Dealing with the Inevitability of Anxiety

[Inevitable because we are finite]

Anxiety disorders are the highest reported mental health issue in the US with 42.5 million Americans claiming to suffer from this illness. (Mental Health America).¹

24.5% of college students are taking some form of antidepressants, anti-anxiety and mood stabilizers, such as Prozac, Zoloft or Lamotrigine. 41% of college counselors reported anxiety disorders as the most frequent disorder they see among their patients.

36% of young girls reported being extremely anxious daily. According to the National Center for Health Research, 13% of kids 12-17 report depression, and 32% report anxiety after reviewing their social media.

More than 40,000 Americans die annually from suicide.

I could not find statistics for the evangelical community. However, my career experience has indicated that the statistics for believers would likely look like those of the larger population.

The advent of social media has unquestionably ratcheted up anxiety in all populations and especially young people (6-18).

1. Differentiating worry from concern.

For the sake of brevity this morning, I borrowed this pity statement: “Concern, on the other hand, is a calculated consideration and assessment of actual danger. Whereas worrying anticipates problems and things going awry (loss of control), concern is more fact-based and geared toward problem-solving. What do you think serves you when facing a life challenge: dealing with fact (being concerned), or dealing with fiction (worrying)?”²

This definition is biblically sound and concluded by contextual interpretation of the common Greek word for anxiety. In 2 Cor 11:28 Paul uses this word to describe his burden of care of the numerous churches resulting from his missionary journeys.

We might put it another way. Concern evaluates a situation and determines a course of action. Anxiety is a strategy of endless hypothesizing various terrible outcomes. Jesus clearly commends responsibility for engaging in work that produces self-care. So, when he says, “Be anxious for nothing” he is not saying we should not tackle the challenges of life, but rather as we do, to not be anxious because he will supply our needs.

2. Another important dimension of this study will include the relationship between fear and worry. Suffice it to say, this morning that fear is the initial response that precipitates anxiety and is its constant companion. When an angel shows up, the first words out of his mouth is “fear not.”

3. For the remainder of our time this morning, I want us to look at three complimentary NT passages where we learn how to not use anxiety as a life strategy.

1. Matthew 6:16-34 [Thinking or Logical plan]

I refer to this passage as Jesus logical means of managing anxiety.

His reasoning starts back at verse 16 with the strategy of anxiety seen in the displaying of the fact that one is fasting. (Wow! Does he hit the point for young people on social media).

1. You choose to avoid anxiety by having a lighted eye (22-23)
2. You choose to serve the right master (24)
3. You choose to listen to the logic of Jesus (25-32)
4. You choose to embrace His conclusion (33)
5. You choose to trust Him day by day (34)

2. Philippians 4:4-9 [Paul’s action plan]

I refer to this passage as Paul’s action. While it certainly engages our thinking, it is more thinking in action.

1. Choose to determine to begin every day by rejoicing in the Lord (4:4). It is an echo of Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” The context of this Psalm sounds much like what Jesus said in our Matthew passage with this verse expressing seeing with the lighted eye.
2. Choose to be a good testimony (4:5)
3. Choose not to be anxious (4:6a)
4. Choose to pray about everything with thanksgiving(6b)
5. Choose to possess your thinking (4:9)
6. Choose to practice this action orientation (4:9

3. I Peter 5:6-9 [Peter’s emotional plan]

This book is a handbook for refugees fleeing from Nero. They have many reasons to be anxious. Peter reminds these folks of how to live the Christian life even under severe duress and he concludes with these final instructions.

1. Choose to humble yourself (don’t think you can handle this on your own)
2. Choose to focus on the God with the mighty hand (omnipotent God)
3. Choose to cast your anxiety (they would naturally engage in anxiety) Him (the God with the mighty hand)
4. Choose to be sober minded and alert

Sober minded (keep using that lighted eye and see God in control)

Be alert (because the Devil….)

5. Choose to resist the Devil (that is, choose to trust God for every need in every situation because He is the God with the Mighty hand).

Conclusion:

If we put this all together, we can say that the way we avoid being the victim of anxiety is by engaging our whole self, mind, will, and emotions in trusting God. We listen to the logic of Jesus, we take the actions prescribed by Paul, we engage our emotions in casting our inevitable anxieties on the one who cares for us.

1 NIH report for 2023

2 https://self-coaching.net/worry-vs-concern-knowing-the-difference-can-save-you-from-anxiety/