One Million Questions: God’s Peace Answers Anxiety

Statistics tout the rise of anxiety in many segments of the population. Given the compounded challenges of natural disasters, a global pandemic, and economic crises compounded with personal matters, it is not difficult to trace the impact of diagnoses and disorders in society and individual lives.

While triggers can be unique to our personal experience, there are common symptoms that uncover anxiety’s fingerprints in our lives, as it manifests in the mind, emotions, and body.

How anxiety affects us.

The following paraphrases the American Psychological Association’s (APA) description of anxiety: as an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, recurring intrusive thoughts, concerns, or worries, and physical changes.

When we explore this in light of Scripture, we can see where anxiety anchors its talons around our perspective with its intent to distract us from awareness of God’s Presence, damage physical health, disrupt peace, and sabotage purpose.

Since Scripture informs us that we become what we behold, we have to be intentional about focusing on Christ and anchoring our thoughts on what adds real value (2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 4:8). If we rivet attention on what we lack, or even what others have or seem to be able to accomplish, we miss the opportunity to celebrate God’s present goodness.

Sometimes, the fear that provokes anxiety reveals that our hearts are famished for more than we feed them. We were created for God’s purposes, but sometimes we push out His desire to encounter us, replacing God’s role with modern-day idols. We attempt to answer the desire for meaning by amassing more of what the world has to offer, whether possessions or experiences.

However, disenchantment overshadows our lives when we discover that our pursuits, apart from the peace of God, don’t fulfill. Frenzied, we spin ourselves in hopes of satisfying empty spaces within, often by condemning ourselves for where we are, attempting to control what is beyond our reach, or competing with others, comparing ourselves to them in some way or another.

While it seems impossible to find stability amongst the fever pitch of anxiety, we do have a choice. We can embrace the anchor that provides fulfillment, peace, and rest. Living on a mission, in alignment with the God-given purpose we were created to experience with the Lord, answers anxiety with deep gratitude and the soul-rich life we were destined to live.

God’s plans and promises.

God created us to walk out His good plans before we came into being. Anxiety and stress can cause us to lose touch with those designs, however. When we lavish energy on what is outside of the realm of our responsibility, we misspend our most valuable resources. Instead of devoting ourselves to purpose and our chosen priorities, we often assign time and energy to what fails to offer a substantive return for our investment.

On one hand, we want to see God’s plans and promises flourish in our lives. They seem to evade us when we put our hands to good works. Yet, we find ourselves frustrated when it comes to the assignments God designed us to pursue with Him.

Our Father created us as image bearers for greatness, but anxiety often manifests as perfectionism and procrastination, distracting us from advancement into purpose-filled arenas. We overextend, exceeding our capacity, compounding the burden of additional responsibilities and roles we weren’t graced to fill.

This causes us to become frustrated, overwhelmed, and stressed. We blur our focus and sometimes miss significant opportunities to simply be, connecting authentically with friends, family, or those in our faith circles.

One of the greatest tragedies that we don’t foresee is that we forfeit the dreams and desires God placed within. This results when we transfer our attention to serving missions that God didn’t endorse, but rather where we responded to the shrill call of fear, anxiety, worry, and stress.

Presence and prayer over anxiety.

Sometimes, our zeal exceeds our reason, and we rush ahead of God, unaware that His deepest longing is for us to be together, enjoying His presence. Instead of basking in the being, that is, our identity as sons and daughters, we run into performance mode.

We get consumed with the anxiety that comparison and envy evoke, often pining after everything except what God gave us. There, we attempt to validate ourselves in a frenzy of overthinking and overworking. Unfortunately, this causes us to curtail the peace, freedom, and physical stamina that comes from a mind and body rested and refueled for specific purposes with God.

Our conversations with God, that is listening and talking with Him, hold the potential to shift everything. Nothing is off-limits. He wants to hear and help us, in everything, uncensored and unrestricted, including the mundane and the magnificent parts of our lives.

Building intimacy with Him in prayer and the stillness of His presence reminds us that despite what we don’t know and can’t control, the One who holds all power and knowledge is the same one who lives inside. He equips us with what we need to navigate what seems to defy us.

Purpose over anxiety.

Frustration tugs at our resolve when life appears to be countering the work we invest in our pursuits. We become discouraged by what appears to be a lack of progress. Couple that with our own attempts to keep afloat by continually adding to our schedules and commitments.

Scripture informs us that everything, including what appears negative, works together for our good, but we often need to reset with God to see it from His perspective (Romans 8:28). Sometimes, when we reimagine our challenges, including those presented by anxiety, the Lord will reveal how He has been repurposing those enemy darts to build our faith and strengthen us for our specific assignments.

We need to realize and remember that there is a purpose for which God created us. As we seek and discover it, we will find hints of revelation in what brings us the most joy, despite what could otherwise perplex us. Our talents and passions will furnish a peace and rest that encounters us as we sharpen and develop skills.

The Holy Spirit will lead and guide us into all truth, including the steps related to our unique purpose and assignment in our current season. Prioritizing God and our purpose positions the peace of God to answer and abate anxiety.

Peace over anxiety.

Jesus came to disrupt the false sense of calm that the world gives. He left true peace with us, to restore wholeness in our lives and filter it into the earth. The Lord wants to fill and seal the gaps we experience where we are fragmented spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. As the God of restoration, He has intended for us to experience a continual awareness of His Presence.

The enemy often wants to distract and destroy with harmful thoughts. If he can coax us to shift our attention from purpose-filled pursuits onto the negative, we sabotage where God intended for us to subdue.

We don’t have to be a prisoner in our own minds, surrendering more of our mental space to lies and limitations. Instead, we can arrest the thoughts and redirect our minds to focus on what gives life and multiplies strength.

We can do nothing in our own strength, but our mutual abiding in Christ infuses us with the confidence needed to take our minds back and entrust the peace of God as a guard against all offenders.

Next steps.

As challenging as it may be to surrender the false control and fear that feeds anxiety, you can do it by faith. Anxiety has likely had a potent effect on your life, but you can relinquish your hold, while also being freed from its grip.

Consider these principles as you silence the voice of anxiety with the abiding nature of God’s peace. Then explore this site to schedule an appointment with a counselor or a coach.