I Believe in God… Why Do I Still Have So Much Anxiety?
Nov 6, 2023
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In this podcast, Pastor J.D. addresses anxiety and provides a way of healing for the anxious soul. The chapters cover topics like Jesus' approach to diagnosing and solving anxiety, the relationship between God, money, and anxiety, the connection between sin, approval, and anxiety, and the power of knowing Jesus and overcoming anxiety.
Anxiety is often caused by the worship of idols, such as money, and by prioritizing material things above God, resulting in the loss of His provision and care for us.
Overcoming anxiety requires transforming our worship by redirecting it from idols that promise security, approval, power, or control to Jesus, who offers a better source of these needs and promises to take care of us.
Deep dives
The Root of Anxiety
Anxiety is an emotion that many people experience, and it is a rapidly growing problem in our culture. People can be anxious about various things, such as being alone, money, the future, acceptance, and many more. Anxiety disorders have become the most common mental health concern in the United States, and it affects a significant percentage of children and Gen Z. The World Health Organization even reported an increase in anxiety and depression due to the pandemic. Anxiety is not the problem itself, but rather a symptom of a deeper issue. It is like smoke from a fire, indicating that something else is causing the anxiety. Jesus addresses the root of anxiety and provides a solution in Matthew 6. He explains that anxiety is often caused by the worship of idols, such as money. When we prioritize material things above God, we lose sight of His provision and care for us. By placing God first and seeking His kingdom, we can find security and significance, and all the other things we need will be added to us.
Transforming Our Worship
To overcome anxiety, we need to transform our worship. Our anxiety is often rooted in false gods, idols that promise security, approval, power, or control. These idols compete for our devotion and cause us to worry and strive. Jesus emphasizes that He is a better source of approval, power, comfort, and control than anything else. When we worship Him and prioritize His kingdom, He promises to take care of our needs. We must shift our focus from the idols that fuel anxiety to the true source of joy and security in Christ. Instead of seeking approval and significance from others or relying on earthly comforts, we can find completeness and contentment in Jesus. By redirecting our worship to Him, we can experience freedom from anxiety.
Practical Steps to Overcome Anxiety
Jesus provides practical steps to overcome anxiety. Firstly, we need to recognize that God knows our needs. We have a heavenly Father who is aware of everything we require, and we can trust Him to provide for us. Secondly, we are called to seek God's kingdom above all else. By putting God first and making Him the center of our lives, we can find the security and significance we long for. When we prioritize our relationship with God, He assures us that all the other things we need will be taken care of. This includes not only financial needs but also the fears and worries that cause anxiety in our lives. As we trust in God's provision and prioritize His kingdom, we can experience freedom from anxiety and find peace in His care.
What would you say makes you more anxious than anything else? Money, work, being alone, losing someone you love?
In this episode of “12 Truths & A Lie,” Pastor J.D. addresses an emotion that we’ve all felt (and that all of us would like to feel less often)—anxiety. We know Jesus says we should not be anxious. But Jesus doesn’t just leave us there: He provides a way of healing for the anxious soul.
You’ll learn more about what fuels your anxiety, as well as what you can do to overcome it.
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