The Gift of Anxiety

1 out of 5 adults experience “formal” anxiety.

These are those who have a formal diagnosis. These are the ones where a PCP, NP, or counselor has given the diagnosis. This is based on research from 2008 roughly.

Up to 50% of adults experience anxiety of some sort.

This is a preliminary study form 2023.

Those under 45 are reporting higher issues.

For teens it is close to 30-35% based on 2008 numbers. We are in a epidemic of mental health issues.

Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor who uses good counselors for healing.

We need to continue to lower the stigma around mental health in the church and our faith communities. There is nothing wrong with going to a counselor anymore than going to the physical doctor when you are sick.

I hope to preach a series on trauma and our faith sometime this year. Focusing on not just how we overcome but how we can help others.

Foundation-be gentle towards others.

Paul makes it clear part of how we live out the Gospel is to be gentle to others. Some would call this being warm to others or showing positive regard to them. There are lots of reasons why anxiety shows up in our world. Some self-inflicted and others not as much.

Not all anxiety is bad.

We cannot just say, “don’t be anxious”.

Rarely will this help. In fact, if you look at our verse today or in the words of Jesus not once is it just said, “stop being anxious”. There are times when we must say this but once again the example of Scripture goes further.

Let anxiety send you to Jesus.

Be anxious about everything in prayer. One of the gifts of anxiety is that it can force us to go to Jesus and look to Him for comfort and guidance. Warning: this does not mean just “pray about it” and all will be well.

Invite anxiety to have a conversation.

This is a practical step but I think an important one. Most of us try to deal with anxiety in very general ways when the most powerful are when we can be just as specific as the anxiety typically is.

Find the good, and think on such things.

Once we have had a conversation we can intentionally change the thinking. Paul gives us a list of items in verse 8.

Do something!

After we start to think differently in the moment we can act differently. Sometimes this is deep breathing, or using other body movement therapies. Sometimes it is going on a walk or to the gym. Sometimes it is doing housework and maybe even a nap. The key, for me, is to do something which is related in teh opposite way of the anxiety. Maybe the do something is finding community or counseling.

In anxious prayer we remember God is near.

He is near those who are hurting and downtrodden. The Psalmists make this clear.

He is near in the sense that any day he could come back.

In anxious prayer God can give peace.

I wonder if sometimes we do not experience the peace of God because we do not take our anxieties to him.

In anxious prayer we are reminded God is sovereign.

God is in control. His control is greater than anxiety or any other mental health issue.