The Problem of Anxiety

Is your life marked by a state of peace, inner calm, stillness, and sureness or one of constant uneasiness, turmoil, anxiety, worry, doubt, and fear over nearly all things? Anxiety is of epidemic proportions in today’s society, enveloping people from all corners of the planet and all social strata, occupations, and economic levels—even affecting Christians. The anxiety I’m talking about here is not the same as real physical fear, such as the fight-or-flight response you get when facing immediate danger, nor behavior caused or induced by chemical imbalance, drug abuse, or other medical issues. I’m talking about the terrible anxiety that many seem to have in today’s world; it can be described as a state of constant worrying, and in severe cases, it can be debilitating.

WHAT IS ANXIETY?

So, what is anxiety? I would define it as a state of excessive unease, worry, doubt, or even fear1 that creates tension or stress inside you. It may also create unhealthy physical side effects. In this book, we are only focused on the mental aspect—the silent and insidious anxiety that eats away at you, your life, and your health from the inside, day after day. It’s a constant and nagging worry or fear that the future won’t turn out as good as you would like it to for yourself, your family, or your loved ones.2 Think about it a bit: If you knew for sure right now that everything would turn out the way you wanted it to—in goodness, happiness, health, wealth, contentment, or whatever you deem important—then you wouldn’t be anxious at all, would you? So, at its essence, anxiety is related to not knowing the future.3

GENERAL CAUSES OF ANXIETY

From a general human perspective, several things can cause anxiety:

• Fear of/worrying about not getting something we want (new job, new car, more money, fame, fortune, power, boyfriend, girlfriend, wife, husband, children, etc.);4
• Fear of/worrying about losing something we have (health, wealth, job, spouse, family member, loved one, girlfriend, boyfriend, freedom, etc.);5
• Confusing needs versus wants;
• A mismatch between our expectations and reality;
• Setting the wrong priorities—we should be valuing our standing before and relationship with God (and eternal salvation) more than the things “of this world”;6
• Seeking (and trying to force) our will to be done;
• Wanting things within our timeframe; and
• A general fear of the unknown (which most humans seem to have).

These areas will be discussed further as we go through this book, although we will be doing so from the perspective of a born-again Christian.7 We will also review what the Bible says regarding AWDF, ensuring that what we cover is rooted and grounded in the solid truth of God’s Word. We will then look at the way a Christian is called to be—

• “Bold” (see Act 4:29–31; 9:28; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8; 2Co 3:12; Eph 3:11–12; 6:19–20; Php 1:20; 1Th 2:2; cf. 2Ti 1:7–14; Rom 1:16–17; Mat 5:14–16; Pro 28:1),
• “Confident” (see Act 2:29; 4:13, 29; 1Ti 3:13; Php 1:6; Eph 3:12; Tit 3:8; Heb 3:6; 4:16; 10:19, 35; 13:6; Phm 8; 1Jn 2:28; 3:21; 4:17; 5:14; 2Co 1:12; 3:4; cf. Joh 5:23; 8:49; 12:26; Rev 21:25–27),
• “Courageous” (see Mat 9:2, 22; 14:27; Mar 6:50; 10:49; 15:43; Joh 16:33; Php 1:14; Act 21:13; 23:11; 27:25; 28:15; cf. 1Co 16:13; 2Co 4:11; 5:6–8; Jos 1:9), and to
• “Stand firm in the faith” (1Co 16:13; cf. 1Co 15:2, 58; Gal 5:1; Eph 4:14; 6:11–14; Php 1:6; 4:1, 13; 1Th 1:3; 3:8; 5:21; 2Th 2:15; 1Pe 1:7; 5:12; 2Pe 3:17; Heb 3:6, 14; 4:14; 6:19; 11:1–40; 12:2; 2Co 5:7; Col 1:11, 23; Jud 3; Psa 62:2)

—and in the truth of God’s Word (along with His wisdom, strength, hope, love, and peace).

THE ROOT CAUSE OF ANXIETY FOR A CHRISTIAN

Now, getting to the point and purpose of this book: I see Christians who are as anxious and worried as those who do not even know God and Jesus (and some even more so)! But brother or sister in Christ, that just should not be—anxiety has no part in the life of a Christian (Php 4:6–7; 1Pe 5:6–7; Joh 14:1, 27; cf. Rom 8:28–39; Psa 94:19; Isa 41:10). We are called to be warriors for Christ, not worriers for Christ (2Ti 2:1–5; cf. 1Co 16:13; 2Ti 1:7)!

While Christians must deal with the same issues and general underlying causes of anxiety that are common to humanity (listed above), those should not elicit the same response in a Christian that they do in the unsaved person. So, to refine the issue further and to start looking at things from a purely Christian standpoint, the root causes of anxiety for the child of God are as follows (in decreasing order of importance):

• Not having a correct understanding of who God is;8
• A lack of faith (“Ye of little faith!”; see Mat 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Luk 12:28; cf. Heb 11:1);
• Not fully and completely “trusting in the Lord” (Pro 3:5–6; Psa 4:5; 31:5–6; 37:3–7; 40:3; 115:9–11; 125:1);9
• Not knowing what is written in the Word of God or misunderstanding it (in particular, all the promises that God has made to us);10
• Not obeying the simple instructions God has given us (e.g., Php 4:6–7); and
• Being “tricked” or “deceived” by the many false teachings and fake prophecies of man that can destroy your hope.11

I realize the second item in the list above sounds pretty harsh, but that is the truth. We can, however, restate it as a positive:

• A Christian overcomes and defeats AWDF through faith, prayer, and unconditional “trust in the Lord” at all times, in all places, and for all things, regardless of circumstances, and we do so by the power and Spirit of Christ “abiding in us.”12

Now that sounds much better and gives us hope! Thus, to overcome and defeat anxiety as a Christian, we simply need to address the above elements of faith, and when we do this, anxiety will come under control.

A CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF GOD IS ESSENTIAL

You might be wondering why I identified the items above as the root causes for a Christian. Let’s think it through a bit, and you will understand what I’m saying here. Being anxious implies that you do not place your complete and unconditional faith, trust, and hope in the Lord, and it conveys one or more (or all) of the following (either consciously or unconsciously):

• You don’t think God can do all things;
• You don’t think God can handle all things;
• You don’t think God sees and knows all things;
• You don’t think God is big (strong) enough;
• You think God has forgotten about, abandoned, or forsaken you;
• You don’t think God hears your cries, prayers, and petitions;
• You don’t believe what God has written in His Word;
• You aren’t sure if God is truly good and loving;
• You aren’t sure if God will keep His promises;
• And so on.

We will explore the above items in more detail as we go through this book. We will also learn more about who God really is along with what He has promised to those who “call on the name of the Lord” (see Act 2:21; 22:16; Rom 10:13; 1Co 1:2; cf. Gen 4:26; Isa 12:4; Psa 91:14–15; 105:1; 116:4, 13, 17) and who are “worshiping Him in spirit and truth” (paraphrase; Joh 4:23–24; cf. Psa 145:18; Jud 3). We will then look at the instructions He has given us on how to combat anxiety and get peace—His peace, “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Php 4:6–7 ESV; cf. Joh 14:27; 2Th 3:16; 1Pe 5:6–7). God has promised to give us His peace in spite of the difficult things and circumstances we may face in our lives. Bruce Eubanks says this about internal peace: “Peace is not the absence of turmoil; it’s an attitude in spite of turmoil.”13

We will also learn and take inspiration from some of the great saints of the faith who have come before us.

Hopefully, this book will help you identify any areas where you have an understanding (and opinion) of God that doesn’t match what we are told about Him in Scripture (and what Jesus has proven to us in His person). In effect, by deepening your relationship with, understanding of, and walk with God, you will also be conquering anxiety. I suffered from terrible anxiety all my life, so this is a subject I know personally. Once I realized its root cause, examined my faith more deeply, and began to utilize the tools and techniques we have been given in Scripture,14 anxiety began to greatly diminish to the point where it’s no longer a concern and does not affect my life. Amazing!

IT WILL TAKE TIME, PRACTICE, AND EFFORT

Please realize that simply knowing that a lack of faith is the root cause of anxiety for a Christian will not make it go away by itself. You will have to look at areas of weakness in your faith that are contributing to anxiety and how you can address each of those at a personal level.15 Moreover, the process of overcoming and defeating anxiety probably isn’t going to happen overnight (although it may for some); it will likely take time, as you must “learn” how to control anxiety and also “be content” in all things and circumstances like the apostle Paul was (see Php 4:11; cf. Heb 13:5).16

Furthermore, it will not be easy to keep anxiety at bay all the time. Sometimes, the reality of life in this fallen world is just cold, hard, and brutal; this subject is covered in the next chapter. Furthermore, unless your faith is rock-solid, anxiety can silently and sneakily creep back into your thoughts and emotions, and you must continually “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2Pe 3:18; cf. Col 1:9–12; Php 3:12–14) and “press on to maturity” (Heb 6:1; cf. Col 1:9–12, 28; Php 3:12–14; Heb 5:11–14; 1Co 14:20; Eph 4:11–16; 1Pe 2:2; 2Pe 3:17–18) in faith. But with a little practice and by applying the tools, techniques, and Scriptures that God has given us, anxiety should cease to dominate your life to the point of being almost abolished, not to return except perhaps for brief, fleeting moments and then vanishing again.

CHAPTER PRAYER

Lord God, thank You so much for the forgiveness of my sins through Jesus’ shed blood. You have been so patient, loving, and kind to me, and I’m grateful for everything You have done and given me. I humbly come before You today and ask that You help me know and understand how to get Your peace—the peace of God—and to be free from anxiety, worries, doubts, and fears. Please grant me Your wisdom, the wisdom that comes from above, as I go through this book so I can learn and study Your Word and follow Your instructions. Please also grant me the necessary energy and attention to put Your words into practice in my life. Help me see the areas where my faith may be weak, and show me how to strengthen those areas. Help me also to study and learn from the faithful saints who came before me.

It is my sincere desire to know and understand You better, to deepen my walk with You, and to fully trust in You for all things at all times and in all places, even when doing so is hard and when I don’t understand why things are happening the way they are. Help me rest in Your strength and faithfulness as I remember that I am not alone and that You are with me even to the very end of the world. Your will be done. It is only by the blood of Jesus, Your only-begotten Son, that I boldly approach Your throne and ask for these things. May this prayer find favor in Your sight. Amen.