The Answer to Anxiety
- Emma Ruby
- Oct 31, 2017
- 4 min read
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Anxiety is defined as: a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
Fear is defined as: an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
Fear and anxiety are interlinked, and they both cause each other. You can neither be anxious without being afraid, or be afraid without being anxious. Fear and anxiety are ever present. Everyone has fears. I have fears.
When people ask me what I'm afraid of I've always said, "Nothing really. I'm adventurous and I like a challenge." But that's a lie, and it always has been. I don't like the feeling of being afraid. At all. It makes me feel weak and incapable. I'm not afraid of the dark, death, kidnapping or anything else like that. I have a major fear of failure. My fear of failing can and has paralyzed me. When I was younger I had a constant need for perfection. It's what drove me and what broke me. Because in everything it was never perfect, and I always felt defeated and discouraged. I thought that in order to be liked I had to be perfect. The perfect daughter. The perfect friend. The perfect student. The perfect everything. It was not until I realized that we should always strive to do our best, but never ever strive for perfection that I truly realized how imprisoned I was by the need to be perfect.
I often wonder what exactly is fear and what causes it?
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
FEAR
When we become convinced that something is real and is actually happening, fear thrives. In order to conquer our fears we need to admit we have them. We should not let fear control our lives, but we should admit the inevitable fears in our lives. One of my favorite verses is Zephaniah 3:17, "With his love He will calm all your fears." I illustrated this verse and it hangs in my room as a reminder that our God is greater then all our fears. The Bible tells us exactly 325 times, “Do not be afraid.” That’s a daily reminder to live our lives fearless for God.
Ann Voskamp once said, “The answer to deep anxiety is deep adoration for God.” No, this isn’t a wave-your-magic-wand, instant fix, answer and you’re definitely going to struggle with anxiety at times in your life. But the truth behind this message is beautiful and pure. Simply love God more. You’re probably thinking, “Seriously? It’s really that simple?” Yes, it is that simple. But simple doesn’t mean easy. Loving God more is giving up your life wholly and entirely to Him and saying, "Lord it's your breath in my lungs, so here I am." Loving God more means loving people the way God does and trusting Him in every situation. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
We all struggle with anxiety. Some of us far more then others, but the struggle is always there. I struggle with anxiety about my future. I worry about pleasing everyone and never upsetting anybody. I stress over getting good grades, getting into a good college and not drowning in student loans. I worry about staying healthy and reaching my many goals. I worry and doubt.
Anxiety is like a shadow. Sometimes it’s bigger, sometimes it’s smaller, but it’s always present. But our God is stronger. He is our shelter. Our father. Our strength. Our rock. Our overcomer.
A youth group message I heard last week illustrated a very powerful point. The world teaches that anxiety and depression are okay. That they’re normal. My friends, they are neither of these things. God has promised us peace beyond understanding and his hand in our lives. So when we become anxious or depressed we are actually acting outside of what God wants for us. Let me be clear, if you struggle with depression or anxiety I am not condemning or judging you. They are both very real. And very horrible. What I am telling you is that God didn’t choose for you to be depressed or suffer from anxiety. The only thing he wants us to fear is God himself. No, not a goosebumps, hide-under-your-bed fear, but an awareness and awe of God’s power and holiness.
“Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victories right hand." -Isaiah 41:10.
Live fearless and unashamed. Live with peace beyond understanding. Live knowing that you were not chosen to doubt or stress. You were chosen to be strong and courageous because, "Our God is greater, our God is stronger. God you are higher than any other. Our God is healer, awesome in power. Our God, our God." and if our God is with us who could ever stand against us?
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