"Anxiety"
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” -Philippians 4:6
The word “careful” means to be anxious.
Anxious- distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune. (dictionary.com)
It has been said that anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem in the U.S. and are often present even in children. Anxious people are so preoccupied with what MAY happen in the future that they are unable to cope with the present. They are anxious about imagined shortcomings, the future, their health, their families, and their work. They are often unable to pinpoint the reasons for their anxieties and fears.
The world offers us many different “coping” strategies for dealing with anxiety. Some turn to substances like alcohol or drugs, believing they can “drink their troubles away” or find relief in a temporary high. But they usually come to realize, after they sober up, that their trouble is still there and usually there’s more to go with it.
In our time of modern medicine, doctor’s will tell us the way to deal with anxiety is with medication. There’s no doubt the right medication can help and is often even necessary. When I was released from the hospital after having meningitis, there was a season in which I needed to take something to help me. However, when we turn to man made substances and practices alone to help with a problem that can seem larger than life itself, we will never be able to overcome the struggles of anxiety.
We are quick to take our struggles to God when it comes to the sources of our anxiety and worry. We are willing to ask Him for help with our stresses or opportunities in our jobs, for guidance in our futures, for healing for health problems, for peace and happiness in our relationships. Why, then, are we so hesitant to ask for His help with anxiety itself?
If we are going to overcome anxiety, it will definitely take God's help.
“Mankind has always been beset by worry, and the pressures of modern life have aggravated the problem. Many of you are filled with a thousand anxieties. Bring them to Jesus Christ by faith…I am learning in my life, day by day, to keep my mind centered on Christ; the worries and anxieties and concerns of the world pass, and nothing but ‘perfect peace’ is left in the human heart.” -Billy Graham
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” -1 Peter 5:7
The word “care” in Greek means anxiety.
Casting means to throw upon or place upon.
This verse doesn’t tell us that we will never face anxiety, because the truth is that we will. However, it does tell us how to deal with anxiety when we do face it. What Peter is saying to us is that we can throw or place all of our anxiety upon the Lord because He cares for us. God knows all about our situation, and He wants to help us overcome it. This can happen if we learn to thrust our worries into His hand.
When I was a teenager and in my early twenties, I rode a motorcycle a lot. One thing I learned is that if you ride long enough then your shield or riding glasses will get dirty and cause your sight to be blurred. You have one of two choices. Keep riding and take a chance on hurting yourself and possibly others around you, or pull over and clean the glass. Anxiety is very similar. Sooner or later we are going to face it. We can keep going the same way and allow it to hurt us and others around us, or we can pull over on life’s highway and allow the scripture and God to help us begin to see clearly again.