#2 Brainstorm - anxiety

Intro

Is it possible not to be anxious in the world we live in today?

Anxiety is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent and excessive worry, fear, or apprehension about everyday situations.

It is a common mental health problem that affects millions of people worldwide.

In fact, according to the World Health Organization, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders worldwide, affecting nearly 1 in 13 people.

Chronic anxiety can have a significant impact on an individual's quality of life, leading to problems such as:

Physical health problems: such as headaches, muscle tension, and digestive problems.

Substance abuse: drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with their symptoms.

Social isolation: social isolation as individuals may avoid situations that trigger their symptoms.

Poor academic or work performance: ability to concentrate and perform well in school or at work.

Depression: Chronic anxiety can increase the risk of developing depression.

But is it a sin?

there is research on the levels of anxiety in Generation Z, which includes individuals born between 1997 and 2012. Here are a few key findings:

Higher levels of anxiety: A survey by the American Psychological Association found that Gen Z adults reported the highest levels of stress and anxiety compared to other age groups.

Social media use: Gen Z individuals are known for their heavy use of social media, and Studies have found that frequent social media use is associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

Uncertainty about the future: Gen Z individuals have grown up in a time of rapid change and uncertainty, with events such as the 2008 financial crisis, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic shaping their worldviews.

Let´s take a look at a Powerful Example — Dealing w/ anxiety open your bibles in 2 Chron 20

Jehoshaphat — 4th king — Judah (S Kingdom of Israel) One best king — Faithfully followed God.

Judah had enemies—Moabites, Ammonites, Me-unites, (Mosquito-Bites) and they are attacking

3 nations teamed up to attack Judah - (Too much bear)

Multiple attacks — we can take one thing but 3 …?

Boss — Car breaks — Finances tight — Marriage

You start a Diet — SG brings Donuts!

But is it a sin?

Anxiety isn’t a sin.

Jesus — Garden — Suffering — Agony — “God is there any Other way?” sweat drops of blood

Anxiety isn’t a sin — it´s a Symptom —a Signal

Red light car — (your car didn’t Wrong) — take it to the Mechanic

Anxiety isn’t sin — Signal alerting you … (It’s time to pray)

It’s time to pray.

3Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the LORD for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting. 2 Chr 20:3 NLT

His prayer is in verse 2 Chr 20:6-9

6 …“O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! 7O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? 8Your people settled here and built this Temple to honor your name. 9They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored. We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’

You can cry out to God -

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FEAR AND TURN TO GOD

In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat was faced with an overwhelming army of enemies.

However, instead of letting fear consume him, he acknowledged his fear and turned to God for help.

In verse 12, he prayed,

2 Chronicles 20:12 - 12 O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

Similarly, when we face anxiety, we should acknowledge our fear and turn to God in prayer, asking Him for help and guidance.

FOTO of the Book

Dr. Caroline Leaf, a cognitive neuroscientist and Christian author, emphasizes the importance of faith in dealing with anxiety. She says, “It has been found that 12 minutes of daily focused prayer over an 8-week period can change the brain to such an extent that it can be measured on a brain scan.” Dr. Caroline Leaf

Not only does prayer touch the heart of God, but prayer changes the chemistry of your brain.

The brain is not fixed - it changes

This is called Neuroplasticity, it refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt throughout an individual's life in response to different experiences, behaviors, and environmental factors. This phenomenon occurs through the formation and strengthening of neural connections in the brain.

The brain is constantly changing

One of the most remarkable things about the brain is that it is constantly changing and adapting to new experiences. Research has shown that the brain can create new neural pathways and reorganize existing ones in response to new experiences and stimuli.

There is something called The amygdala.

It is an almond-shaped structure located deep within the brain's temporal lobe. It is a crucial part of the brain's limbic system, which is involved in emotion, motivation, and memory processing.

The amygdala is primarily responsible for processing and regulating emotions such as fear, anxiety, and aggression.

The amygdala is involved in fear processing

The amygdala plays a critical role in processing fear and anxiety. When a threat is detected, the amygdala sends signals to other parts of the brain to activate the body's stress response and prepare for fight or flight. This response is adaptive in many situations but can be problematic when it becomes overactive or dysregulated.

The problem starts — Dwell on the alarm!

The word most often used — Anxiety — Bible — Meri-No

• merimnao — dwelling or pondering on fearful or anxious thoughts.

Meditating on the negative — we are Training our brain to be anxious.

Natural to think on what could go wrong! — Prayer breaks the cycle!

TRUST IN GOD'S POWER AND PROMISES

In response to Jehoshaphat's prayer, God spoke through a prophet and promised to deliver them from their enemies.

In verse 17, the prophet declared, "You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf."

When we face anxiety, we should trust in God's power to deliver us and His promises to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

'2 Chronicles 20:15-17 - He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”

Stando firm and do nothing - be still and know that i am God

PRAISE GOD IN ADVANCE

Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah didn't wait until after the battle was won to praise God.

Instead, they praised Him in advance, believing that He had already given them the victory.

In verse 20 and 21, they sang praises to God as they marched towards the battlefield.

On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”

21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the Lord;

his faithful love endures forever!”

Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah responded with worship and praise, and the next day they went out to meet their enemies. As they marched towards the battlefield, they sang praises to God. When they arrived, they found that their enemies had turned against each other and were already defeated. The Israelites spent three days collecting the plunder left behind by their enemies.

when we face anxiety, we can choose to praise God in advance, believing that He is already at work in our situation and that He will bring about a good outcome.

In conclusion,

when faced with anxiety, we should acknowledge our fear and turn to God, trust in His power and promises, and praise Him in advance. By doing so, we can find peace and rest in Him, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.