A PRACTICAL WAY TO COMBAT WORRY AND ANXIETY.

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

How many times a day do you spend worrying and stressing over situations that may or may not happen? I know I do. And although we know better, we do not seem to do better. Why is that? There is a tremendous difference between knowing and actually believing. So we might know that we should not worry and still do it, anyway. Obviously, it is normal to worry. But worry and anxiety should not be the norm. God wants you to experience peace while on earth. An abundant worry-free life is possible for you here on earth.

How then, can we train our minds to overcome worry and anxiety?
Identify the problem that is causing worry and anxiety.
So let’s say that in this case, you are worried about the pandemic and how it has affected you economically. And because of this, you are unsure of the future and even scared of the future.
Find scriptures that talk about the promises of God regarding the problems you are facing.
Look for stories of people who went through something similar and how God saw them through.
- - After you have found a relatable story, find scriptures that talk about the promises of God regarding your current situation.
- Personalize
Conclusion

Just looking at what’s happening in the world or even around you is enough to get you spiraling down the path of despair, worry, and anxiety. But that is not how God wants us to live.

Anxiety is simply placing our trust in the negative outcome instead of actually trusting in God. And by the way, do not feel guilty about battling worry and anxiety because you are a Christian. Christianity is a journey and we do not automatically become perfect when we get saved. Although our Spirit is justified and made one with God when we get saved, our soul is not and we have to go through a sanctification process to weed us of our sinful nature and transform us into the person God created us to be.

And it’s time that we get to where we realize that although we are Christians, we are also human beings. You should not always eat yourself up when you realize that you have some struggles. Of course, the goal is to overcome them. After all, Jesus paid the price for you to experience the fullness of who you are in Him. And all this is through the finished works of the cross.

Let’s look at some of the ways that can help you overcome worry and anxiety.

How then, can we train our minds to overcome worry and anxiety?

God has given us scriptures that should help us fight worry and anxiety and sometimes, although we know the scripture, it can sometimes be difficult trying to conceptualize it and that is why we need to personalize scriptures. One of the most effective ways to internalize something is by personalizing it. Before you can personalize a scripture, you need to identify the specific issue that you are worried about and anxious about. After all, for you to get the right medication for your sickness, the doctor needs to get the right diagnosis. So let us go through a practical example.

identify the problem that is causing worry and anxiety.
Find scriptures that talk about the problem and the solution that God has offered.
Look for Bible stories of people who went through what you are going through and how God came through for them.
Find promises regarding your situation.
Personalize the scriptures and make decrees on the personalized scriptures.

Identify the problem that is causing worry and anxiety.

One of the key ways that can help you identify a problem is through stillness. You know the importance of stillness is that it highlights the noise in your soul. Have you ever noticed that whenever you are silent, it almost seems like there is a war on your mind? All these thoughts suddenly pop up. This is because when you are still everything that is bothering you will become clear.

Noise can silence your soul, which makes it difficult for you to internalize things. But once you stay still, you will be able to figure out your problem. But if the noise in your mind is too loud, then journalling will help you. Just write whatever it is that is on your mind. The more you do that, the more everything becomes clear. This gives you clarity on what is bothering you.

So once you have figured out the thing that is causing worry and anxiety, then we go to the next step. And to do so we will use an example.

So let’s say that in this case, you are worried about the pandemic and how it has affected you economically. And because of this, you are unsure of the future and even scared of the future.

This, as you can see, is a very specific problem. Once you have figured out what your problem is, then now, you can look for the scriptures that talk about the issues.

In our case we have

Fear of not being able to meet your basic needs and paying the bills.
Uncertainty of the future. Not knowing what the future holds.

Find scriptures that talk about the promises of God regarding the problems you are facing.

Fear of not being able to meet your needs and fear of the future

This is a legit fear, especially when the economy is taking a downturn with job losses and the closure of companies, it is very easy to worry about it. In 2020, there were many companies that shut down, some filing for bankruptcy, and some that were unexpected. A company like bed, bath & beyond closed 200 of their stores last year.

This meant that people lost their jobs and could not feed their families. This is just an example of a company that had to downsize. So, given that we know that this is just one of them, imagine the ripple effect. This makes the future look daunting. But we can look to the Bible for hope. But even before we look to the Bible for hope and the truth, we need to acknowledge the facts.

