Anxiety Hack: What the Bible Says About Your Stress

Does your brain ever feel like an internet browser overflowing with open tabs, filled with anxieties and stressors? When you close one, it seems three more magically open. Yeah, me too, sometimes. But what if I told you there is a way to close some of those tabs without them reopening?  You see, the Bible is filled with wisdom for managing the situations that cause these tabs to open in the first place. With Scripture at the ready, we can effectively shut down the panic attacks. Let’s see how this works for us.

What’s Anxiety, Biblically Speaking?

Although the Bible does not provide a clear-cut definition of anxiety, it manifests as fear, worry, and a lack of trust in God. Anxiety can be defined as “a constant fearful state, accompanied by a feeling of unrest, dread, or worry.” Anxiety is a contemporary term that describes feelings of fear, worry, and unrest. In Matthew 6:36, Jesus says, “Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” We naturally experience an overwhelming sense of fear and worry about the days ahead, but Jesus advises us not to concern ourselves with those things because God will take care of them. Furthermore, there are already enough things today for us to worry about.

In the Bible, it’s like texting a friend something important, seeing the ‘typing’ indicator, but not receiving a response for an hour. This fear, worry, and lack of trust that everything will turn out fine can overwhelm and take control. What will they say? Are they upset with me? Did I say something wrong? This is a good moment to pray and let God know what has you feeling fearful. Paul told the Philippians not to be anxious about anything; rather, they should go to God in prayer and share their fears and worries, trusting that God will take care of them (Phil. 4:6). Unfortunately, many times, this is easier said than done, and we need some extra help.  

How Biblical Counseling Helps

The aim of the Biblical counselor is to help you transform fear into faith, using Scripture as the primary reference. It enhances your mental health in a way that pleases God, relying on His words as the foundation. Here are three benefits of Biblical counseling that you won’t find anywhere else:

• Scriptural Guidance – Scripture passages such as Psalm 55:22, 94:19, 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 6:34, and Philippians 4:6 all offer key insights into anxiety and ways to overcome it. 

• Prayer and Surrender – Counselors offer a space for open and honest prayer to God about everything happening in life. It is also a place where we can surrender those concerns to God and trust Him to handle them, much like Philippians 4:6-7 tells us.

• Reframing the Mind – Counselors also help us reframe our hearts and minds from fear and worry to trust and rejoicing. Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:8 to focus on the good rather than dwell on the bad. He also emphasizes that we must “renew our minds” to recognize the good and see all that God is doing (Romans 12:2).

A good way to start is by practicing this three-step process: pray, recite, and let go. Pray to God as if He is your best friend in the world, sharing everything you need to say and casting all your anxieties onto Him. Then, recite a passage either in your head or out loud that helps you trust in God and reminds you of His goodness. Lastly, let go; address what you can fix and allow God to take care of what you cannot. This begins to close those open tabs without more opening in the background. Over time, we get to a manageable state.

Every church should have a counseling ministry, along with pastors, elders, and even life group leaders, who can come alongside you to provide assistance with these matters. Additionally, some outside ministries offer virtual counseling sessions if you prefer to meet someone unfamiliar or cannot meet in person. Whatever the case may be, a solution exists. So, don’t let help pass you by.

Wrap-Up

In short, anxiety is a misplaced trust that leads to fear and worry. Counseling aims to correct this misplaced trust by using Scripture, prayer, and honesty to guide us back to God. So, the next time anxiety strikes and the mysterious tabs begin to open in your mind, pause for a moment, say a quick prayer, and remember that God’s got you; you’re not alone. We are all facing our own challenges and need each other, but more importantly, we need God.

Psalm 18:2 reminds us, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Let God be your anchor during hard times, and demonstrate to others how they, too, can have God as an anchor in their lives.

Here is a 7-day challenge for you: Over the next 7 days, whenever you feel anxious about something, write down one thing you are grateful for along with a verse that helps you understand it. Share your thoughts online with friends using #7DayAnxeityHackChallenge

If you have any questions you can email rdawson28@outlook.com or visit www.redeemercare.net

Clinton, Tim, and Ron Hawkins. The Quick-Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling: Personal and Emotional Issues. Baker Books, 2009, p. 117.