7 Ways Knowing God's Character Can Lessen Your Anxiety
Spiritual Life
Audio By Carbonatix
8:00 PM on Monday, March 2
By Cindi McMenamin, Spiritual Life
1. Be convinced He’s in control, and you won’t feel the need to be.
We all struggle with control issues. It’s in our human (and sinful) nature. But in our new nature, as we surrender to Christ, we can rest in the fact that He is in control of everything, even when it doesn’t appear so. Our anxiety level will surely change when we are convinced He can control all we think we must and all know we can’t.
Scripture tells us God is in control of our destiny (Psalm 27:1-2; Psalm 46:1-3; and Isaiah 43:2). He is in control when we are the ones who messed up (Psalm 37:23-24); or if life just goes awry (Romans 8:28-29). And He is in control of all that happens in the universe (Job 38:12, 16, 18). Furthermore, Psalm 18:30 tells us, “All His ways are perfect,” and therefore, God doesn’t make mistakes or fail to do what He intended. Knowing God is in control means you don’t have to try to be. And that can make you far less anxious about whatever is happening to rock your world.
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2. Know He commands earth’s elements, and you won’t panic when disaster hits.
Jesus’ disciples claimed to believe He was God, but they didn’t have a clue about the extent of His power. In Mark 4, we read that they had a major case of anxiety when their boat was being tossed around in a storm, and they feared they would die—even with Jesus right there in the boat with them, sleeping amidst the storm. “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” they said to him, after waking Him from his sleep (verse 38).
After Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and waves (and the elements immediately became still), He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (verse 40).
Our anxiety level is directly related to our faith in Who God is and what He is capable of. The more you get to know Him, through His Word, the more you’ll be convinced He can handle anything that comes your way.
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3. Be convinced He’s the one who keeps you safe, and you won’t fear for your health or wellbeing.
You can invest in a top-of-the-line security system for your homes and take all sorts of precautionary measures to protect your body, your children, and your possessions, but ultimately God is the One who protects and keeps you safe. The psalmist wrote: “I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8). And Psalm 121:2-3 tells us, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber (Psalm 121:2-3).
When you realize God is tasked with your personal safety, you are in better hands with Him than with anyone or anything else.
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4. When you know He cares, you won’t stress about your needs.
Scripture straight-out tells us to “not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6 NASB), but to instead pray about everything—while knowing God hears and with the expectation that He’ll answer—and you’ll experience God’s peace. That is the Bible’s prescription for anxiety: Praying about your problems turns the panic into peace.
Jesus told His followers in Matthew 6: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…” because God cares for even the birds of the air, and we are “much more valuable than they” (verses 25-26). Jesus likened our worry and anxiety about our provision to that of the pagans, and pointed out we have a heavenly Father who knows what we need (verse 32). Then He told us not to worry about tomorrow because we can’t do anything about it anyway (verse 34). When you are convinced that your heavenly Father can and will take care of His own, that will lessen your anxiety.
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5. When you know He is with you, you won’t fear your circumstances.
In my book, The New Loneliness, I point out, “the opposite of anxiety is confidence in the person and presence of God. As long as we keep our eyes on Jesus, follow His lead, and heed His warnings, we are safer and more secure than we can possibly be on our own.”
Hebrews 13:5 assures us God will never leave us nor forsake us. Psalm 139:7-12 also assures us there is nowhere we can go where God’s presence will not follow. Are you convinced He is constantly with you? If not, pray for a greater awareness of His presence and realize God’s guidance and protection isn’t dependent on whether or not you feel it, it’s dependent on the facts of His Word—that He will never let you out of His sight. Take Him at His Word and live less anxious as you realize, moment by moment, that He is counseling you with His “loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8).
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6. When you believe He is for you, the fear of others will dissolve.
Do you become anxious about what others might do to you? A manager who has it out for you or a neighbor or former associate who is threatening or harassing you? Romans 8:31 asks a rhetorical question: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” In other words, if you know the God of justice, the God of protection, the God of lovingkindness who cares for you more than you know, there is not a being on earth you should fear because no one can come up against the Almighty. God’s Word says, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
Instead of fearing others, fear disappointing God by not trusting Him to fully care for you.
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7. When you know He is good, you’ll no longer fear the worst.
Just months ago, when my mom was dying, I was the only one with her—a few thousand miles from my home—for the first three days of her last week of life. If I didn’t know God was good and His timing is perfect and nothing takes Him by surprise, I would’ve been an emotional wreck. Yet God was faithful in providing His peace, the assurance that He was taking care of every detail, and the tender way He took her home in His perfect timing. Scripture tells us, “all His ways are perfect” (Psalm 18:30), and when we really believe that, we don’t have to succumb to panic and anxiety by fearing the worst. Who He is makes all the difference in life and in death.
Can you trust the fact that God is good, all His ways are perfect, and nothing touches you or your loved ones that hasn’t first passed through His loving hands? And 1 John 4:8 tells us: “perfect love drives out fear.” When we realize God loves us perfectly, we will trust Him immensely, and where there is absolute trust, there is no room for fear. Love Him completely, and He’ll dissolve your anxiety with His peace.
For more on a closer connection with the God who is with you, for you, and has a reason you are here, see Cindi’s newest book, The New Loneliness.
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