Dealing With Anxietyಮಾದರಿ

Does God really care, though?

Have you ever asked that question? Does God really care about my anxiety? Because if God is good, and He loves me, then wouldn’t it make sense for God to take the anxiety away and make everything better? He’s God. He can do that. Right? 

I know that is something that I’ve wrestled with. Many times. If you’re like me, then maybe you’ve even felt like you can’t tell anyone that you have those questions. You may find yourself getting nervous about what people might think if they knew you had questions about God. If you had doubts. If you had worries. What would they say? Would they think you’re not a Christian anymore? Would they think it’s your fault? Would they tell you to just have faith? To just trust God? To read your Bible more? 

It’s crazy how wondering if God really cares about our anxiety can lead to even more anxiety about what people would think if they knew we were asking that question. It quickly becomes a dangerous and terrifying cycle. 

What if I told you you’re not the only one who has had those questions? And no, I’m not just talking about me. What if I told you there are tons of stories and examples in the Bible of people wrestling with God and wondering if He even cares? 

Don’t believe me? Go read the Psalms. Seriously. Yes, I’m asking you to do this again. Because they are that good! 

The Psalms are a gold mine of rich, honest, and painful expressions of crying out to God. Asking if He is even there, and if He even cares. And they aren’t always very clean. They don’t always finish on a high note. Sometimes, the questions don’t get answered. Sometimes we don’t get a clear answer. Sometimes the problem goes unresolved. 

I think the fact that these Psalms, these expressions of doubt, suffering, and anxiety, exist, is a gift to us. I think they are one of the ways that God shows us He cares, that He sees us, and that He understands us. Even when He doesn’t take the anxiety or struggle away, He lets us know that we aren’t alone, that we aren’t forgotten, and that He cares for us. 

Challenge: Write down a list of things that you enjoy doing. Things that help you feel a sense of calm and peace. When you start to feel anxious, look at the list you’ve created and pick one of those things to do.