Biblically Dealing with Anxiety
I was recently laid off and have been wondering what comes next since the moment I was told I would no longer have a job. This wondering has resulted in fear, stress, and anxiety. The anxious thoughts come naturally to me during this time of uncertainty. I’m not alone in these thoughts—throughout the world there are people struggling to make ends meet, people wondering what their next career move is going to be, and people thinking about the futures of their children. But when do the emotions related to these thoughts and concerns become anxiety? Numerous people throughout the world have felt anxious. It isn’t hard to find Facebook posts, blog posts, or TikTok videos talking about how someone handles their own anxiety. They may be interesting to read or entertaining to watch and may even provide some useful information, but genuine believers in Jesus Christ know that the only true way to battle anxiety is through trusting in him.
What is Anxiety?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) describes an anxiety disorder as “excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 [sic] months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).” [1] The DSM does not give a definition for anxiety itself, however. To understand what anxiety is, we need to first define it. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) explains anxiety to be an emotion that may also present itself in physiological ways—for example, recurring intrusive thoughts as well as elevated heart rate. The APA also mentions that those that believe they have anxiety disorders may choose to avoid situations due to their worrisome thoughts. [2] This definition tells us that anxiety is an emotion which can also present itself physically.
The Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, says that anxiety is an emotion or a feeling, often one that is uneasy and fearful. [3] While this definition is useful and helpful, another may be even more so. According to Holman’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, anxiety is a state of mind which may be due to genuine concerns or may result in obsessions due to a distorted perspective of life. [4] The definitions from both the APA and biblical dictionaries provide an understanding of what anxiety is and how it presents itself. Anxiety is a feeling of fear and worry, which can present itself either by intrusive thoughts or through physiological symptoms.
What does the Bible say about Anxiety?
In Matthew 25-34, Jesus explains the fears that we often have when it comes to our own lives—will we have enough to eat, will we have clothing to wear, or will we be healthy? These are questions that we have all asked, yet what Jesus commands us to do is to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. He explains that God knows that we need these things and by seeking God he will provide these things to us. However, it isn’t easy to put aside our feelings of anxiety, fear, and worry. So, what is the true cause of anxiety?
The true cause of anxiety can be summed up in a single word: unbelief. John Piper, in a sermon titled “Battling the Unbelief of Anxiety,” [5] describes the true root of the problem of anxiety as unbelief. [6] Using Matthew 6:25-34 as his primary text for his sermon, Piper explains that it is discouraging to reconcile anxiety with a lack of belief in God’s promises for his people. However, knowing the root cause of a problem equips us to better fight against it. While it is difficult to know that we may not have as much faith in God and his promises as we thought, it is encouraging to know that we can make a choice to change it. It is important to note that unbelief in God’s promises for us is not the same as unbelief in God. A believer may at times feel that God’s promises are not sufficient for their needs; they may feel as though God has abandoned them, or they may feel that God doesn’t care for them. Even King David felt this way, which is evident in many of the psalms. These feelings are not a symbol of a lack of belief in God, but an attack on belief by sin—sin causes us to doubt the sovereignty of the Lord. Living in a sin-cursed world causes us to sin against our Creator who cares more deeply for us than we may ever truly understand. Jesus tells us that God knows our needs and will care for us. Even in times that it’s difficult to remember these things, we need to remind ourselves of God’s goodness.
Jesus also tells us that we need to stop worrying and stop being anxious about tomorrow. This is made more difficult when we have cultivated within our hearts a desire to control everything that may come next in our lives. We need to remind ourselves that we are not in complete control of every aspect of our lives. [7] This can be a hard pill to swallow for many people, but it is true that there are many aspects of life that are wildly out of our control. We can plan everything down to the last detail, but a sudden rainstorm can throw everything into disarray. Really, the cause of anxiety is the desire to be in control of every aspect of our lives and not having enough belief in God’s promises to take care of us. Because of the desire to be in control, when things go awry, we feel anxious and fearful.
