests, and a few statistics regarding how many people are affected by it. (n.) Concern or solicitude respecting some thing or event, future or uncertain, which disturbs the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness. The enemy whispers lies to us to get us to give in to worry, fear, and anxiety. Psalm 94:19. And why are you anxious about clothing? I mean I hope the person who asked this question doesnt hear me say, Yes, it is a sin, and respond, Well, thank you. Were on a mission to change that. On this ministry trip, Jesus made it crystal clear to His disciples, apart from me, you can do nothing. However, if they were sent with Gods power and were empowered by His Spirit, they did not need to fear. What does the Bible say about anxiety specifically? In this Bible Basics Explained plan, Kris Langham guides us verse-by-verse through one of the Bible's most powerful passages on anxiety: Philippians 4. Jesus says: Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on (Matthew 6:25). Moses tried to tell God that he was not the man for the job. Or if, say, you were confident you could ride out a panic attack, would they still terrify you? If you know their stories, you know that though they suffered, they recovered and went on with their lives, serving God. Since anxiety falls under the category of mental health, I thought it would be best to start by addressing the common misconception that there is no place for God in the mental health space. It is something, in my opinion that spiritual leaders need to take note of and educate themselves on both from a medical and biblical perspective. He broke out in painful boils. Teaching point one: Faith, peace, and confidence are the opposite of fear. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,and his interests are divided. In other words, what does being anxious do that helps you? Bratt, W. (2015, Jan 9). Curiously, self-confidence as an antonym for anxiety isnt regularly mentioned in thesauruses, although Merriam-Webster defines it as being a near antonym (along with its cousins self-assured and self-controlled). Your attempts to avoid anxiety and the emotional suffering that comes from it only make this state stronger and more intense. This article will explore some people who dealt with anxiety in Bible, whether for a lifetime or for a brief moment of anguish, what the Bible has to say specifically, and how we can address the anxiety of a fellow believer or deal with our own worries. Belief and faith in the Lord are the only place one needs to turn to learn how to cope with stress, because God delivers that help each and every day. Session 2: Anxious David (10:05) In Session 2, Scarlet explores the week's takeaway: Jesus is our shield in the fight against anxiety. First, he lost his material possessions, then all of his children. Your email is 100% safe. He is author of. are for We dont trust God to provide or to keep us safe. It is something that we all experience at one point or another, and it is a normal and often healthy emotion. In this post, I have summed up what the bible says about anxiety in six key points. Lets take a quick look at some well-known people from Scripture who experienced and struggled with anxiety. I'm grateful that when I pray to You, You answer me. OCD is a broad disorder that encompasses many subgroups: in the case of religious OCD (also known as scrupulosity), the person is fixated on obsessions that are based in religion and/or religious beliefs, or around beliefs concerning morality. My ultimate anxiety is my fear that I will never find peace with God, never be accepted by God. I hate living with anxiety, but I couldnt imagine trying to do it without Gods help and comfort because sometimes it gets so lonely and depressing. Scripture describes the struggles of people who suffered from anxiety, even though they were faithful servants of God. The first humans to express anxiety likely were Adam and Eve after they sinned against God. For instance, David describes himself as in pain and afflicted (Psalm 69:29). These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. In an article entitled What Is the Opposite of Anxiety, life coach Renee Jain, discusses her own irrational bouts of anxiety, concluding that it was finally courage that enabled her to end them. I never viewed myself as being prideful but I think I may look to self for control over things I actually have no control over. 5 Reasons People Have Low Self-Confidence, M. N. Seifs Paradoxical Attitude Necessary to Overcome Anxiety, https://drmartinseif.com/paradoxical-attitude/, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shyness-is-nice/201812/5-reason, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evolution-the-self/201505/anxie, https://oldtownhypnotherapy.co.uk/old-town-hypnotherapy-blog/anxiety/wh, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/having-sex-wanting-intimacy/201. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? Butseek firstthe kingdom of God and his righteousness,and all these things will be added to you. Rest for our hearts/minds is ONLY found in Jesus, and as Christians, we have that rest already! Like everything else that is a result of the fallen world we live in, anxiety will be defeated for all of us in eternity. Rather, its about learning how to run to God when hardships and trials happen. We can learn a lot from these six biblical figures who struggled with anxiety. We would like to thank Through . The bible teaches the idea that, while there are many ways to learn to cope with stress, the most powerful is simply believing in God. Its ok not to be okay! To those who doubt the provision and power of God to do whats best, Jesus gives a gentle rebuke, O you of little faith.. But feeling afraid and being anxious is never a sin. At times, we do worry about others, but even these worries are typically how the actions of another might affect themselves and our ability to relate in a healthy way with them. There are several types of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, phobias, and social anxiety. Because people dont control their bodys reaction to these outside stressors, anxiety disorders are often uncontrollable. Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.. After learning that Jezebel desired to kill him, Elijah, filled with fear, "immediately ran for his life" ( 1 Kgs 19:3 ). It is more general in nature because future articles will be giving more specific strategies on how to deal effectively with fear, worry, and anxiety. Anxiety [N] Uneasy feeling of uncertainty, agitation, dread, or fear. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. When he saw what the future held, what terrifying rulers and powers would take hold of the future, it disturbed him, rendering him unable to do much for several days. There is need of only one thing. Psalm 9:9. So there is a continuum for all of us, but I do want to acknowledge for some in these unusual cases, the believer needs very wise counsel from those who know him best and who know those physical and psychological conditions best. