I wrote this article almost 3 years ago for BCOG. I still struggle with anxiety, but I most likely always will to some degree. I do think that I am much better at recognizing when I'm starting to worry and finding ways to be "still". God does offer a cure for anxiety, we just have to be willing to "take our Daily Medication"!
The Cure for Anxiety
This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what
you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will
wear. Isn’t life more than food
and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky: they don’t sow
or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you
worth more than they? Can any of
you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? Matthew 6:25-27.
In
Matthew 6, Jesus is giving his “cure for anxiety”. These verses have a special message for me, someone
who has a tendency to be quite anxious at times. I know my anxiety can be really harmful to my physical
and mental health (not to mention my spiritual health). Yet, my anxiety also drives me to work
really hard and be successful. I
like to have a plan, and I like to be in control. And so I worry: Am I working hard enough on this? Am I
saving enough money for that? Did
I waste too much time going there?
I think, think, think—hoping that “thinking” will make some sort of
difference or that working will solve all my problems.
I
know to trust God. I’ve heard it
and said it many, many times, as I’m sure you have also. Trusting God is vitally important to
our Christian lives. Trusting God
is our air, our light, and our energy—I’m not doubting that. God loves me more than the sparrow—yes,
I believe that, too. Does God not
take care of the sparrow? He will also take care of you. It makes perfect sense.
But, there’s one part I always
leave out in my thoughts on this verse: “they don’t sow or reap or gather into
barns.“ It’s an easy part to skip, but it is the part to which I really need to
pay attention. The birds are not
working so that God will feed them.
How often do I think, “I am going to work really hard and plan it all
out, and then I can trust God with this”?
All the time! I “trust”
God, but I’m trying to do all of the work. It’d be like your mother-in-law agreeing that you are
hosting Christmas dinner at your house this year, but then she comes in and
does all the cooking and the decorating without even consulting you. If she’s doing all the work, are
you really in charge? We do the
same thing with God. We work so
hard and worry if we’re doing enough, when all the while He’s saying, “I’ve got
it! Stop trying so hard and just rest in Me.”.
As a therapist, anxiety is one of
the most common conditions I see. Anxiety
is so interesting to me because it affects our lives in every dimension: the
physical, the emotional, and the spiritual. Key to conquering anxiety is involving all of these
dimensions in our time with God.
Take time to rest and meditate on the Word of God. Spend time in prayer with Him. If you are resting your body, quieting your mind, and
stilling your spirit in Him instead of working, you can really begin to trust
God with all of your worries.
Love in Christ,
Shauna
Staranko
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