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Embracing your faith is a powerful tool for overcoming anxiety when life’s challenges seem insurmountable. The pressures of daily life can accumulate, leading to overwhelming feelings of anxiety. Still, faith is a steadfast anchor amid the confusion, presenting comfort and hope. The Bible reminds us in Romans 12:3 that everyone possesses equal faith—no one is more capable of faith than another. Embracing your faith can illuminate your path as a guiding light in your darkest hour.
I recently had a conversation with my daughter about anxiety and how to overcome it. She opened up about how her life seemed to be crumbling around her. Challenges seemed to stack up all at once. She was fighting desperately to keep her sanity. She felt the struggle was becoming too much to bear. My daughter said her responsibilities were heavy on her heart. Her children felt the absence of the one-on-one time they once had with her, adding to her stress. The bills were piling up, and the pressure was straining her relationships with friends.
I could relate to her as she shared her burdens, having faced similar trials in my own life. I reminded her of the immense power of faith in God and how it can help her rise above anxiety. Faith is a vital source of strength when navigating turbulent times.
What Causes Anxiety?
I went to the doctor because I had some tingling in my left hand. My doctor ordered a nerve conduction test that uses electrodes attached to the wrist and the arm near the elbow. He then applied an electrical current to my palm, measuring the current’s speed through my nerves. The process was harrowing, which made it uncomfortable and difficult to endure. Each time the doctor shocked me, I flinched and grunted in pain. My hands began sweating, and I started hyperventilating as I anticipated the distasteful shock. I was having anxiety attacks in anticipation of something that had not yet happened.
By recognizing and identifying our triggers, we can overcome anxiety and reclaim control over our lives. Some of the significant causes of anxiety are:
Stress is Related to Worry
Worrying is a definite cause of anxiety because it leads to fear. Often, we fear something that has not happened and is unlikely to happen. In Psalm 60, David prayed for protection from his enemy’s threat.
“Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy.”
— Psalm 60:1 [NKJV]
When anxiety strikes, it’s important to remember that faith can be a powerful tool to counter it. David prayed for protection from the enemy’s threat. Nevertheless, the enemy’s threat had not yet occurred; it lay in the future. Likewise, our anxieties stem from worrying about something that has not yet happened—something in the future.
When anxiety attacks occur, we can turn to scripture, like Psalm 60, for guidance and reassurance. We can also practice mindfulness and meditation, using our faith as a focal point for our spiritual growth. By embracing faith in times of anxiety, we can find the strength to overcome it.
Sickness Can Cause Tension
Misfortune and everyday problems, like unexpected illness, can cause anxiety. In John chapter four, a Roman official faced an unexpected sickness. His son was near death, and it prompted him to seek God to heal his son.
“Now, he was back in Cana of Galilee, the place where he made the water into wine. Meanwhile, in Capernaum, there was a certain official from the king’s court whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to ask him. He requested that Jesus come down and heal his son. His son was on the brink of death. Jesus put him off: “Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe.
“But the court official wouldn’t be put off. ‘Come down! It’s life or death for my son.'”
— John 4:46-48 [MSG]
The court official in this story was reacting to his anxiety when he went to Jesus for help. His son was dying; he couldn’t bear the thought of a future without his son. Nevertheless, the court official did not succumb to his worry. He embraced his faith, trusted the Lord, and believed the Lord had healed his son. The outcome: the court official went home to see his son, who was fully recovered.
What is remarkable about this story is that the Roman court official was not a Jew. Today, we would call him a non-believer. Nevertheless, because he embraced faith in a God he did not know or serve, Jesus healed his son.
Overworking Can Induce Stress
Overworking is directly related to anxiety. Sometimes, everyday activities like work and household chores cause stress. This type of stress occurs when we try to do too much. We try to do too many things at once.
Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem. They came to a village. A woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Her sister Mary sat on the floor, listening to Jesus as he talked. But Martha was the jittery type and was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing.
She came to Jesus and said, “Sir, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
But the Lord said to her, “Martha, dear friend, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it-and I won’t take it away from her!”
— Luke 10:38-42 [TLB]
We often find ourselves caught up in stress over trivial matters. Consider Martha’s situation: she welcomed Jesus into her home. She became so consumed with preparing an elaborate meal that she lost sight of His presence. Martha overextended herself in her efforts to impress, resulting in unnecessary stress over superficial details. Let this remind us that, sometimes, the pursuit of perfection can distract us from what truly matters. What truly matters is our relationship with God. Spending time communing with God is a great way to relieve stress and prevent anxiety attacks.
How Faith Helps You Overcome Anxiety
When anxiety attacks occur, the first step to overcoming them is to change your focus. Change what you are spending time thinking about. You can change anxious thoughts by casting your worries on the Lord. Jesus is our burden bearer.
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
— 1 Peter 5:7 [NKJV]
Prayer Changes Your Focus
Through prayer, you cast your worries on the Lord. When we have restless thoughts about anything, we should start praying. Prayer changes your focus from self to Christ. But what should you pray about when you become anxious? You should pray as Jesus instructed, “Give us this day our daily bread.”
That’s because we need more than physical bread to have a fulfilling life. As three-dimensional beings, we also need the nourishment of both the spiritual bread of God’s word and physical food.
“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'”
— John 6:35 [NKJV]
God’s Promises Quiet Instability
When you feel anxious, focus on God’s promises, beginning with this one verse, as it guarantees every promise in the Bible:
“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
— Numbers 23:19 [NKJV]
Biblical promises for anxiety include:
“For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’”
— Isaiah 41:13 [NKJV]“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
— Philippians 4:6 [NKJV]“I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.”
— Psalm 34:4 [NKJV]“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
— John 14:27 [NKJV]“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7 [NKJV]
If God said it, He will do it; all you have to do is believe it.
Trusting God Is the Ultimate Defense Against Anxiety
There are times when anxiety becomes overwhelming; when it does, you must embrace your faith. God is our refuge and our strength. He is a very immediate help when we need Him (Psalm 46:1 [NKJV]). By faith, you must declare and decree this scripture verse over yourself. Then, you must let God know how you feel about Him. The Psalmist said:
“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.’”
— Psalm 91:2
Anxiety is severe because it involves fear. But you are never alone, for God is with you and compensates for your inadequacies. In your anxious moments, draw strength from your faith in God. By faith, declare today that you are victorious over anxiety. God is faithful; if you trust Him, He will not disappoint you.
