Stressless Saturday

Anxiety

Here’s a good definition for anxiety: Living out life’s bad scenarios in advance.

The word “worry” is an Old English word which literally means “to choke”, “ to strangle.” When you’re worrying it chokes the life out of your life.

The Greek word for worry is the word that means “to pull in different directions,” “to divide into pieces.” Worry divides your mind, divides your energy, and wastes your time.

1 Peter 5:5-7 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

A – N – X – I – E – T – Y

A = Analysis paralysis

Thinking too much. It’s when you try to anticipate every turn in the road and try to figure it all out ahead of time. Over analysis causes anxiety when you try to use your mind so that you don’t have to trust God. But what if you forget something? The Bible calls us to think things through and to plan wisely, but that can become a real block to obedience and faith. When Jesus called Peter to come walk with Him on the water, what if Peter had allowed Analysis paralysis to take over?

N = Negative assumptions

Assuming the worst. It causes a lot of anxiety when you try to live out all of life’s worst possibilities. It also doesn’t make much sense. How many of those negative assumptions are correct? And how much energy do you lose dreading things that never happen? This is the opposite of living by faith. It is faith in the negative. That’s not God’s plan for us. He wants us to have faith in Him.

X = Xtra bills

Our finances are a source of anxiety. We always want to make sure that we are being good stewards of the money that God gives us but sometimes extra bills are a test of our trust. Will we trust God or not? The Bible teaches us how to handle money and not let it become too powerful in our lives.

I = Insecurities

When we are unsure of ourselves and feel inadequate it is another source for anxiety. What if we fail? What if everyone laughs at us? Insecurities keep us from having fun in life. They keep us tied up in the fear of man or the fear of failure. The Bible tells us that we were made in the image of God. As a Christian, you and I are CHILDREN OF GOD!! Therefore we do have significance in Him.

E = Expectations of others

We live by the power of what others want. This causes anxiety because we are always afraid of disappointing the one who is pulling our strings. This is not living by faith, it is living by remote control.

1 Thessalonians 2:4-6 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men, but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed – God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.

T = Tomorrows - anxiety over the future

We worry about the future. We worry about what has not happened. Jesus taught us in Matthew chapter 6 – Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. MT 6:34

Y = Yesterdays - Anxiety over our past

The sad thing about anxiety over our yesterdays is that we can do NOTHING to change them. The same holds true for anxiety over the future. We can’t change the future or the past. Anxiety doesn’t help, all it does is wreck our todays. And God wants us to live in the NOW of our lives, enjoying HIS blessings.


Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

When we worry it shows a lack of trust in God’s character. As a matter of fact, ALL anxiety ultimately comes from a misunderstanding of the nature of God. He wants to care for you. Will you let Him? Or will you keep holding onto your anxiety?

Illustration: Have you ever watched a movie and told the character in the movie to be careful or “watch out!”? Our getting tense or gritting our teeth does not help the character in the movie.

So, how are you going to live? Constantly worrying, or restfully trusting?

• Give all your cares to God – He cares for you.

• Give all your cares to God – He is able to take care of them. Relax and let God do the caring. He careth for you.


• Give all your cares to God – He will do the CARRY –ing!