Anxiety – a fear or discomfort with the future and all of its unknowns and an innate part of our human condition. Anxiety is something we see all too frequently today, and chances are, it is something we know intimately too.
As Christians, there are many helpful passages in Scripture we can draw from to find peace in our struggle with anxiety. Among them, we find a helpful message from the apostle Paul.
“We demolish arguments and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
His words help us understand that, at some level, we possess control over our thoughts. Whenever we start to believe something that isn’t true – we are unworthy, we are unlovable – we can root our thoughts on what is true instead.
And what is true, you ask? We find truth in what God says about us – we are worthy, we are loveable – just to name two.
Easier said than done, of course, but not impossible. And as we know also from Scripture, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). If possible, the next step is to figure out what exactly we need to do in our fight against anxiety.
Never again do our minds have to run amok, not when we can use these seven alternatives to being anxious.
Pray
“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
When the thoughts swarm, and your mind is running at a thousand miles per hour, one tried and true alternative to being anxious is praying. We don’t add anything to our lives by worrying, but we do add plenty through prayer. Talking to God helps us get those frustrations out of our minds and placed at the cross.
We aren’t able to handle everything that comes our way in life – not on our own. Through prayer, we take our worries to the One who can handle any problem, big or small. We learn to trust Him and let go of trying to control those things that we simply cannot control.
Recite Scripture
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
Knowing Scripture helps us keep anxiety in proper perspective. The negative thoughts foretell an unrealistic doom, but Scripture helps us to discern reality. Sometimes life doesn’t turn out how we would like, but rarely is anxiety ever as accurate as what it predicts. In fact, anxiety is wrong 99.9% of the time. Even when bad things do happen, they’re hardly ever as bad as we imagine.
Scripture helps us remember this, but the Bible also helps us remember that we are not called to live in fear. We go through life knowing that God has good plans for us in addition to the trials we face. And whether we’re on a mountaintop or a low valley, God is always with us.
Get Physical
Anxiety makes you think… a lot. Doing something physical helps you stop thinking so much and focus on a singular activity. If we think too much, we wear ourselves down and risk perpetuating even more troublesome thoughts. Consider going for a walk, starting an exercise routine, or just dancing around your home to set your mind on something else.
Talk to Someone
“Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
Running away from anxious thoughts is not always advantageous. Sometimes we need to process the negative beliefs, especially when they’re recurring, and reflect on how we honestly view ourselves. We have the option of working through them ourselves, or we can enlist help from another. That assistance could come in the form of a relative, a friend, or maybe a counselor. Talking to someone helps us consider new ways of thinking that we would otherwise never consider.
Find a Hobby
Similar to exercise, finding a hobby also helps us change our thought patterns. Not only do we give ourselves something productive to do, but we give ourselves something that brings us joy. Worrying sucks our time and joy. Hobbies help us to better manage both.
Change Your Focus
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
Part of the reason so many people today struggle with anxiety is because of where they are focused – not on God, but on the news, social media, and other negative influences. We spend much of our time observing things that are out of our control. The solution, then, is to shift our focus, spending less time on social media, less time watching the news, and more time in God’s Word.
Serve Someone
“For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.” (Galatians 5:13)
Anxiety is all about us. The worries, whether they revolve around a person or situation, always focus on the self. And with a constant focus on self, our problems are maximized and made to appear bigger than they really are. Through servitude, we think of ourselves less often and more about others. This helps us become better servants, and minimizes the angst caused by anxiety.
Conclusion
Dealing with anxiety is no easy endeavor. Like any problem we face, distractions can be helpful, but they don’t always bring about a solution. Oftentimes, anxiety requires us to fight the negative thoughts with wholesome ones. And not just with upbeat self-complementary thoughts, but thoughts about truth – what God says about us.
Like a seed, bad thoughts can grow if left unchecked, but thankfully, Scripture gives us direction for handling this struggle.
All that’s left is to learn from His wisdom, make a plan, and take control of our thought lives.
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