Uncommen: TriggeredНамуна

When My Anxiety Is All I Have

Matthew 6:34 - "Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

As Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel's Song of Silence says, "hello darkness my old friend."
 

Many things can trigger anxiety:

• Health Issues (Cancer or a chronic illness)
• Medications (OTC), birth control, cough medications, weight loss medications
• Caffeine (coffee, tea, soda)
• Skipping meals (blood sugar drops)
• Negative thinking (how you think of yourself and others)
• Financial concerns (debt, buyer's remorse, not having money)
• Parties or social events (strangers, groups)
• Conflict (relationships, arguments, violence)
• Stress (bills, traffic, work, family)
• Public events (public speaking, reading aloud, competition)
• Personal triggers (PTSD, smells, places, songs, people)

As you can see, many things can trigger anxiety. Let’s revisit our verse in the gospel of Matthew:
 

Matthew 6:34 - “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. “

Anxiety is real and it’s troublesome for many, but we must be honest with ourselves. Most of us fail miserably at replicating Matthew 6:34. We are constantly anxious and worrisome.
 

So how do we overcome anxiety?

Yes, some things deserve our attention and prayer. Some issues warrant help from Godly counsel, a professional, and perhaps medication. However, when I spend too much time in my head, I can chase all kinds of thoughts, what-ifs, and fears. Most of these will never come to fruition. 

When I find myself dwelling on these kind of thoughts, I pull out my Bible and get into God's word. It doesn't matter where in the Bible. I just let God's Word wash over me and minister to my soul.

If I can meditate on the Word of God more than I spend time on my phone, social media, or TV, I believe I put myself in a much better position to deal with anxiety. 
 

Uncommen Questions:

How can you prepare yourself to handle stress and anxiety?

Is the Word of God the first thing you turn to in times of anxiety or is it down the list?

Uncommen Challenge:

I challenge us to spend more time in God's Word, preparing our hearts and minds for the trouble of the day.