Managing Anxiety: A Recipe for Peace
Looking back, I have struggled with anxiety for much of my life. I can remember as a little girl, saying my prayers, “… If I should die before I wake…” and feeling so scared to go to bed. This fear of death and worry about things out of my control continued as I entered my teen years.
In my early 20’s I was diagnosed with a relatively rare but reversible heart condition. Anxiety and depression plagued me throughout my pregnancies and post-partum anxiety and depression hit me like a ton of bricks after each of our children were born.
In my mid 30’s, I was part of the 2% of women to have a second-trimester miscarriage and my 3rd miscarriage overall. These experiences exacerbated the anxiety and worry of a woman who characteristically liked to be in control.
And if I am really honest, I still fight the urges to this day to relinquish all control to God. But as I continue to grow in my faith and my relationship with Jesus, I feel more equipped in managing my anxious thoughts and worry.
The Bible says “fear not” 365 times, that is once for every day of the year. Yet we continue to struggle with anxiety, worry, and a desire to control things that we know are well out of our control. So often we can let our desire to control, “fix it” ourselves, or the pursuit of our own will being done that we use prayer as a second line of defense.
Prayer is a way for us to humbly go before God and commune with him. Prayer reminds us to relinquish control and that God is our comforter. Prayer helps us to grow relationally with God which in turn increases the trust we have.
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (NKJV)
This verse reminds us God is in control. We do not need to worry but knowing that we as humans have this tendency, Paul gives us instructions on how we can break free from these chains. The first step is to pray. Prayer should be our first line of defense when it comes to situations we face on a daily basis in this life.
Next, Paul calls us to supplication. The definition of the act of supplication according to Google comes from the Latin verb supplicate, which means to “plead humbly”. Supplication is the action of asking, begging, or pleading humbly to someone in power for help or favor.
While it is important to pray for the alignment of our will to that of God’s, we can still go before Him and ask for help, wisdom, guidance, and peace with whatever situation we’ve been faced with.
Our Heavenly Father, cares deeply for us. Isaiah 66:13 says, “As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” (NKJV)
Paul also says to give thanks during our prayer. It is easy to lose sight of all the good things happening around us and the blessings we have been given and continue to receive amidst such trepidation.
However, giving God thanks and remembering His goodness always is key in working through moments of anxiety and worry. It is after prayer and supplication, as well as thanksgiving and asking, that God will give us peace that surpasses our own understanding.
Hiding God’s word in our hearts is an effective way to combat the anxious thoughts that plague our minds.
Here are a few Bible verses that speak to worry and anxiety. Write them on an index card, memorize them, put them on a post-it note, and stick them to your mirror.
Remind yourself of these promises from God and rely on them when worry strikes.
1 John 4:18
2 Timothy 1:7
Isaiah 41:10
Joshua 1:9
Matthew 6:25-34
Psalms 34:4
Another strategy that has helped me is keeping track of answered prayers. This tangible record can be a wonderful reminder of God’s action in your life. In times of anxiety and worry, you can recount situations where you have felt the same fear and trepidation and see God’s will playing out in your life.
Practicing gratitude daily has been proven to lower anxious thoughts and stress as well as many other benefits. In moments when our world seems to be spinning out of control, there is still so much to be grateful for.
There have been times in my life where I have desperately clung to God’s word and there are times were I still fall short, unwilling to submit and trying to control things that are beyond my ability.
We will most definitely have trouble in this world but we can’t forget that there is nothing too little or too big for our God to handle. My friend, I pray for peace in your mind and the understanding that Paul writes about.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashley is a wife, mother of 5, blogger, and entrepreneur who is focused on raising her children with God at the center. She has a passion for helping others cope and navigate life’s hardships with hope and grace. She has continued to grow her faith through recent trials and believes in the power of testimony in sharing God's grace and mercy. Her husband is in seminary school and they are both very excited to see the purpose God has for their marriage in His kingdom. She enjoys connecting with other Christians, running/spinning and spending time with her family. For more of her writing go to www.themomofhope.com where she writes about faith, miscarriage and other hardships, and parenting all through a lens of hope.