Dear Family and Friends,
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34 ESV
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NIV
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Have you ever struggled with anxiety? We all have.
Maybe it’s from a pain that wasn’t there yesterday.
Or the stresses from our daily lives – work, relationships, finances, society in general – all wearing us down.
Life doesn’t always go how we want it to go. We worry about where the future will take us.
And we find that following the words of Jesus, Peter and Paul in the midst of emotion turmoil is beyond hard – it’s just not possible.
Studies are showing that the levels of anxiety and depression are rising, especially in the younger generations.
Let’s talk about anxiety. Perhaps if we can better understand why we get anxious, we’ll be better able to deal with our anxiety.
Let me first say that not all feelings of anxiousness are bad. Feeling anxious means that we care.
For example, many of us are anxious to see the wars in Gaza, Israel and Ukraine end because we care for the civilians trapped in war zones.
But when our anxiety is severe or driving us into a panic mode it can be debilitating. We cease to function.
Why do we get mildly anxious over certain matters and overly anxious over others?
Saint Augustine of Hippo, 354–430, found an answer.
He was one of the great philosophers in Western Christianity. His many works and writings continue to influence our beliefs.
But like many of us, his life wasn’t always perfect. Augustine was tormented by depression.
He eventually came to realize that his life choices – the anxious pursuit of pleasure and quest for wisdom – were the cause of his anxiety and depression.
His quest for God had become disordered by his pursuits and quests. They had become idols that competed with God for the indivisible spot at the center of his heart.
Saint Augustine wrote, “anxiety is always a sign of the collapse of a false god.”
What does all of this mean for us?
When things we care about turn into idols that we treasure, that we must have to be happy, that give value and identity to our lives, we will have anxiety.
Why? Because everything that is not God will fail. And anxiety is a sign of our idols collapsing.
Anxiety is what drove me to burnout, depression and premature retirement from pastoring a church.
I couldn’t stop worrying about the health and welfare of our church family in the midst of a deadly virus.
During the lockdown, I approved every gathering, big and small, at church. I did so with trepidation.
Which led to deep concerns that someone would get sick or worse.
This and the weight of several other idols in my life led to an experience I wish on no one.
So, what should I have done?
Besides doing as Jesus, Peter and Paul said above, what else can we all do to avoid debilitating anxiety?
The following excerpts are from Saint Augustine’s, The Happy Life.
“Then it must be something,” I said, “that must always be enduring, and ought not to depend upon chance nor subject to any misfortunes. For whatever is mortal or transitory we cannot possess when we wish and for as long as we wish…
But those things of chance can be lost. Therefore the person who loves and possesses them can never be happy…
Let us have no doubt that if anyone desires to be happy, he must obtain for himself that which always endures and which can never be taken away from him through severe misfortune…
Does God seem to you to be eternal and ever abiding?…
It follows, therefore, that he who possesses God is happy.”
When you find yourself fighting off an anxiety attack, elevate God to His rightful place in your heart.
Let’s keep our problems in perspective, not allowing them to become idols. And never forget that our God is and will always be in control.
In love always,
In Love Always 