The Secret to Overcoming Anxiety

JO’s Outline

Problem: Fear and Anxiety

Solution: Abide, behold, pursue

Main Point: Peace is found in a the presence of a person - not a circumstance or situation.

Intro: Fear and Anxiety

Potential Stories:

bear hunting

studying for med school final exam of the year

when V and I almost broke up

Stats on anxiety

According to research about 40 million American adults aged 18 and over suffer with anxiety.

Anxiety disorders affect 31.9% of adolescents between 13 and 18 years old.

Unfortunately, fear and anxiety are natural parts of our everyday life. What is the source of our anxiety? A potential threat in the future/ a circumstance that hasn’t happened but could happen.

Define anxiety:

What do we do with anxiety?

Pray

Read Scripture

Address david’s fear and anxiety verses

What’s david’s response?

Abide v4

His presence allows us to delight, rejoice, dwell securely

You say, “what do I have to do to keep abiding in God as my One and Only Thing?

Behold v4 (gaze)

Behold who He is

Light in our darkkness v1

Salvation amidst our sin and affliction v1

Fortress amidst danger v1

Perfect v4

Faithful, doesn’t turn his back on us! v9

Instructs us on how to live when we lack clarity v11

God is good v13

Visualize scripture

Pursue v4 (seek)

What is one way to pursue? Prayer v7,8

Praise v6

Conclusion: What has you fearful or anxious today? Take time to abide/behold/pursue

Sing: Come & Behold

Read scripture Rev 4, Isaiah 6

JO’s Detailed Outline

Problem: Fear and Anxiety

Solution: Abide, behold, chase (ABCs)

Main Point: We overcome fear and anxiety through abiding in the presence of God, beholding the character of God and chasing (pursuing/seeking) God.

*Chase could have a negative connotation implying that God is running from us - when He is not.

Intro: Fear and Anxiety story

Tell story of my last Exam of first year of Med school

Stats on anxiety

According to research about 40 million American adults aged 18 and over suffer with anxiety.

35% of students said they had been diagnosed with anxiety.

34% of all students surveyed said anxiety negatively impacted their performance in class during the last 12 months.

4% said anxiety had delayed their progress toward their degree.

Around 77% of these students had an appointment or discussion about their anxiety with a healthcare professional within the last 12 months.

https://www.bestcolleges.com/research/college-student-mental-health-statistics/#:~:text=While%20anxiety%20is%20a%20common,had%20been%20diagnosed%20with%20anxiety.&text=34%25%20of%20all%20students%20surveyed,during%20the%20last%2012%20months.

Unfortunately, fear and anxiety are natural parts of our everyday life.

What is anxiety?

What is the source of our anxiety? A potential threat in the future/ a circumstance that hasn’t happened but could happen.

Define anxiety: a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. (Oxford Dictionary

Alternative definition: worry, stress, or concern over something that could happen, that might happen. It is to experience worry about a future event that hasn’t happened and might never happen. Anxiety is based in the future.

So where is peace found?

And how do we overcome our fear and anxiety? // I believe our passage we has the answer for us today

Prompt: pray

then have jack read the passage.

Psalm 27 ESV

Of David. 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” 9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. 11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

David was fearful and anxious

Psalm 27:1–3 ESV

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

David is a military leader and the king of Israel. He is used to being hunted and pursued. He was hunted by Saul, by his own son Absalom - who wanted to take the throne, and by other enemies he had made over his years in power.

The phrasing of the first three verses is interesting, because David poses a rhetorical question, of “whom shall I fear”, “of whom shall I be afraid”. It’s not that David had no enemies for fear or no reason for fear, but rather he knew some secret to having a way to overcome fear.

The other detail to note is that he is not currently surrounded, but rather expectant of an imminent attack in the future. He says, “when evildoers assail me”. He is projecting forward to an event that is likely to occur in the future.

He also states,

Psalm 27:10 ESV

10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.

Other translations state “even if” or “when” giving the connotation that it hasn’t happened yet.

Psalm 27:10 NLT

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.

Psalm 27:10 CSB

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord cares for me.

It’s possible that David is concerned or anxious about when or whether his parents will abandon him; but this appears to be a future event that has yet to happen.

So what was David’s secret? How did he overcome fear and anxiety?

David’s Response - ABCs // ABS

Abide / Dwell v4 - in His Presence

Psalm 27:4 (ESV)

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to inquire in his temple.

Define Abide

In Hebrew: יָשַׁב yāšaḇ (Pronounced: yaw-shab'): to dwell, remain, sit, abide

of 1,088 uses in OT breakdown: dwell (437x), inhabitant (221x), sit (172x), abide (70x), inhabit (39x), down (26x), remain (23x), in (22x), tarry (19x), set (14x), continue (5x), place (7x), still (5x), taken (5x), miscellaneous (23x).

In Greek: κατοικέω katoikeō (Pronounced: kat-oy-keh'-o): to dwell, settle, to dwell in, inhabit

of the 47x in OT: dwell (42x), dweller (2x), inhabitor (2x), inhabitant (1x).

