Christian Anxiety. That should be an oxymoron, right?
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
“Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-8 (NKJV)
Fear not. Do not be dismayed. Be anxious for nothing.
Those are the directives. You are a Christian. You want to obey.
So, why then, are you still afraid?
Well, we live in a fallen world, and the Word tells us that we have a spiritual enemy who seeks to steal and destroy. He wants very much to steal our peace and joy, and to destroy our faith. And, when life falls apart, the people you love fail you, or it feels like you’re under attack, the world can feel scary. No matter who you are or what you believe. Even when you know where your hope lies, it can still take a toll.
Anxiety often comes with human territory. And some of us have it worse than others.
Is Christian Anxiety a thing? Yes, good Christians can get anxious
All Christians struggle and suffer. It’s important to grasp that we were created with nervous systems designed to respond to the trials and traumas of life. Your responses simply may have shifted into overdrive. To hide or deny them can simply create a cycle of shame you don’t have to endure. Now, God might very well be calling you to a life of increased faith, sanctification, nervous system healing, and a greater revelation of who He is in response to the anxiety you experience. But, it is the enemy of our souls who wants to keep us ashamed of our need for maturity, growth, and healing.
Your frustration with the power that anxiety has in your life is shared by many Christians. They too, feel burdened by the way fear and worry interfere with everyday life. You are not alone in feeling that your perpetual upset seems to keep you at odds with a divine command to live without fear. Persistent fear does make it hard to enter into all that is available to you as a precious, beloved, child of the King.
But before you judge yourself too harshly, remember this: God knows your fear, that’s why he addresses it biblically more than 365 times. Every day you can read how normal you are for needing help and reassurance and how much he wants to comfort and deliver you.
Your anxiety is a shared struggle, not a shameful secret
Alright, so now you know that anxiety is not uncommon, but you likely wonder what it says about the quality of your faith. You’re not alone here, either. Too often, Christians amplify their worries by hiding their fear from each other and berating themselves for failing to be fearless.
It is vital that you understand that persistent anxiety, while a spiritual matter, can also be a stronghold in your neurobiology based on your experiences. Fear can be a deliverance issue, and it can also be a healing issue–I’ve seen and experienced both. But many Christians get hung up here, believing that anxiety is unacceptable for faithful members of the flock. The implication for anxiety sufferers is that deliverance and relief are withheld from Christians who just don’t have enough faith.
But that isn’t true.
You also needn’t believe the voice in your head or those few whispering in the church that you are a bad Christian for wanting and needing professional help.
Again, over 365 times in the scriptures the “fear not” command occurs, not because God wants to remind you to keep plugging away unsuccessfully, or pretending dishonestly, to be above the worry. He is lovingly letting you now that he wants you to seek his comfort and power.
The process of “good Christian-ness” we’re expected to undertake includes worshipping in spirit and truth, praying without ceasing, giving thanks in all things, and humbly making our requests known to our King. What qualifies you as a faithful Christian (in addition, of course, to believing and professing that Jesus is Lord, that he died for your sins, and that he rose from the dead) is that you are a willing participant in the process of engaging the resources he’s provided that help you fulfill that process. The Word tells us that if you have been born again, you have been transferred from the domain of darkness into the Kingdom of light. The resources include the obviously spiritual, like worshipping, reading the Word and praying, and inviting the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, and they might include godly professional counseling with techniques that heal the brain and nervous system wounds picked up as part of life in this fallen world.
Take a deep breath. Face the fear. You needn’t slink away in shame or self-recrimination. Anxiety-ridden moments are opportunities to seek God and God-honoring counsel.
Your anxiety does not disqualify you. Handled rightly, it can draw you closer to God
The reality? Panic feels destabilizing. Abuse hurts. Grief changes you. And memories can keep you stuck.
Too often, being a Christian makes us hope against the process of healing.
We want God to grant an immediate miracle of relief, or we get upset with ourselves when fear won’t go away just because we tell it to.
(Now, to be clear, YES God can and does do instant work sometimes! I know because I’ve experienced it.)
However, he also gave us emotions and nervous systems, and sometimes he grows us through a longer process of healing or sanctification. Anxiety (and anxiety disorders) can be an octopus of messy feelings, buried fear, future worries, and unsubstantiated upset that requires real, repetitive, cooperative work.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, despite what we tell ourselves. The “be anxious for nothing” verse provides direction that shines a light on our Christian responsibility:
” …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 minds through Christ Jesus.”
What a relief! Why?
Because your being a good Christian isn’t reliant on being able to make yourself “fear not” on your own.
You cannot “fear not” without God. He says he will do the guarding and strengthening that is required. That’s not your job.
“Be anxious about nothing” is not about forced fearlessness. It is a humble willingness to do the daily work. And then allowing him to do his redeeming work on your behalf.
However you come by your anxiety—trauma, heredity, or reasons unknown—you are not abnormal, disgraced, or unqualified to be who God called you to be.
Christians struggle internally and suffer sometimes. But you are allowed to acknowledge it and seek relief, in Jesus’ Name.
