What to do with Anxiety

As I reflect on my teaching experiences, an overarching theme comes up. I am seeing more and more children with some form of anxiety.

It astounds me how children so young can be filled with so much trepidation and uncertainty about life. I can understand anxiety in students who are experiencing issues at home but it frequently shows up in children who seem to have a together home life and things going well.

I have observed children being almost paralyzed with fear over new situations or new relationships. Their whole viewpoint is skewed with a focus on all the what ifs rather than what is true and right.

Anxiety affects us all at some point to different degrees. Our world is full of anxious moments. The media heightens our awareness of challenging situations around the world. It is difficult to not feel scared at times.

What do we do when anxious moments arise? How do we move forward when fears overtake us?

In the Old Testament, God has these words of comfort for us:

“When I said, ‘my foot is slipping’, Your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.” (Psalm 94:18-19 NIV)

Within ourselves anxiety is tough to fight. The overwhelmed feelings can seem to overtake us. No matter what we are facing we have a loving Heavenly Father who is there supporting us. He promises to be with us no matter what life throws our way.

I know, sometimes we feel like God is far away. When we are mired in hopeless feelings or circumstances, we wonder if God is really there.

The key here is that God says He will support us. He doesn’t promise to take all the hurts or anxieties away. He does promise to always be there for us with means to strengthen and uplift us. That can look different depending on the situation. God gives us support and comfort through His Word. He also reaches out to us through His people in programs, books, counselling, and relationships.

Even in the midst of anxious feelings we can have the consolation that only Jesus can bring. With that consolation comes joy. It’s not a joy based on what the world offers. It is a true joy that comes from knowing that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour.

There is no instant cure for anxiety. All we can do is hang onto the anchor of Christ, knowing that we will not drift away when He has hold of us.

My friend, maybe today the anxiety of life is overwhelming you. I pray that you find your way by lifting your concerns to the only One who can sustain you, uplift you, cherish you, and guide you through whatever it is you are facing. There is hope in Almighty God. He promises to support you and He is true to His Word.

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