Give illustration about where we live, home, address, dwelling place.

Where do you physically dwell?

home, dorm, bar, gym, coffeeshop etc

Where does your soul dwell? Where are the affections of your heart, the thoughts of your mind?

Peace, hope, joy or fear, anxiety, despair?

Our goal is to abide in God’s presence continually

How do we abide?

Good news: the opportunity has been provided to us by Christ on the Cross!

What does abiding look like practically?

Give example (abiding with V)

Abiding is living in such a way where you constantly DWELL w/God - not something to be achieved but recognized

What does abiding allow us to do? Behold

Behold / Gaze v4 - His Character

The way we overcome fear and anxiety is not by setting our mind and attention on a future problem but by choosing to behold the character of God instead.

David says in Psalm 27:1

Psalm 27:1 ESV

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Why was David able to overcome his fear? Because He was more focused on the character of God than his potential circumstance.

Give examples of things we choose to behold other than the character of God.

Relationship status, exam grades, our IG feed, etc

Behold who He is

Light in our darkness v1

Salvation amidst our sin and affliction v1

Fortress amidst danger v1

Perfect v4

Faithful, doesn’t turn his back on us! v9

Instructs us on how to live when we lack clarity v11

God is good v13

This is something that is very practical to practice.

Lectio Divina is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God's word.

Give example (s) - my time during worship, quiet time

Chase/ Pursue / Seek v4 - God

What is one way to chase/pursue? Prayer v7,8

Psalm 27:7–8 ESV

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

A second way to chase/pursue - Praise v6

Psalm 27:6 ESV

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

We are not to pursue the chase a perfect circumstance but we are to run towards a lifestyle of abiding with and beholding God.

The “One Thing” we are to seek is God!

Matthew 6:31–33 ESV

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

We started this morning with the question “where is peace found?”

Peace is found not in the future outcome we hope will come to fruition in contrast to the future outcome that is causing anxiety and fear.

As an alternative peace is not found in the present circumstances. Sometimes the present can be fearsome and worrisome as well.

Peace is found in the person that is Jesus. He alone is Jehovah Shalom, the Prince of Peace - it’s His name, His character to provide peace. If we want peace, if we want to dwell securely and to delight we have to abide, behold, chase Jesus.

Conclusion: What has you fearful or anxious today? We are going to end today by giving the oppertunity to put today’s message into practice. So that when Monday or Tuesday or any day comes with fear and anxiety you will know how to respond, and moreso how to overcome.

Response: Sing Come & Behold & give them an opportunity to pray & to praise. Then during part of the worship set come up and read a passage and allow them to practice beholding God.

Read scripture Rev 4, Isaiah 6

Dale’s Version:

Sermon Series: Fear Not: Embracing God’s Peace in an Anxious World

Message: The Secret of Overcoming Anxiety

Text: Psalm 27

To say that we live in anxious and fearful age is an understatement!

Ø According to research about 40 million American adults aged 18 and over suffer with anxiety.

Ø Anxiety disorders affect 31.9% of adolescents between 13 and 18 years old.

Ø It affects about 12% of children aged 3-17

And the numbers keep climbing!

As one person described it, “Anxiety is a lot like a toddler. It never stops talking, tells you you’re wrong about everything, and wakes you up at 3 a.m.”

What has you up at night?

Welcome to our miniseries on overcoming anxiety and fear. Over the next two weekends were going to discover God’s remedy for dealing with our worries and the things that make us afraid. But before we dive in, let me say two very important things:

First, as a person who personally suffers from mental illness caused by years of abuse and OCD, I want to acknowledge that some forms of anxiety and fear require professional medical help. Sometimes our mental battles are due to chemical imbalances in the brain or trauma related stress. I am personally grateful for the Christian’s therapists and doctors that have helped me in my journey. There is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of about getting help when you’re drowning in anxiety and fear, especially when you cannot control it.

We don’t shame people who break a bone and go to the doctor for treatment, and we should not think less of anyone who is in the pit of mental illness.

Secondly, I will say that a lot of general anxiety and fear is the result of not having the right biblical strategy for dealing with life’s challenges! It is this latter point that I want to deal with this weekend and next. In fact, I want to promise you that if you will take to heart what the Holy Spirit reveals in His word and put it into practice in your life you will experience a notable drop in your level of fear and anxiety.

So let’s get started. Please turn with me to Psalm 27.

I’m goin to ask _______ To read it for us this weekend:

Psalm 27:1-14 NLT [1] The LORD is my light and my salvation- so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? [2] When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. [3] Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. [4] The one thing I ask of the LORD- the thing I seek most- is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple. [5] For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. [6] Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the LORD with music. [7] Hear me as I pray, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me! [8] My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, " LORD, I am coming." [9] Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don't leave me now; don't abandon me, O God of my salvation! [10] Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close. [11] Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. [12] Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I've never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. [13] Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. [14] Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

Ernest Becker (1924–1974) was a cultural anthropologist and thinker known for his work on death and human nature. He is perhaps most famous for his 1973 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "The Denial of Death," which explores the role of death in the human experience and its influence on human behavior, culture, and society. He made an interesting statement, “To live fully is to live with an awareness of the rumble of terror that underlies everything.”