The fact is that there is uncertainty involved. And the other fact is that if you are employed, you are worried about your company closing down. God knows it is human nature to worry, especially when you are presented with the facts. So it is important for you to acknowledge the facts. You are in the world after all.

After you have acknowledged the facts, don’t dwell there. Now we go to the next step.

Look for stories of people who went through something similar and how God saw them through.

God knew that there would be a time of famine globally, so He strategically placed Joseph in a place of power to provide for Jacob and his lineage.

F course his journey started off rough. In fact, it looked like it was over for Joseph but God had a plan all along.

This will immediately encourage you because it will show you that God already knew this moment will come. And because He knew, He already provided a way of escape for you. God never leaves you high and dry. Human beings might and will forsake you, but Jesus never will.

The short version of the story is this. Joseph’s brothers, out of envy, sold him to the Ishmaelites, who then sold him to Potiphar. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but because of Joseph’s integrity and fear of God, he would not budge. This led Potiphar’s wife to lie about Joseph, which ended up with him being thrown in prison. While in prison and after a long time, Joseph interpreted the dreams of the king’s officials and his interpretation proved true. This led the cupbearer, who was promoted to refer to Joseph when the king had a dream that needed interpretation. Joseph correctly interpreted the dream.

And this was how Joseph was promoted. So, as you can see, there was a journey, and the process contradicted the destination. But God’s plan ultimately prevailed. Looking at this story, we see that God already knew that there would be famine in the world. So he strategically positioned Joseph to take care of his people. And God wants to do the same for you, too.

You don’t have to figure it all out on your own because God has it all figured out for you. He has you in the palm of His hand. Worry and anxiety should not overwhelm you because God has already gone to your future. And He has made provisions for you.

After you have found a relatable story, find scriptures that talk about the promises of God regarding your current situation.

The word in Philippians 4: 19 tells you that God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus. So regarding the provision, God has already made a way through Him supplying all of your needs. And all this is through Christ Jesus. The fact that you are a child of God and a believer in Jesus should give you hope. Why would Jesus not provide for you when He knows your trust is in Him? Do you see how scripture can help you?

He also tells us in Mathew 6: 26-33 that we should forsake our worries because God already knows our needs before we tell Him. He also tells us He is the one who feeds the birds and yet we are more valuable than the birds.

Just picture this, you are God’s beloved. This means that He is concerned for you and about you. Can you imagine Him not caring for you yet He sent His only Son to die for you and save you? Would a parent be willing to give up their child for a stranger? Yet God in His love did that for you and me. And let’s not forget that when He did so, we were still strangers, as we had not even received Him. God cares about your soul, body, and spirit. This covers your entire being. He even knows the number of hair on your head. If He cares about that, then He will supply your needs, too. But this requires you to trust that He will provide for you.

Regarding our future, Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has a plan for our lives and His plans bring hope and an expected future. Your future will always be better than your past. This is because God is Restoration. And His intentions for you and me will always be good. He takes you from glory to glory, and your latter years will always be greater than your former years. This is the truth.

Personalize

Heavenly Father, Your word tells me You will supply all my needs according to your riches in glory. So I know that my heart is troubled right now and I do not know how I will pay my bills or what the future holds. But one thing is clear and it is that You will provide for me. Just like you provided for Jacob and his lineage during the famine, I know that You have a strategy to do the same for me. Lord, help me not to miss the opportunity of your providence because of my stubbornness. Rather open my eyes to see the opportunities you have for me. Thank You for Your care for me and how you value me. Your word tells me that I am more valuable than the birds of the air and yet You provide food for them.

I also know that Your thoughts for me are good and pure and that you have an expected hopeful end for me. This gives me hope that even when I am unsure of the path to take, You have mapped it all out and You will never forsake me. Thank You for this and help me remember that when my back is against the wall, You hold the future and everything will work out for my good.

Conclusion

The beauty of personalizing scripture is that you can internalize it and it thus becomes one with you. This gives you the confidence to face whatever comes because with it already ingrained in you, the enemy will not stand a chance of telling you lies because you already know the truth.

When you worry or are anxious, try this method and don’t do it only once, and expect it to work immediately. Keep doing it until you see it change. It takes 21 days to change a habit. So can I challenge you to try it? When you do, you can come back and tell me the outcome. Remember, I am rooting for you.

Be blessed!

7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17