The Antithesis of Gratitude: Anxiety

Introduction

It is no secret or surprise that anxiety plagues many in our culture today. It should also be no surprise that anxiety stands in the way of gratitude.

Transition

Returning to a key verse related to gratitude launches us into the conversation about anxiety. This isn’t all there is to say about anxiety but it should be a part of the consideration.

Illumination

Anxiety Versus Thanksgiving

Philippians 4:6 NKJV

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

On the one hand, we have anxiety

On the other hand, we have spiritual disciplines:

prayer: talking to God

supplication: asking of God

thanksgiving: gratitude to—and for—God

The way this is stated indicates that you can experience and participate in one or the other, but not both.

When we talk about the art of gratitude, and celebrating thanksgiving everyday, we must recognize that anxiety will prevent thanksgiving.

Anxiety Defined

Nothing is worse that waiting, counting the seconds, drenched in anxiety. Do you know the difference between anxiety and fear? I didn't until that day. Fear is a real, present, right-in-your-face threat. Anxiety comes from a potential threat. Fear can be conquered. Anxiety has to be endured. --Max Anders in Minecraft: The Island

While not a technical definition, it is practical and relatable. Notice the key distinctions:

Fear is a present threat and can be conquered

Anxiety is a potential threat and must be endured

Anxiety is the crippling fear of things that could happen.

If you are older than 30 and this sounds familiar, it’s because we used to call it worrying. Same problem, new name. The only differences are

the dangers in the world are prominent (not worse, just more known) and

current culture embraces this fear response rather than dismissing it.

Instead of pushing through worry/anxiety and seeing there is nothing on the other side, we pause in the face of worry/anxiety and never discover there is nothing there.

Anxiety Undermined, Luke 12:22-31

Luke 12:22–31 NKJV

22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? 29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

A key element in our anxiety, is powerlessness, we feel like we cannot control or conquer whatever it is we fear. Jesus agrees: we can’t (verse 25)

But He follows with the question, so what? (verse 26). There are a lot of things in this world that we cannot control, why do we allow them to make us anxious?

God can control and conquer everything in this world that He made and He sustains. Why don’t we trust Him? (verse 28)

Do not…have an anxious mind (verse 29) Anxiety belongs to the people of this world, not to those who have God as Father (verse 30)

Focus on God and His Kingdom, not on life and its dangers, and all that we want but are afraid to pursue will be ours.

Essentially, we choose what, or whom, we will believe, follow, and focus on

The pushback that many gripped by anxiety is that God isn’t real or doesn’t care and is more theoretical than helpful. If that were true (and I am not conceding that point!) than He is on par with your fears, meaning you can choose which non-reality you want to prioritize. This truth can work for you even if you don’t believe in God, but it works better if you do.

Conclusion

Anxiety is real: it always has been. That said, we do not have to be locked in anxiety’s grip. We can re-orient our obsession from powerful fears to an all-powerful Father.

Application

The time and energy that will take produces freedom.