In 1985 19% of college freshman reported being overwhelmed by all they had to do; in 2016 it was 41%! Anxiety has become a huge social-psychological issue. “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States. Over 40 million adults in the U.S. (19.1%) have an anxiety disorder.” It affects approximately 25% of adolescents . Mental health providers report that for youth anxiety is often linked to fear of failure, perfectionism, comparisons to others (often through social media), or difficult neighborhood environments. So, let’s look at what Jesus says about anxiety.
We all feel anxiety some of the time and some of us feel it much of the time. Anxiety is an issue in every place and time. But the Kingdom of God that Jesus announced was a place where one could become free of anxiety. He taught us the foundation of overcoming anxiety in Matthew chapter 6, where Jesus talks about the anxiety of having enough food and clothing. What Jesus says about anxiety is in verses 33 and 34: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Thus, Jesus is asking us to change our focus away from the needs of life and towards the Kingdom of God. That may sound abstract when anxiety hits us, but it really isn’t. What Jesus says about anxiety is that the Kingdom of God is a bigger and stronger reality than the reality of our anxieties. It is a present spiritual realm where God rules and the fruits of the Spirit clothe our lives. So if we are willing to trust him and seek his kingdom in our hearts we will find that the bigger picture of the kingdom dwarfs the smaller picture of life’s anxieties. This focus on the kingdom gives us strength because our faith opens the door to God’s power.
This doesn’t just apply to food and clothing; it applies to every dimension of our lives. Our career hopes, our relationship hopes, our conversations, and our health. God wants to gives us peace in these areas; peace that comes from our heart. But when anxiety comes it diverts our attention away from Jesus. We are no longer ‘beholding the glory of the Lord” (II Cor. 3:18). Instead, we need to turn our attention back to Jesus’ Kingdom.
Keeping our attention on the Kingdom is easier said than done, especially in the bigger anxieties. If your anxiety keeps you from functioning then you should find a professional who can help you. But in any case we will find strength if we develop the habit of keeping our inner self focused on God and his kingdom. We need to remember what Jesus says about anxiety. And just like we need to practice a new skill, such as cooking a complicated dish, we need to practice keeping our attention on the Kingdom. Scripture teaches us to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” I Pet. 5:7 (NIV) You can find many more verses on anxiety with a simple web search.
Thus, we can continually remind ourselves throughout the day to refocus on the kingdom and trusting God. When an anxiety pops up we give it to God, let it float by and refocus on God’s promises and what Jesus says about anxiety. There may be doubts in the background but we can still keep our heart directed towards God. If we keep this up every day we will find that it becomes a habit, which grows even stronger over time. This is one of the big keys to overcoming anxiety and I hope you will try it.
And remember that some people you know struggle with anxiety, perhaps secretly. It is an epidemic today. You can encourage others and be a model for them. And if they are not believers then by telling them your story you can connect with them and show them how God really does want to help them. Our society is drowning in anxiety now and it is a big opportunity to bring people to the Prince of Peace.
How often do you remind yourself of what Jesus says about anxiety? Does it help when you focus on his words?
