Vast numbers of people, especially women experience anxiety.  Why? Is it worse today than it was 100 years ago when things were even harder for human society? 

The definition of anxiety is apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness. Medically speaking it is an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fears often marked by physical signs such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate. 

In August 2018, Barnes & Noble announced a huge surge in the sales of books about anxiety; a 25 percent increase over the prior year. Today, anxiety is the most common disorder affecting around 40 million adults — almost 1 in 5 people. 

When is the anxiety a good thing? Human survival relies on our natural ability to feel anxious about dangerous situations.  Anxiety can be good when it acts as a life-saving mechanism. The problem is when we feel anxious at the wrong time and we get stuck in the “anxiety on” position.

The American Psychiatric Association ran a poll on 1,000 U.S. residents in 2017, and they found that nearly two-thirds were “extremely or somewhat anxious about health and safety for themselves and their families. More than a third are more anxious overall than last year.”

In 2018, the same poll was repeated. Anxiety was shown to have risen again by another 5 percent. Millennials were revealed to still be the most anxious generation.

Fear and anxiety can feel like your worst enemies. If we are Christians and believe in the Bible and have a relationship with Jesus, why would we still struggle with anxiety? It is important to recognize what is underneath our anxiety. Similar to when people struggle with anger, they have to ask God, “What is underneath my anger?” Often anxiety is attributable to fear. The Bible has 365 verses addressing fear – that is one for every day of the year – challenging us to lay fear/anxiety down and live freely. 

The truth is that you are a child of God and you have the same power inside of you that raised Jesus from the dead. It is up to you to draw on that power especially when you are feeling anxious.

One of my favorite verses is in Isaiah 41:10. “So do not fear, for I am with you; (note: this is a command – DO NOT fear) do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Spend some time in prayer with your Heavenly and perfect father who loves you and ask him, “Lord, please reveal the source of my anxiety. Show me what is at the root of this emotion and how I can truly hand it over to you.” Realize that you may have to hand it over to the Lord daily, sometimes even hourly.  

Anxiety is basically telling God you need to be in control of that situation because He isn’t big enough to handle it. When you think of it this way, most women immediately say, I know we have a big God, but still struggle with letting go. Ask yourself, “What is it about hanging onto the anxious feeling that makes me think I am in control?” 

 History tells a story of King Richard the Lionheart from England who was very brave and always led his troops into battle valiantly. One day during one of the battles where the odds were overwhelmingly against the King, he told his trusted servant who was always by his side to retreat. The servant was shocked as this wasn’t the King he knew, so he rode up beside him and told him, “King – remember who you are.” 

God’s word tells us, “Remember who you are in Christ and remember to whom you belong.”  Learn to respect what God has placed within you. What does the Bible say about who you are in Christ?  Matthew 25:34 says, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”  God is the true King. Once we ask Christ into our lives, we have an inheritance and are blessed. We are God’s heirs and He promises to never leave us or forsake us, therefore, we don’t have to continuously struggle with anxiety.  

What does the Bible have to say about struggling with anxiety?  

Matthew 11:28 says to, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  

1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

John 8:36 promises, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  Free of fear, free of anxiety, free of mental confusion and struggles. 

What else can you do to take action against anxiety?

• Read God’s word regularly as your focus will change from the anxious situation to God’s promises. 

• Recognize that it is just a feeling and that feelings don’t have to control you. 

• Pray and ask God to remove that feeling and replace it with the reassurance of his presence, love, and reminder of the inheritance as a child of God. Focus on the truth of what God says in His word.

• Play praise music and play it loud! I love the following songs for anxiousness:

  • Who You Say I Am” – Hillsong Worship - I am chosen, not forsaken, I am who You say I am, you are for me, not against me

  • "The Way (New Horizon)" – Housefires - All my fears and doubts, they can all come too, because they can't stay long when I'm here with You.

  •  "In Over My Head (Crash Over Me)" - Bethel Music - Would you come and tear down the boxes that I have tried to put You in

  • “Take Courage” by Kristine DiMarco - "Take courage my heart, stay steadfast my soul, He's in the waiting"

Imagine the world without anxiety. Jesus says, we can have life, and have it abundantly so why wouldn’t we want it? The choice is ours if we are going to lay anxiety down and trust God. Make the choice to trust God and His promises!