How the Bible Tells us to Handle Anxiety
Paul and David provide us with excellent ways to handle the anxiety, fear, and worry that we feel when things are out of our control. Paul tells us in Romans 8:28-29, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” [8] This reminds us that even in the midst of our own struggles with fear, anxiety, and worry, God is working all things for good, according to his purpose, which is our conformity into Christlikeness. Everything may not seem to be going well, and at times may feel scary. But the reminder for believers is that God is working within us to conform us to the spirit of his Son. Brian Borgman, in his book Feelings and Faith, also uses this verse to explain how we can defeat the feelings of fear, worry, and anxiety. Borgman says, “another death knell to fear, worry, and anxiety is the confidence that God is working out the details of our lives, which may be scary right now, for our good and ultimate conformity to the image of his Son.” [9]
Through reading Scripture, we are equipped with ways to battle the anxiety sin causes within us. In the Psalms, David is candid with the Lord and goes to him in prayer with everything on his heart. Psalms like Psalm 27, 56, and 94 all show David expressing not only his worries, but his confidence in the Lord. There are numerous psalms in which David feels as if God has abandoned him or forsaken him. Psalm 22 begins with the words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” [10] In this sentence, we see the desperation of David, his sorrow, his pain. But that sorrow and anguish are not how the psalm ends. This psalm ends with David again praising the Lord, because even when it is difficult to know God is there and that he cares for us, our hearts know what our minds may not. Psalm 22:28 says, “For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.” David knows that God is sovereign over every aspect of his life, and we too can be reminded of this each time we choose to learn about God and his love for his people by reading his Word.
Conclusion
The Bible makes it clear that we need to be more trusting of God. He knows us, he knows our hearts, and he cares for us. Though living in a sin-cursed world makes it difficult to see this sometimes, we also know that Jesus’ sacrificial atonement for our sins on the cross releases us from the bonds of sin and its eternal consequences. We must acknowledge when we’re being sinful and willfully choosing not to trust in God. We also must acknowledge that sometimes life is difficult purely because we live in a sin-cursed world. What we do in response to sin is what makes the difference for the anxious and worrisome. If we are in sin, do we repent or simply let sin control our lives? If the sinful world around us is causing us to suffer, should we just take everything at face value, or trust in the God that will provide for his people?
The answers should be simple. God loves his people and has made the promise to provide for us. Jesus believed this to be true, so why do we so often doubt it ourselves? Simply put, sin—sin causes us to be blind to the truth. However, we have been given a blessing in that we have God’s word readily available to us, in our own language. We need to read the Word, meditate on it, and delight in it. God does not break his promises, he doesn’t lie, and he never forgets us. Sometimes we need this reminder. Surround yourself with fellow believers who encourage you to be in the Word, who will listen to you and give you biblical reassurance in times of fear, worry, and anxiety.
Anxiety, the emotions that come with it, the physiological side effects, and the unbelief, can be diminished by trusting in our Sovereign King. Praise him and thank him for everything that has already been done for you, especially in times of distress. He cares for you, he loves you, and he works everything for the good of those who love him. Repent from your sin, if there is any, and praise the God who delivers you from the clutches of that sin.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matt. 6:34)
If you or someone you know is in need of biblical counseling for anxiety,
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[1] American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5, (Arlington, VA, 2013), 3.3.9.
[2] American Psychiatric Association, “Anxiety,” Accessed on July 23, 2022, https://www.apa.org/topics/anxiety.
[3] Ralph E. Enlow Jr., “Anxiety,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, electronic ed., Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996), 28.
[4] Chad Brand et al., eds., “Anxiety,” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 78.
[5] John Piper, "Battling the Unbelief of Anxiety," September 25, 1988, https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/battling-the-unbelief-of-anxiety.
[6] And the fear that is expressed by anxiety.
[7] We are not supposed to be.
[8] Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Crossway, 2016)
[9] Borgman, Brian S. “Fear, Anxiety, and Worry.” Feelings and Faith: Cultivating Godly Emotions in the Christian Life, 129. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2009.
[10] This sentence is later repeated by Jesus on the cross.
