Overcoming anxiety, depression, and fear

A little background

I am six (6) days away from a surgical consultation regarding my Congenital hydrocephalus. That being said, my anxiety, which is always high, is even worse now. Because of that, I began a seven day devotional reading today that addresses anxiety, depression, and fear and, more specifically, how prayer and Scripture reading can help us through those tough times.

Overcoming the 'perfect storm' (part 2)

Meditate on These Things

Paul’s final instruction in his prescription to anxiety is to meditate on the things of God. In other words, pick what you ponder. Picture your thoughts as airplanes in the sky above a busy airport. You are the air traffic controller of that airport. You get to decide which thoughts land and which ones fly away. Want to be happy tomorrow? Let the thoughts of happiness land today. Want to be miserable tomorrow? Let thoughts of guilt, worry, and fear land today.

Healing from anxiety requires healthy thinking. In truth, your challenge is not your challenge; your challenge is the way you think about your challenge. Likewise, your problem is not your problem; the way you look at the problem is your problem. Satan knows this, which is why he is always seeking to plant lies in your thinking. He wants to influence the way you perceive your struggles or uncertainties. But remember that he is not the master of your mind.

Furthermore, you have a power he can never defeat, for you have God on your side. When anxiety threatens to weigh down your heart, you can simply call on God. This slaps the handcuffs on the culprit and marches it before the One who has all authority. This denies worries and fears to have a platform to influence your mind. This guards your thoughts as you trust in God your Father.

Of course, saying this and doing this are two different things. You may want to resolve that today you will think only on things that are true, honorable, and right. . . even if it kills you. But who can really do this?

There is a simpler way: just make it your aim to cling to Christ. Abide in him. Go to him as your source of strength and the One your thoughts need to obey. Read God’s Word. Listen to sermons. Worship him. Set aside distractions and claim time for him. Understand that if anything good comes into your life, he will be the conduit.

The dominant duty of the disciple is to cling to Jesus. And when you cling to Jesus, you fill your mind with God’s truth. You disarm the enemy and keep anxiety at bay. You receive God’s truth. And that truth sets you free—free from fear, free from dread, and, yes, free from anxiety.

Having anxiety just means you are human. It does not mean you are emotionally underdeveloped, stupid, demon possessed, or a failure. It does not mean your parents failed you, or vice versa. And — this is important — it does not mean you are not a Christian. Yes, even Christians battle anxiety. Jesus himself battled anxiety in the Garden of Gethsemane. But he didn’t stay anxious. And neither should you.

A new day awaits you. A new season in which you will worry less and trust more. A season with reduced fear and enhanced faith. Can you imagine a life in which you are anxious for nothing?

God can. And, with His help, you will experience it.

****

As I mentioned yesterday, over the past eight months, I have had the opportunity to experience a so-called 'perfect storm' and now I am coming out on the other side. You might wonder, if that is the case, why I posted a picture of a hospital room. Between October 12, 2017 and the week prior to Thanksgiving, I was hospitalized due to complications from my hydrocephalus that included a severe headache, vertigo, and vision problems. The love I was shown during those 21 days was absolutely phenomenal. Folks that had never met each other (and, in some cases, that I had never met) came together for one purpose . . . to let me know that I was loved and that I was going to make it. Did that do away with the anxiety that I felt? Not completely . . . but my "adopted" family can tell when it was troubling me and they would circle the wagons. Christ love in human form.

Be anxious for nothing . . .

Let Your Gentleness Be Evident to All

Unchecked anxiety can unleash an Enola Gay of angry outbursts, rash accusations, and fiery retaliations against those in your path who are unfortunate to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. How many people have been wounded as a result of such unbridled stress? On the other hand, how many disasters have been averted because one person decided to be calm?

It is this composure Paul is referring to when he states, “Let your gentleness be evident to all” (Philippians 4:5 NIV). The Greek word translated as gentleness describes a temperament that is seasoned and mature. It envisions an attitude that is fitting to the occasion, levelheaded and tempered. The gentle reaction is one of steadiness, evenhandedness, and fairness.

Jesus promised that “in this world you will have trouble” (John 13:33 NIV). It is as inevitable as the sun rising on a new day—as waves crashing on the shores of a beach. But what you also need to remember is that Jesus has promised to be with you in the midst of those troubles. Before Jesus departed this earth, he said to his disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20 NIV).

In fact, throughout the Bible, God repeatedly pledged to be present with his people. He was with Abram as he traveled to a new land. He was with Hagar when she fled into the wilderness, and with Isaac when he was forced to move from place to place. He was with Joshua when he faced the Canaanites, and with David when he faced the Philistines. He was with Peter in prison, and with Paul whenever and wherever he found himself in dire circumstances.

God was never watching from a distance. In fact, his very name is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” He became flesh. He became sin. He defeated the grave. And he is still with you.

Maybe you’re fighting today to keep a family together, a business afloat, or a school from going under. How you handle that fight will reveal where your trust ultimately lies. If you trust in Jesus and believe he is always with you, the byproduct of releasing the control to him will be a contagious calm that surrounds your life. This calm will allow you to see how God is working in your situation—and others will notice there is something different about you. It will bring healing to your anxiety, mature your faith, and show others that God is always faithful.

Anxiety management is like pulling stumps out of the ground. Some of your worries have deep root systems, and extracting them is hard work. But you don’t have to do it alone. Present the challenge to your Father and ask for help.

Will he solve the issue? Yes, he will. Will he solve it immediately? Maybe. Or maybe part of the test is an advanced course in patience. This much is sure: contagious calm will happen to the degree that you turn to him.

***

Occasional anxiety happens to all of us. It is when it affects us to the point that we could complete day-to-day tasks that it becomes problematic. (National Institute, N.D.) But, with the help of our Heavenly Father, we can overcome this "game changer" You might be thinking "But, Walter, how can that be?" Before returning to the right hand of His father, Jesus promised "I will be with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20 [NIV]). With that promise - and the fact that He is omnipresent - we can know for a certainty that He will not forsake us or abandon us. I deal with anxiety day in and day out so I can assure you that turning to God works as well - if not better - than any medication the doctor could prescribe and with no problematic side effects. Here's what I do:

1. If I feel an anxiety attack coming on, I stop what I am doing and pray. It's usually not anything flashy or wordy . . . just "Lord, I am beginning to feel overwhelmed. Please take it away and replace it with your joy. Amen."

2. After finishing my prayer, I pull up YouTube and put on some contemporary Christian hymns (such as Mercy Me) or some old school southern gospel and I am as good as new.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH] (N.D.). Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved on April 21, 2018 from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml