Anxiety, n.
- Concern or solicitude respecting some event, future or uncertain, which disturbs the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness. It expresses more than uneasiness or disturbance, and even more than trouble or solicitude. It usually springs from fear or serious apprehension of evil, and involves a suspense respecting an event, and often, a perplexity of mind, to know how to shape our conduct.
- In medical language, uneasiness; unceasing restlessness in sickness.
A lot of people have suffered and do suffer from anxiety and medically there has been limited success in “curing” it.
If the medical approach has had little success for you, then walk with me as we look at it through the Word of God. Don’t be surprised that anxiety is in the Bible, it’s not a new thing, it’s quite old.
What it looks like in the Word
Psalm 38:18 NASBS
18 For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin.
Jeremiah 49:23-24 NASBS
23 Concerning Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, For they have heard bad news; They are disheartened. There is anxiety by the sea, It cannot be calmed. 24 “Damascus has become helpless; She has turned away to flee, And panic has gripped her; Distress and pangs have taken hold of her Like a woman in childbirth.
Why anxiety?
John 10:10 NASBS
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Luke 8:11-15 NASBS
11 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12 Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
What do I do about it?
Proverbs 12:25 NASBS
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJVS
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Matthew 11:28-30 NASBS
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Romans 13:12-14 NASBS
12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Ephesians 6:10-12 NASBS
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
1 Peter 5:6-9 NASBS
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.