Christian struggle with anxiety just like anyone else does. This post addresses the question “How should Christians respond to anxiety and more importantly how to overcome anxiety and depression?”
This secret monster rears it’s ugly head when we least expect it. I’m not the first Christian to have struggled with anxiety and I certainly won’t be the last. Yet, there is such a negative stigma within the church about anxiety and depression. So many struggle with anxiety but only repress their fears because they feel shame or guilt. Here I hope to articulate what anxiety is, who it affects and how to find biblical anxiety relief.
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Five years ago I went through a series of difficult circumstances, compounded with a difficult surgery and recovery. As a result, I went through a horrible experience with anxiety to the point that my heart would race and I had terrible insomnia. Experiencing these physical side effects made me realize that it was time I fully dealt with this all-consuming emotion. My usual coping mechanisms of distraction and repression were only making matters worse.
Anxiety Disorders and the Church
Without a doubt there is a mental health stigma in the church. Within the Christian realm, anxiety and depression are often not discussed, however, they are one of the most prevalent struggles for Christians today. Not that long ago, I sat around my Bible study group of several strong, seemingly unshakable women and shared about my past issues with worry and anxiety. To my dismay, over half the women in the group admitted to having major struggles with anxiety and most of those women had experienced anxiety attacks. If you struggle with anxiety, know that you are not alone.
Spiritual Help for Anxiety: God and Anxiety Disorders
Often we look at “worry” as something we just all do. It is assumed that every good mother worries. However, the Bible clearly states “Do NOT worry”. In other words, “worry is a non-option”. Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy and when we downplay this struggle, it easily spirals out of control.
We all deal with stress but stress left unchecked can develop into an anxiety disorder or depression. Symptoms can including prolonged feelings of fear, sore muscles, headaches, insomnia, racing heartbeat and stomach issues, just to name a few. At the very least, it will rob you from the blessings God wants you to enjoy and a steady mindset that allows you to be open to the God-given opportunities around you. When you allow stress and worry to go unchecked, it will inevitably snowball into something much worse.
Steps for Treating Anxiety
- Tell Someone – When I struggled two years ago, I summoned the courage to share about it in a Bible study group for moms. Although my description was very vague, and watered-down, another young mom in the group came to me afterwards and shared she was struggling with the exact same thing. Katy suggested that whenever we each felt anxious we could stop and pray for one another. So we did just that. She also sent me a list of verses that she had written out on cards that were especially helpful to her. She explained that when an anxious thought came on, she would stop and recite one of the verses on the list. (I’ve included the list she emailed me below.)
- Tell An Expert – You cannot access your own mental/spiritual state so it is important to talk to an expert. When I struggled five years ago, I went to a counselor regularly and saw my doctor. There is absolutely no shame in seeking help and in most cases it’s a necessary and God-ordained path to get better
Should Christians Take Antidepressants?
Blake Jennings, one of our teaching pastor’s at church did an outstanding sermon series on depression and anxiety. He was very brave to include details of his personal struggle with depression. He explained that in dealing with anxiety or depression, they are each a spiritual AND physical issue. Therefore, you should seek spiritual and physical help.
How to Deal with Overwhelming Anxiety
There is absolutely no shame seeking help from a medical doctor and he details his thoughts on antidepressants in the links below. These are two of the best sermons I have ever heard and you won’t regret taking the time to listen.
Sermon on Depression:
Finding Hope in the Midst of Discouragement and Depression
by Blake Jennings, Grace Bible Church, College Station, TX
Sermon on Fear and Anxiety:
Finding Hope in the Midst of Fear and Anxiety – Sermon
by Blake Jennings, Grace Bible Church, College Station, TX
Free Bible Verse Cards
on Fear and Anxiety – CLICK HERE
Overcoming Anxiety with God
Researchers have found that when we have a thought, it makes a neurological connection in our brain. When we think the same thought over and over again, the connection becomes deeper much like a trench that is widened with every swipe of a bulldozer. With every repetition of the same thought, that neurological connection is stronger, especially if the thought is connected to an emotion. Therefore, problems arise when the thought is associated with fear or anxiety.
