How are we to deal with Anxiety?
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Welcome everyone and begin with prayer.
Tonight I want us to look to God’s Word on the subject of Anxiety. How are we as believers to deal with anxiety? Many of us are familiar with verses like these.
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
But, knowing and understanding verses like this we can still deal with anxiety. Let me begin tonight by giving us a clear definition of anxiety. Anxiety is a constant fearful state, accompanied by a feeling of unrest, dread, or worry. The person may not be aware of what is creating the fear but it is there. This may come by external situations, a lack of sleep, fast paced lifestyle, trauma, or something that has caused great pain to that individual. Even sinful things in our lives can cause us to be anxious.
Anxiety’s symptoms can be the inability to relax, rapid heartbeat, dry mouth, excessive perspiring, feeling clammy, constant anticipation of trouble, and a constant feeling of uneasiness.
The root of all anxiety and fear is worry! Many people today worry about failing, worry about being rejected, worry about abandonment, and finally worry about death. So, what does God’s Word tell us about worry or anxiety? And how are we too deal with it? Turn with me to Matthew chapter 6.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 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.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Three different times Jesus tells us not to be anxious. In fact, Jesus points out 3 things that people can be anxious about.
1. Don’t be anxious about your temporal life. This would mean food, water, shelter, etc… (Verses 25-26)
The Lord’s counsel here was very practical advice. During the Lord’s time everyone had to prepare their food and go out and get water. So, doing these things was sort of a survival level for most people. The point here is that we have to get past that which is physical or even the threat of being deprived of these things. Do we need to fear or be anxious of not having enough food? Do we need to stockpile or horde while ignoring the very promises of God? No! Are you not worth much more than they??? If God cares for the birds, do you think He’s going to care for you??? Yes, life is a gift from God and if God gives life that he will sustain life.
So how are we to not be anxious about our temporal life? What is the answer here? Don’t be anxious because of who your Father is. Why would you worry about your life when you belong to God? God is your Father. Have you forgotten who your Father is? Our Lord here is specifically talking about gathering food and He is the one who takes care of us. As you walk in obedience to Him, He will sustain you. That means that He will provide all that you need. If God has given me life, He will give me food, water, things that I daily need to keep us going. There is no sense in worrying about your food because the Father who gave you life will give you what you need for that life to be sustained. Here is what I want to encourage you with. Say no to the devil when he tempts you to despair. Say no to finding security in your self. Say no to hoarding and say yes to God’s provision.
2. Don’t be anxious about your health. (Verse 27)
Jesus now talks about our health. In verse 27 Jesus says and who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his span of life? People in our culture today are so obsessed with sustaining life and health. They are so consumed about their diet and what they eat and their exercise that they forget about spending time with the Lord. Most of this obsession comes from the anxiety of death or the fear of dying. Not all, but most of this does. You cannot worry yourself into a longer life. However, you can worry yourself into a shorter life. Worry is a sin for a believer. And here is why. Worry basically says, I don’t trust God to provide, so I am going to worry. Worry actually affects the circulation of the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system. Many people die of worry.
Here is the good news. God is the one who has given us life. God will sustain life. We don’t have to worry about our health or our life. We need to be thankful to His so that our lives are peaceful and joyful.
So, how are we not to be anxious about our health? What is the answer here. Look with me at verses 31-32. Jesus says here that we don’t have to be anxious because of our family. The key word here is found in verse 32. The term Gentiles is mentioned here and they eagerly seek these things, but our heavenly Father knows that you need all of these things and we are to seek His kingdom. We are not pagans, we are not part of the kingdom of darkness, and we are no longer children of wrath. So it is useless to worry, it is faithless to worry. We have nothing to worry about because we are part of the family of God. You are a son and daughter of God and He will make sure that you have all that you need. As God’s children we don’t have to worry as if life depended on us, because we know that our lives are in God’s hands.
Worry assumes that God is not there, or that God does not care, or that God is there and does care, but can do nothing about it because He lacks the power. NO!!! Verse 32 tells us with confidence your heavenly Father knows. He has the power to provide everything you need. God does care, He does know, and He does provide.
3. Don’t be anxious about your clothing, or what you will wear. (Verses 28-30)
Finally, the Lord talks about clothing. Now this may sound funny to some people, but the question remains why are you anxious about clothing? If God is going to clothe the grass of the field which is short lived, don’t you think that he will take care of you??? The answer is Yes! God will take care of you.
Let me explain this a little more clearly. Here is the specific answer to this question. We don’t have to be anxious because we are assured of our future. Notice verse 34. Don’t be anxious about tomorrow. For tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Your life is in God’s hands. Your future is in God’s hands. Fear tells you that your future is uncertain or is not under control. That is a lie. If you are a Christian you are a member of God’s eternal family, and your future is completely cared for. You are not a spiritually homeless person. You have a home and you have a Heavenly Father who loves you and cares for you.
When worry creeps into your life here is what I want to remind you of. Look at verse 33 again with me.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Be concerned or focussed on God and His kingdom. Be concerned about following Jesus and get your eyes and heart off the things of this world. Be so consumed with Christ that you don’t thing about your self any longer but all that Jesus is and has done for you.
Prayer, thank you Lord that we have nothing to worry about. Your word tells us that to live here on earth is Christ and to die is gain because then we will be with you for all eternity. So Father we thank you for your word and the encouragement it brings when we face the difficulties of this life.