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet, and I am not at rest, but turmoil comes (Job 2:1,11,20-22,26). The APA describes a person with anxiety disorder as "having recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns." Once anxiety reaches the stage of a disorder, it can interfere with daily function. Christians can quote the verse from Philippians to reassure each other about Gods control, but what else does the Bible have to say? But the truth is, Moses whole ministry would never have come into being if he had not cried out to God from within his earlier anxiety. Martha is a significant New Testament figure, a friend of Jesus, and someone many women can identify. The Bible does, however, have a lot to say about anxiety. It's something that can be lost. In the morning you will say, If only it were evening! and in the evening, If only it were morning!because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see. And some versions, like The King James, dont use the words at all. Whether we experience general anxiety, or if we are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, God should ALWAYS be a key part of our coping and healing process! Once anxiety reaches the stage of a disorder, it can interfere with daily life functions. In fact, oftentimes God allows difficult situations and circumstances to teach us to depend on Him, and to remind us that He cares for us. All change is a part of God's plan, and so all change will be accepted and cause less anxiety. I know how to abound in any and every circumstance. To rely solely on any and everything else (therapy, medication, and other resources), while excluding God from the process altogether, is not only detrimental for us as Christians, but its also sinful. 6 Flaws of the Mind That Can Lead to Misery, 3 Tips to Keep Your Catastrophic Thoughts at Bay, How fearful am I that making a mistake or being more, Have I developed the seriously self-sabotaging habit of. 1 Peter 5:7 ESV / 1,170 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. The demands of this world and even religion will have us nearly killing ourselves trying to conquer life and find peace in the midst of chaos. Welcome! A good example is found in the Old Testament where God laid out blessings for the nation of Israel for the obedience to the law, and curses for their disobedience. Anxiety is what we feel when our body is responding to the emotion of fear. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Read Matthew 11. In our anxiety, we are incessantly inward-focused. Scripture teaches us to listen to, encourage, and pray for one another: Sometimes we can help dispel anxiety just by our very presence. He wants us to find the sin in our own nature in every situation and to get victory over that sin! Scripture encourages us to bear one anothers burdens (Galatians 6:2). He wants us to become free from anxiety and worry. And many of these ideas are adapted from M. N. Seifs Paradoxical Attitude Necessary to Overcome Anxiety (n.d.) since so many of the constrictions you may have placed on yourself arent really logical. That is why all of the content that we Although he endured and never stopped ministering for Christ, Paul too had his moments of distress and despair: As you can see, from these examples of anxiety in the Bible, that even these faithful servants of God struggled at one point or another. Spiritual Anxiety. As you look at the conversations, you see His response to ordinary people with deep troubles and sorrows. Yet, Jobs endurance glorified God for it answered Satans challenge and showed the unseen spirits, as well as men, then and throughout the ages, that Gods people serve Him, not a mere return for spiritual benefits but because of who He is. Once we receive the mind of Christ as a result of our salvation, through the power of the Holy Spirit we have the capability to become more like Christ and live in obedience to Him. Both anxiety and panic stem from a spirit of fear. Of course not. In terms of what needs to be understood, and then rectified, its useful to know how you got this way, to begin with. He had a lot on him. We are unsure of what will happen. Fact Checked by Faiq Shaikh, M.D. So Instead of me saying God take this away, I will reframe and tell God to use this struggle of my life for His glory. Why Fights With Your Spouse Are Making Your Teenager Anxious. One of the most distressing is that having such thoughts mean that you unconsciously want to do the things that come into your mind. Peoples lives were really changed when they encountered Him. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. Your email address will not be published. My prayer is that you now have a good understanding of what the bible says about anxiety. They keep wailing to me, Give us meat to eat!I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. The opposite of anxiety The opposite of anxiety is faith. In other words, it is not something an individual can simply turn on and off at will. And this self-doubt inevitably leads to anxietythe fear that what is undertaken will fail, and so further confirm the validity of their parents lack of faith in them. And the Bible is full of examples! Thankfully, this same Scripture teaches that a good word of encouragement can help to dispel anxiety, which we will get to a bit later in this post. We Should Encourage and Pray For Those Struggling With Anxiety. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7, Matthew adds that the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one who had authority, not as their scribes. He has real power to intervene in our troubles and Matthew wanted to make sure you understood the reason why Jesus could stand up and say dont be anxious. "I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from whence shall my help come? Updated on October 10, 2020. The Bible arms us with weapons against dread and shows us the way to overcoming anxiety. To overcome fear and anxiety we have to recognize that they are out of place. (Matthew 6:32). By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL cookies. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/having-sex-wanting-intimacy/201. If youre considering its vigilant elements, apathetic, passive, disinterested, nonchalant, or unconcerned would be seen as its most pertinent contraries. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The psalmist directs us to name the source of our joy: When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Anxiety tends to paralyze, isolate, and cause self-doubt. I say this for your own benefit,not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. In fact, at that stage it is even more important to lean into God through His Word and prayer every single day. https://drmartinseif.com/paradoxical-attitude/. . Trust is something that you choose rather than create, it is a decision that you can make and . And which ones best fit all depend on what aspect of anxiety youre exploring. 29-30). I know trusting God is sometimes easier said than done, but the great challenge to all Christians is to learn to trust God more and more over time. Elijah: a biblical case of anxiety. We provide Skype counseling for people across the country, and live counseling in 5 offices across the Chicagoland area.