“Against Anxiety — We Win”

I think most of us occasionally fight against anxiety….  I know I do. Anxiety is described as  “a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness…. it can be a normal reaction to stress… feeling anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision.” Anxiety sneaks around whispering “ things are not going well and it’s going to get worse and you are in big trouble.” Left to itself, anxiety can make your life miserable… the classic “doom & gloom”.

Yikes, what should I do ? Well, answering the question, “why am I anxious ” is a good beginning… and then bringing truth into the situation. Okay, I admit this is sometimes “easier said than done”; nevertheless, let’s give it the old college try. 

So, what am I anxious about….why am I anxious? Well, let’s start with  the state of the nation…auuugh, the list is too long to mention. What about the state of the church and confusions by our church leaders on important topics ? What about Covid and the conflicting opinions by the experts and by the “man in the street” ? Did I mention the fact that politics has invaded almost every aspect of life from business to sports to family dinners ? And of course, what about anxiety over the state of my soul ? Wow, there’s probably more, but I think the hole is deep enough. “Wow, this is a helpful BLOG…now I’m really down in the dumps.”

Okay, it’s time “to right the ship, to turn this bus around, to remember when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. Focusing on the truth is always the answer to every situation, including fighting anxiety. What is the reality of the situation? What is the truth? Well in many of the situations mentioned above, things are truthfully NOT going well. Unless, I’m delusional and don’t know right from wrong, I may be seeing things pretty accurately. 

BUT, there is a truth deeper than the outer situation. There is a solution that is more fundamental than what occurs on the surface. The fundamental truth in all these situations is that God is in charge and will have the last word. I love the passage from Psalm 2 where it’s clear that God is not nervous about the state of the world… man’s most desperate plans and evil just don’t last. “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and his anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD has them in derision.” (Ps. 2:2-4)

God laughs at the feeble attempts of evil against his anointed…. God will have the last word in every situation, whether wars among the nations, turmoil in his church, a diagnosis of cancer, tragedies and personal loss, or even our sinfulness. Christ will have the last word. If we turn to him and place our trust and hope in his mercy and kindness, things will work out. The devil may do his worst, still those who’s hope in the Lord will prevail. 

So, as we rise in the morning until we sleep at night, let’s us cast our cares upon the Lord. “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Ps. 55:22) And this is very good news.