Dealing with Anxiety and Worry

Do you often deal with anxiety? Are you consumed with worry? You can learn to manage these emotions by understanding what the Bible says about them. In this excerpt from his book, Truth Seeker - Straight Talk From The Bible, Warren Mueller studies the keys in God's Word to overcoming your struggles with anxiety and worry.
Anxiety (Worry)


Life is full of many concerns stemming from the absence of certainty and control over our future. While we can never be completely free from worry, the Bible shows us how to minimize worry and anxiety in our lives. Philippians 4:6-7 says do not worry about anything, but with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God and then the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Pray About Life's Worries
Believers are commanded to pray about life's worries. These prayers are to be more than requests for favorable answers. They are to include thanksgiving and praise along with the needs. Praying in this way reminds us of the many blessings God continually gives us whether we ask or not. This reminds us of God's great love for us and that He knows and does what is best for us.

A Sense of Security in Jesus


Worry is proportional to our sense of security. When life is going as planned and we feel safe in our life routines, then worries subside. Likewise, worry increases when we feel threatened, insecure or are overly focused on and committed to some result. 1 Peter 5:7 says cast your cares upon Jesus because He cares for you. The practice of believers is to take our worries to Jesus inprayer and leave them with Him. This reinforces our dependence on, and faith in Jesus.
Recognize a Wrong Focus


Worries increase when we become focused on the things of this world. Jesus said the treasures of this world are subject to decay and can be taken away but heavenly treasures are secure (Matthew 6:19). Therefore, set your priorities on God and not on money (Matthew 6:24). Man worries about such things as having food and clothes but is given life by God. God provides life, without which the concerns of life are meaningless.



Focus on JesusWorry can cause ulcers and mental problems that can have destructive health effects that shorten life. No amount of worry will add even one hour to one's life (Matthew 6:27). Therefore, why worry? The Bible teaches that we should deal with each day's problems when they occur and not be obsessed with future concerns that may not happen (Matthew 6:34).


In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus visits the house of the sisters Martha and Mary. Martha was busy with many details regarding making Jesus and his disciples comfortable. Mary, on the other hand, was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to what he said. Martha complained to Jesus that Mary should be busy helping but Jesus told Martha that "…you are worried and anxious about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42)


What is this one thing that freed Mary from the business and worries experienced by her sister? Mary chose to focus on Jesus, listen to Him and ignore the immediate demands of hospitality. I do not believe that Mary was being irresponsible, rather she wanted to experience and learn from Jesus first and later, when He was done speaking, she would fulfill her duties. Mary had her priorities straight. Put God first and He will free us from worries and take care of the rest of our concerns.

How to Deal With Stress God's Way

According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, prolonged stress is a serious health risk. Stress releases natural hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These fight-or-flight chemicals are designed to aid the body in short-term emergencies. They increase the heart rate, elevate blood pressure, boost sugar levels, and redirect energy from other functions, such as digestion and immune responses.

Christian therapist and trauma specialist, H. Norman Wright says stress becomes problematic when it is chronic.

Chronic stress can keep the body's chemical switches on, setting in motion a chain reaction that may throw virtually every system off balance. Long-term stress is linked to depression, anxiety disorder, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep disturbances, weight gain, memory loss and concentration impairment.

Wright says stress can be a spiritual drain as well.

"You can get to a place where you have no reserves—you're running on empty," Wright says. "It can lead to burnout and crisis in every area, including your spiritual life."

Yet Wright says stressed-out Christians already have access to the relief they need.

"We have the resources for dealing with stress," Wright says. "We have prayer and the promises of Scripture. Many times we're stressed because we're trying to manage it all ourselves. We aren't relying on God or releasing it to Him."

Wright says he once faced a major business crisis two days before he was to leave on a fishing vacation. He knew his trip would be ruined if he didn't find a way to let go of the anxiety. During his daily prayer times on the trip, Wright says he lifted his hands and envisioned God removing his burden.

"The days I did that, I had a wonderful time," he says. "Many times our mind is really the culprit. Look at what the Bible says: 'You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you' (Is. 26:3). That is the real solution to stress."

Glen Ryswyk, of the Center for Family Counseling in Lawton, Ok, says he struggled with stress several years ago when his wife, Diane, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"I told God I was in worse shape than my clients," Ryswyk recalls. "The Lord asked me, 'Are you going to rely on yourself or My grace alone?' When I finally decided God's grace is enough, it took the pressure off me. It was no longer about my ability to perform or whether I had enough faith or fortitude. It was all about God's ability to sustain me."

Liz Bailey was a stay-at-home mom with eight children when her husband, Pat, died of brain cancer in 2011. Eight months later, Bailey also lost her adult daughter to complications from spina bifida. Bailey cleans houses and works other odd jobs to make ends meet, but she says keeping food on the table and fuel in the car is always an exercise in faith.

"When I feel the emotion of stress coming on, I remind myself of the Word," says Bailey, who attends Evangel Community Church (Assemblies of God) in Snellville, Ga. "I feel what everybody else feels, but I get on my knees a lot. I'm totally dependent on God. If I didn't choose to trust Him, I know stress would overtake me."

Ryswyk says the Scriptures have a lot to teach Christians about stress management, from admonitions to cast off fear and anxiety to Jesus' example of withdrawing from the crowds for prayer.

"I've learned we can respond to stress by accepting God's grace or by fighting against our own powerlessness," Ryswyk says. "We can't fix everything. But God gives us divine provision for whatever place we find ourselves in."

Taken from: http://www.charismanews.com/us/41718-how-to-deal-with-stress-god-s-way