When Is Anxiety Sinful?
Imagine for a moment you are in the forest and a bear comes running toward you. You will most likely feel anxious and worried.
No one is surprised by that. You better be fearful, anxious and worried. God designed your body to be energized to run when facing a threat like that!!!!
Our body naturally responds with concern to fearful things. That natural reaction isn’t necessarily sinful. Concern and anxiety can be something we don’t choose because they are natural feelings.
The challenge is to transform our anxiety in a godly way to trust in God. But even as we do that, our bodies may not release the tension.
Therefore, I think anxiety is sin when we agree to continue to give into it and encourage it.
The important thing is that you are turning your mind and heart to trusting God.
The key to doing that is in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (ESV)
You may be surprised that Jesus had anxiety. When Jesus was praying shortly before his arrest, Luke 22:44 tells us, “And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
In different translations, the word “agony” is anguish, agony of spirit, deeply distressed and anguished, The Greek word is “agonia” and Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance gives additionally the wording “the state of a struggle.”
Commentator Elliott explains, “The Greek noun primarily describes a ‘conflict’ or ‘struggle’ rather than mere physical pain.”
I’m trusting I”m not the only one who “struggles” with the battle, the conflict. According to Second Corinthians 10:5, you and I can reject lies and focus on truths about God.
Our body may not cooperate with the truth and we might continue to feel stressed, have higher blood pressure, be restless if we want to sleep. I’ve noticed I awaken in the night and I’m already tense. I didn’t choose that. But in one way or another my dreams or thoughts were bothering me.
I’m hoping we can believe God has compassion for our tension and physical anxiety. He does want to empower us with rehearsing truths about him in order to win the battle for your mind.
You can only win by knowing Scripture through memorization and studying Scripture.
Also, try this spiritual exercise. Put a rubber band around your wrist and frequently let the sight of it cause you to pause and ask the Holy Spirit within you:
- What am I thinking about?
- What am I believing right now?
- Is any distrustful thinking barging its way into my heart?
- What is my body demonstrating?
Oh! And then snap your rubber band if you identify thoughts which are leading you away from trust in God.
I’d love to hear from you about your favorite verse or saying about trust in God or how to gain peace. Thank you for sharing.
My anxiety is often tied to feelings of being overwhelmed. When there’s so much to do and seemingly not enough time to get it all done, anxiety kicks in. Often, the Holy Spirit reminds me that it’s not all that I need to get done that is causing my anxiety, it’s me. Often these days, lots of extra chores get added to my list. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping, and the list seems to go on and on. When you add these things to farming, ranching, consulting work, yard work, repairs, etc., there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day. What the Holy Spirit reveals in that my anxiety is not caused by the things that need to be done, but by my selfishness of wanting to do “my stuff” and not others’. Sometimes the gift of service means that you must sacrifice what you want for what others need from you. Hate to admit I’m that childish sometimes, but truth is, what I need to do is thank God that I’m able to do those things and should find joy in doing them. It means I have to reprioritize and make others more important than me. Isn’t that what a life of service, love, and devotion is? Another amazing post my friend. Thank you. One example is answering a friend’s post, two days after it arrives at 3AM.
Thank you for sharing, J.D. I so appreciate your vulnerability. I can’t imagine all that you do. Plus, keep up an active writing and blogging ministry. You represent the Lord and bring him glory. I pray Ms. Diane heals quickly.
Anxiety, my middle name! It’s strange, but sometimes I create situations that put me in an anxious state. Anxiety is a normal feeling so trying to relax or just roll with life is difficult for me. To allow God to work and form my days, I tend to push forward on my own, creating anxiety. I’m getting better, but it’s an ongoing battle.
Dear Kat, I affirm you have grown in trusting God and you are an example of a surrendered heart. To overcome the habit of anxiety that actually feels safe because we know how to respond (but normal is too abnormal) is something to some degree we work on for the rest of our lives. God will continue to work in you and me! Thank you for sharing.