How can I overcome anxiety?

Anxiety is real. I've felt those raging waters with you. I've listened to so many sermons on anxiety, and after a while, all the preachers sound the same. They all use the same verses, like Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." And there's nothing wrong with this verse at all; it's just that every time I've heard it used by a pastor, they make it seem so easy. Like it's a kind of formula that will wipe away all my anxieties. Just tell God your problems, and everything will be fine! But we both know that's not how it works.

Finally, I came across a sermon series by Louie Giglio. He acknowledged that anxiety was real. And anxiety was big. And it can be really, really scary. But thankfully, we have a God who can—and will—help us overcome our anxieties.

Does having anxiety mean that I don't trust God?

Many people like to placate with, "Just trust God, everything will be OK." That's really easy to say, isn't it? But not a very good encouragement for someone with anxiety issues, because again, IT'S NOT THAT EASY.

Fear and anxiety are absolutely normal inital responses. They are actually a part of our brain working with our God-given emotions to let us know when we're in danger or when something isn't right. However, if fear and anxiety move into our lives and stay there or even begin to run our decisions, then we're going to run into pain, distress, and prolonged fear. Sometimes we don't even recognize unhealthy anxieties until it's already hooked our hearts. Maybe you're feeling like this right now...

Yes, I've had panic attacks. Yes, I have anxiety. And YES, I also trust God. If you're in this very situation, let me encourage you with this: You are not alone in this fight. Yes, it's a fight, but it can be won. Anxiety is something that is used by our enemy to get into our heads and try to paralyze us so that we can't live or do anything for God. Satan would be just as satisfied making an ineffective, too-scared-to-act Christian as he would be satisfied in distracting a non-Christian from God.

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." —1 Peter 5:8

Being manipulated by Satan is not something I'm interested in. The first step in overcoming anxiety is choosing that you want out. We may have been given a "thorn" in our lives in one way or another (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)—such as physical impairment, mental illness, or trauma. For some, like me, it's anxiety. If that's you too, please be encouraged: you're not "crazy" or a "bad Christian." Our "thorn" just happens to be anxiety.

How can I win the fight against paralyzing fear and anxiety?

Here's what I've learned through my journey:

1. Stay in the Bible. True peace is really found within Christ and the Word of God. The more we immerse ourselves in the Bible, the more we will have a mind that is reflective of Christ, and the more we will be able to use Bible verses as weapons against anxiety and the attacks it brings.
   
2. Stay in prayer. I find the most peace when I am in conversation with God. It can be about anything. Thanking Him for your day, reflecting on who He is and what He has done, or presenting a request before Him. Whatever it may be, keep praying! Especially when you feel anxiety start to come on, it's so important to get that prayer weapon out and use it so that the anxious thoughts won't come on as strong as they would with no protection.
   
3. Capture your wandering thoughts. This is a big one for me. The minute I realize that my thoughts are wandering to anxious places, it's not long before they start to settle in my mind. It's important to stay in the here and now—not in the past, not in the future, and certainly not over things you can't control. Think about things that are pleasing to the Lord, and peace will be a lot closer (Philippians 4:8).
   
4. See anxiety for what it is, then see God for who HE is. Anxiety is real, and it's big. It's a tactic the enemy likes to use to keep us from being useful for God. In Louie Giglio's sermon series "Believe" (2012), he says, "Nothing steals God's glory more than worrying believers who are driven through life by fear." Anxiety is gripping, scary, and a terrible burden (to say the least!). But God is freeing, completely trustworthy, and gives us guidance to CHOOSE how our lives unfold.
5. Seek help. We aren't designed to live in a vacuum but rather in a community. Especially when we're struggling or hurting, it's OK to ask others for help, seek counseling, or even talk to your doctor about medication for a possible chemical imbalance that's causing debilitating anxiety.

Yes, anxiety is big, but Jesus is bigger. Anxiety is crippling, but realizing that fear has to bow down at Jesus' feet in submission to Him gives us the freedom to breathe easy. Nothing can touch our lives except what God allows, and we know that whatever He allows, He can and will use for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

We are not alone. Ever.

God is fighting for us (Romans 8:31), and He will never leave us (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). He wants us to have a meaningful purpose, and He can help us win the victory over a life filled with anxiety and fear. He is completely trustworthy. He has never failed, and He won't start now—because He never changes. And that's really good news for us.

He will see you through every ounce of anxiety. You will come out on the other side because He loves you and He is good. Overcoming your anxieties might take longer than you'd like; it will most certainly be a process. But keep in mind that He's doing something good through this process! Even though anxiety is big, it's no match for God and His sovereign strength and ability to create beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3). And for that, He will forever get the praise and the glory that He deserves. May your life be a testament to God's great healing power.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." —John 14:27

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