How to Deal With AnxietyParaugs

How to deal with anxiety (Part 1)

About 18 months ago, I had an illogical but emotional experience with anxiety. I was standing in the living room of a vocal coach who was helping me fix some of my bad habits while public speaking, and suddenly I could feel my brain and my body starting to unravel. At one point, I noticed my toes were curled up, standing vertical in my shoes. “You okay,” the guy asked me, but I didn’t know what to say besides, “I’m sorry; I have to go.” Looking back, there was nothing logical about it, but there was something powerful.

Have you been there? Twenty percent of American adults say they have, and I have a hunch that number is just as high within the church. Even though Christians know we shouldn’t worry, we still do. Even though Christians know we should trust God, we still don’t.

A man worries about dying young, even though he’s not actually sick and Jesus conquered death. She worries about being good enough for God, even though she’s perfect through Christ. He worries that his struggle with worry is proof that he isn’t really that sorry, and maybe he’s not that worthy, and maybe God is that angry.

Given how many of us have dealt with anxiety, I want to take some time to figure out how to deal with it from a biblical perspective, truths that fit wonderfully with good medication and professional counseling. After all, Peter encouraged us, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).