In other words, don’t live in denial about rumblings of life!

Now that goes against what culture says we should do. Check out most self help books on the issue of of worry and fear and they will tell you something like this; there really is nothing to fear. Most of what we worry about won’t happen. Instead focus on the positive and good things in life!

That’s not David’s view in this Psalm. We’re you listening or following along? David imagines the worst! Look at verse 3 and 10:

Ø [3] Though a mighty army surrounds me…

Ø Psalm 27:10 NLT [10] Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.

David isn’t saying that a army is currently surrounding him or that his parents have abandoned him. He’s just thinking ahead. “Even though or if these bad things happen…”

What’s he doing? He’s preparing or strategizing for what could happen in his life.

Because he’s a realist and the Bible is all about reality! The Bible is God’s story about what is really wrong in the world and how to really deal with it!

David had real enemies in his life, such as the wild animals that attacked the sheep he watched, Goliath, Saul, the Philistines, and his own son Absalom, who tried to kill father and take the throne.

What kind of enemies do you have in your life?

Ø Health issues?

Ø Difficult relationships?

Ø Past regrets?

Ø Present obstacles?

Ø Future uncertainty?

Ø Habits, addictions threats?

Who or what has you stressed out?

What’s David’s strategy for facing his challenges? He tell us in verse 3-4:

[3] Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. [4] The one thing I ask of the LORD- the thing I seek most- is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD's perfections and meditating in his Temple.

Here is David’s strategy for overcoming anxiety and fear! Three words:

Ø ABIDE

Ø BEHOLD

Ø PURSUE

Let’s talk about Abiding.

David says in verse 4, that the thing he wants most is to live, dwell or abide in the hour of the Lord all his days. He doesn’t mean that literally. Only the Levites could serve in the Tabernacle and only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies and then only once a year.

So, what does David mean?

He is saying that he always wants to be in the presence of God!

What does that mean? Aren’t we always in God’s presence? Isn’t He omnipresent? I think David means something like this. Many years ago, I was at an evangelism conference sponsored by the Billy Graham Association. At one of the meetings I was able to be in Billy Graham’s presence. He stood speaking on a platform about 20 feet from me. I can say that I was in Billy Graham’s presence. But I’ve never personally had a face-to-face meeting with him.

What David is saying is that he wants to spend the rest of His life not knowing about God but knowing God. Not talking about the love of God but knowing the love of God. Not knowing about the holiness of God but experiencing the holiness of God! He wants a relationship with God.

I remember the first time I told Marcia I loved her. We were outside on a Minnesota evening with the stars shinning above. I had been telling her for months how much I liked her but could never muster up the courage to say I loved her for fear she might not feel the same. So that night I mustered up the courage. As I stared up into the sky I said to her something like, “Marcia, I love you.” Do you know what she said to me? “Are you going to tell the stars for look me in the face and and tell me.”

David wants to live the rest of his life in the atmosphere of God’s presence in and around his life. Do you?

Tim Keller commenting on this Psalm says, “Our fears are directly proportional to the vulnerability of of the things that are our greatest joys. If God I my greatest joy I will live without fear. If my one thing I most want is God I am always safe.”

That’s what David is getting at! “If God is my One thing that I most want in my life then he feels safe and at peace.

Saint Augustine the Church Father from North Africa during the 4th and 5th centuries said that we all have good things in our lives. He meant things like:

Ø Health

Ø Family

Ø Money

Ø Sex (marriage)

Ø Career

He says, however, that when something which is finite becomes the ‘one thing’ we have to have in order to be happy, when the good things become the one thing then anxiety sets in!

In other words, anxiety is often the smoke that leads to the fire in our lives. It’s the result of the collapse of false god or the good thing we have misplaced as the one thing we must have. What’s hard is that the things we often get anxious about are not bad things but good things.

Here’s what so beautiful. Nothing can take God away from you! David says in verse 10 even if I’m forsaken by my parents, God will hold me close. He never fails, He never gives up on us! Don’t get David wrong. Having good parents is a wonderful thing. But what happens if they divorce, or one of them leaves or dies. Are you going to be so devastated that you give up on life, or convince yourself that you’re worthless because one or both of them didn’t love you enough?

What do you do if the good thing becomes a bad thing?

You can always follow your worries to those things that enslave you. Things like:

Ø People

Ø Money

Ø Sex

Ø Notoriety

Ø Reputation

What are you worried about right now? Follow the trail, the smoke, what is it that you’ve placed higher than God as the one thing you have to have to be happy or to have joy?

You say, “what do I have to do to keep abiding in God as my One and Only Thing?

You have to Behold the Lord!