Hope in the Night (A 30-Day Reflection of the Word of God)

Sixteenth Night: Did God Create Anxiety?

"Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad."
- Proverbs 12:25

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Reflection:

Everyone of us experienced being anxious in some parts of our lives. We tend to become anxious when we're uncertain of our future, or we become uncertain of those that's happening around us in present times. Whether it be a mild stress caused by pressures in life or it was caused by excessive fear and ending up in panic attacks, anxiety is part of us humans. Some knows what it truly means to have anxiety. Others can't. Some regarded anxiety as a weak response to problems while others call it illusion.

Anxiety is an emotion. We were initially created in God's own likeness. Perfect. Unblemished. God has emotion. Thus, emotion is a gift of God.

Emotion influences the flow of our lives. We feel joy, happiness, peace, and we tend to feel great about doing good for ourselves and our neighbors. We also feel anger, resentment, the feeling of the need to avenge someone for ourselves or our loved ones.

Because we now knew that emotion influenced the flow of our lives, we always need to remember that God gave this so we can express and enjoy life. The only problem is that we tend to get controlled by our emotions instead of the other way around. In the end, we hurt someone because of too much emotions.

Even the characters in the Bible experienced the despair of being controlled by emotions. In 1 Samuel 28:6-9, King Saul became jealous of David's achievements as people started to compare both of them; in 1Samuel 1:10, Hannah felt great sorrow and cried to the Lord; in the book of 1 Kings, Elijah, a man of great faith and courage, admitted many times that he was afraid.

This was why Jesus Christ repeated these words several times in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-26), "do not be anxious... do not be anxious... do not be anxious."

Financial, emotional, relationship, career, future. We are anxious about what may happen today, later or tomorrow. Anxiety is not a sin. It is a normal response every time we faced uncertainties in life.

No one can deny anxiety's existence in our lives. Why?

Uncertainty, self-doubt, overwhelming apprehension and fear of something that came from the past or the future to the point where we started to feel the tension, started to sweat, started to feel our pulse rate increase. Moments like when we're uncertain about something that's currently going on in our lives made us feel suffocated. Those are just a few symptoms of anxiety.

Anxiety in the New Testament means distracted or pulled apart. It is the opposite of peace which was a stillness, calmness of one's mind. That distraction, the pulling apart thing, is going to stress us to the point of doing something wrong and then we fail. And the result of it all is going to have a lasting effect on our lives.

Where does anxiety comes from, then? Some asked me if it came from within us or from God?

It is always important to know God's character and know that anxiety does not come from God. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). If God didn't create anxiety, then where did it come from?

There are things in life that are just distressful and naturally going to create anxiety. During this pandemic that racked the whole world, there were people losing their jobs. There were children who needed to stop their studies because they couldn't afford the online class. There were people who hated being isolated in their house because they felt caged.

There were also times when we thought so much about something that it went overboard. This was the wrong thinking of our minds, not fully trusting in God and in His Word, and not putting every thought into obedience to Christ. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, Apostle Paul wrote, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

Lastly, there were times when anxiety came from something we didn't realize. Those moments when we couldn't understand and we didn't know why we felt so anxious.

I am not exempted in this obstacle. During my struggle as a person, anxiety took over me. I had sudden panic attacks, I always hyperventilated from fear of something I didn't know. There have been times that stressful situation got the better of me, but God reminded me through His Word. Time and time again, He reminded me that I am not alone in this matter.

And from that moment I practiced to not let anxiety take up residence in my life. And neither should you.

Dr. Charles Stanley said:

"Regardless of anxiety's source, dealing with it head-on is of utmost importance. While the emotion of anxiety itself is not a sin, it shouldn't last. It shouldn't continue. It shouldn't have a negative effect. We must be willing to face up to and deal with our anxious thoughts and feelings. Anxiety is simply a reaction to some circumstance in your life. And when God tries to reveal truth to you regarding that circumstance or situation, that's your number one priority. When God sees something going on in your life that needs instruction or correction, you need to give Him your undivided attention. Otherwise, you'll be assured to live a life filled with anxiety and doubt."

Anything can cause anxiety and while emotion in and of itself is not a sin, not dealing with it properly is. Our feelings of dread, apprehension, and uncertainty comes down to one thing:

It is the fear of not being in control.

Controlling our lives can be stressful. Too much or too little expectations, too much or too little pressure, wanting to do this and that, planning for this and that, and when everything doesn't go with those, we also fall.

Little did we know then, anxiety's controlling us.

As we allow anxiety to gain control of us, it will slowly eat our mentality, our emotions, and worst, our relationship with God. Being able to control our emotions, especially anxiety, is a key to live and enjoy life in a way that God wanted for us.

Some churches say that the Bible is enough to cheer even the most drained spirit. And there are some churches who claim that we also need the guides of our fellow Christians or even the medical experts to counsel us. But here's my take:

Whether you believe that the Bible alone is enough or you need someone to counsel on you, the LORD our God does not have a limit. He is ever so present, powerful and all-knowing. He is immutable. He knew what you need and He will give it if you truly believe in Him. He will use all means to provide for you, even the times when you need comfort.

Remember God's character in times of hopelessness and doubts.

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Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, help me deal with things that can make me feel anxious before it controls me. Help me think of You and Your promises and hold onto it without reserve. Remind me that only in You can I make my escape from distressful situations. I cast down all my cares, including this anxiety that eats me away. In Christ Jesus' Name, Amen.