Root Cause of Anxiety and Panic Attacks
When we worry, we think the same anxious thought over and over and the trench is made ever deeper in our brain. With each repeating thought, the fear becomes more consuming as this thought is more prevalent and easily accessed. Before we know it, a small worry can snowball into tremendous fear as this connection is already augmented in our brain. This is why worry can be so difficult to overcome and why a very small (almost undetectable) thought can result in a panic attack. Therefore, small worries can quickly become overwhelming if this process isn’t stopped and reversed.
To remedy this problem, psychologists suggest to think a positive thought every time the initial worry comes to mind. This will work eventually but you have to have a positive thought for every negative thought to undo this neurological connection and “backfill the trench” completely. For professional worriers like myself, this could take a while. However, God gave us a much more powerful short cut!
How to Use the Bible to Overcome Anxiety
God’s Word is so powerful that it is exponentially more effective than mere positive thinking. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
How to Get Out of Panic Mode
When we confront fearful thoughts with God’s Word on a regular basis, it refills this trench much more quickly and completely than mere positive thinking. If positive thinking alone is a wheelbarrow, think of God’s Word as a backhoe that has exponential power over refilling our negative thought processes. Before we know it, our negative thought pathways are completely filled with the truth of God’s Word, making room for His peace.
How to Deal with Overwhelming Anxiety
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthian 10:5) Isn’t it amazing that through God’s Word we take captive every anxious thought and make it obedient to Him? We don’t just harness our worries, but God completely transforms our anxious thoughts into thoughts that honor Him.
Bible Verses About Anxiety and Depression
Here is the same list of verses my friend Katy gave me and I hope it helps you as well:
Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Psalm 34:4 – I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
2 Timothy 1:7- For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.
Phil. 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Jeremiah 29:11- For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Isaiah 40:31 – But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
1 Thes. 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Exodus 14:14 – The Lord your God will fight for you, you need only to be still.
Bible Verse Cards for Overcoming Anxiety and Depression
For a free printable version of the verses above, click here to download your free Bible Verse Cards. Just print them on card stock and cut them out so you can keep them with you.
Prayer for Peace from Anxiety and Depression
The verse that made the biggest impact in dealing with anxiety was Exodus 14:14, “The Lord your God will fight for you, you need only to be still. It made me realize that my only job was to sit at His feet and seek Him – that He would fight the battle for me. I prayed this verse over and over to help take control of my thoughts.
In the same way, this is not your battle and it is too big for you to handle on your own but He wants to carry you and fight FOR you! To learn more about how to rest in God, read my post Why You Struggle To Rest and What To Do About It.
You my also want to read my post on overcoming fears of failure and rejection:
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How to Overcome Anxiety and Fear – Your Next Step:
If you are struggling with depression, anxiety or both, here is your next step. Listen to the sermon I mentioned above. I promise you won’t regret it. Then, you need to tell someone about how you are struggling! Please know that you are not alone. Feel free to email me so I can pray for you at [email protected]. Again, there is no shame in talking to a counselor, pastor or medical expert. Often it is the bravest choice a person can make!
Overcome Anxiety by Max Lucado
Table of Contents
- Anxiety Disorders and the Church
- Spiritual Help for Anxiety: God and Anxiety Disorders
- Steps for Treating Anxiety
- Should Christians Take Antidepressants?
- Sermon on Depression:
- Sermon on Fear and Anxiety:
- Free Bible Verse Cards
- on Fear and Anxiety – CLICK HERE
- Overcoming Anxiety with God
- Bible Verses About Anxiety and Depression
- Bible Verse Cards for Overcoming Anxiety and Depression
- Prayer for Peace from Anxiety and Depression
- How to Overcome Anxiety and Fear – Your Next Step:
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- Blessings,
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Blessings,
Karin,
This is such a hot topic that needs to be addressed and you did it so gracefully. I have struggled with anxiety in the past and it was the most frustrating to talk about with some Christians because of the things they’d say. I love this so much!
This is a great post Karen! I’m a Christian mental health therapist and unfortunately I’v e had many clients talk about how hard it was to make an appointment because they thought it meant they were a “bad” Christian. I spoke on this topic at my church just a couple of weeks ago.