Attacking Anxiety
Selected Passages
October 7, 2001
Introduction
What do all of these things have in common?
Fear to take action
Cowardice to deal with difficult situations
Withdrawal from daily life
Depression and discouragement
Distrust and unbelief
A defeatist attitude
Unwise and harmful decisions
All of these things can be caused by anxiety
After the events of September 11th, it is safe to say that we are a nation with a great deal of anxiety.
Six in 10 Americans Worried About Becoming a Victim of Terrorism:
Americans are much more worried today about becoming a victim of terrorism than they were after the Oklahoma City bombing six years ago. The current poll shows 60% of Americans saying they are either "very" or "somewhat" worried that they or someone in their family will become a victim, compared with 42% who expressed that view in April 1995, shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing. Last year, at the fifth anniversary of that bombing, only 24% said they were worried.
How can we deal with the reality of anxiety? How can we live without worry in times like these?
I. The Reason of Anxiety
Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
A. Our problems are opportunities
1. The simple fact is that we hang on to our difficulties
a.) We do not share our problems with others. We do not share our problems with God. Is it any wonder why we feel so overwhelmed so often?
b.) What does your anxiety do? It does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but it does empty today of its strength. It does not make you escape the evil; it makes you unfit to cope with it when it comes. God gives us the power to bear all the sorrow of His making, but He does not guarantee to give us strength to bear the burdens of our own making such as worry induces. Ian Maclaren
2. Our problems are opportunities to prove God’s grace
a.) When we hold onto our difficulties we rob ourselves of the blessing of God’s assistance. We fail to see miracles in our lives because we try to make through life by our own power
b.) The problems in your life are an opportunity to prove God’s guidance, love and grace. When we try to solve our problems on our own we make matters worse.
B. God desires to lift your burdens
1. God wants us to give Him our anxiety
a.) God knows everything. He knows your sins. He knows your pain and hurt. He knows your needs. He is waiting for you to come to Him.
b.) God wants you to give Him all of your anxiety. Not part of it, not some of it, not most of it but all of it! Why don’t we do just that? God can handle all of your problem better than you can. Let Him do it!
2. God cares about you
a.) God has a deep love for you. He created you. He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows all of your failures. He loves you in spite of it all. He is now calling you to enter His love
b.) God cares for you. This is so amazing. The same hand that crafted the stars wants to move in your life. The same voice that spoke light into existence is calling your name. The God over everything is concerned about you and your life.
II. The Reward of Anxiety
PR 12:25 An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
A. Our worry only makes matters worse
1. Anxiety is worthless
a.) There is zero value in worry. It does nothing good for us. The words of Jesus express this truth completely: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
b.) The reality of anxiety
An average person’s anxiety is focused on :
40% -- things that will never happen
30% -- things about the past that can’t be changed
12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress
8% -- about real problems that will be faced
2. Anxiety adds distress to our difficulties
a.) Our anxiety about difficulties only creates more problems. Our anxiety adds additional stress to our lives.
b.) Worry pulls tomorrow’s cloud over today’s sunshine. C. Swindoll, Questions Christians Ask, p. 18
B. God has offered us His kind Word
1. God gives us His promises
a.) Never will I leave, Never will I forsake you
b.) For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
c.) I will be your God and you will be my people
2. Good news – God always keeps His word
III. The Resolution of Anxiety
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
A. The replacement of anxiety
1. We are to be anxious for nothing
a.) There was reason to be anxious
The church was facing: severe persecution, disunity within the church, carnality of some members, false teachers and some members who were struggling to survive
b.) God will enable every believer
God fills us with His peace because He overcomes the trials of life. We are called to be concerned, not anxious. Concern moves us to act with courage. Concern moves us to conquer problems and difficulties in life
2. The remedy for anxiety – Prayer
a.) We are to walk with God: Four types of prayers
1.) General prayer – Regular times of devotion and worship
2.) Petition – Time of intense need that drive us to pour out our heart to God. These are times when we desperately seek God and His assistance
3.) Thanksgiving – Times of offering praise to God for all that He is and all that He does for us
4.) Requests – These are definite things that we ask for and reveal that prayer is meant to be specific
b.) We are to pray about everything
1.) Hold nothing back
No matter how small or insignificant the need may seem, God wants to handle it for you. God is interested in the details of your life.
2.) Prayer enables us to have peace
The Widow’s Story: A widow who had successfully raised a very large family was interviewed by a reporter, she had raised six of her own children and adopted 12 others, she always maintained stability and confidence, the reporter asked what her secret was, the woman said that she was in a partnership, she replied - “Many years ago I said, ‘Lord, I’ll do the works and you do the worrying.’ And I haven’t had an anxious care since.”
B. The peace of God
1. Peace that is beyond understanding
a.) The meaning of peace
1.) Peace means to be bound or woven together
2.) Peace is the calm assurance and security that can only come from the love of God
3.) Because God loves us we can know…
* God will Deliver us * God will guide us
* God will provide for us * God will strengthen us
* God will encourage us
b.) The experience of peace
2. Peace that guards our hearts and minds
a.) The term guard means to garrison or protect. The peace of god is like an elite guard who protects a precious possession, your heart
b.) The condition is to be in Christ Jesus. Those who have no faith in Christ have reason to be anxious. They have no support in life. They have no strength from God’s presence during hard times. They have no power to overcome the challenges of life.
Conclusion
Good afternoon,
I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Pleae remember that I do not need your help. If the devil happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, DO NOT attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFJTD (something for Jesus to do) box. It will be addressed in MY time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold on to it or attempt to remove it. Holding on or removal will delay the resolution of your problem. If it is a situation that you think you are capable of handling, please consult me in prayer to be sure that is the proper assumption. Because I do not sleep or slumber, there is no need for you to lose any sleep. Rest, my child. If you need to contact me, I am only a prayer away.
Today, if you have a burden that you have been carrying, give it over to God. If you have a difficulty that you cannot bear, give it over to God. If you have a problem that seems impossible to solve, give it over to God.
