Anxiety Upon Anxiety
What do we do when worry becomes an obsession?
February, 2024
Anxiety—worry, concern, fretfulness, fear, whatever you want to call it—is a much greater problem in our world than most realize. That's even true among believers in Christ. It's especially prevalent in modern teens. Today's youth are constantly reminded that their every word or action can potentially be seen worldwide, archived forever, and/or misused to obliterate their entire life. Our ministry's teen site has responded by addressing everything from panic attacks to general anxiety, and how teens can help each other cope with them.
An especially difficult struggle occurs when a person is anxious about being anxious. In a vicious circle, they worry they lack faith, which makes them worry more, etc. For some, this is a phase. For others, it's a persistent problem such as religious scrupulosity or "Christian OCD." Of course, the Bible tells us not to be anxious or afraid (Matthew 6:25, 34). But God knows perfectly well (Hebrews 4:15) that feelings can't be altered like changing shoes. Persistent anxiety can make a person feel helpless and trapped. Most of the time, the best help we can offer an anxious person is to remind them of what they (should) know, while acknowledging their struggle.
This month's spotlight verse proves that anxiousness itself is not a sign of faithlessness. Few figures in the Bible demonstrate as much spiritual resolve as Daniel. He stood up to his captors as a boy (Daniel 1:8), bluntly delivered truth to kings as an adult (Daniel 5:22–23), and faced lions as an old man (Daniel 6:10, 22). Blessed by knowledge (Daniel 1:7), he still experienced fear, doubt, and anxiousness. Suggesting Daniel lacked faith would be absurd. What makes more sense is to look at how Daniel reacted to his fear: by admitting it and turning towards truth (Daniel 7:16). Along the same lines, we can read of Psalmists who admit their angst at the same time they rely on God for relief (Psalm 42:5).
Recurring anxiety is not a sure-fire sign of faithlessness. Neither is an inability to "snap out of it." However, we can recognize when something's not quite right; then we can make good choices about how to respond. Scripture gives us tools that help. Prayer is crucial. We should also take advantage of resources like doctors, friends, and counselors. If we use our minds the way God intended, we can at least realize something's not adding up. That won't make everything perfect. But just knowing something and putting it into words can make it easier to manage.
Fear and anxiousness are among the Devil's favorite tools (Ephesians 6:11). When someone has religious OCD, the Devil uses it as leverage, making the lies and their effects even louder. He uses worry and anxiousness to stop us from living the abundant life Christ wants for us (John 10:10). Satan tells us that God is watching us through a long list of impossible rules, looking for an excuse to abandon us. That's totally false. In fact, it's a way of tempting us to doubt God.
Jesus said we can have eternal life if we simply trust in Him (John 3:16–17). Satan hits us with the same tactic he used on Eve: "…but did He really say that?" (Genesis 3:1). That can trigger the fear that if we don't "do" something the right way, we're not really saved. Or that our imperfections mean God hasn't really accepted us. Religious OCD can even inspire panic over issues unrelated to sin, like how often we study or the way we pray.
Jesus lived as a real human being (Hebrews 4:15), so He knows what we struggle with. Because of that, He tells us to be confident, not afraid, when we come to Him (Hebrews 4:16). He promised to never reject the sincere seeker (John 6:37). And He guarantees that He won't let Satan take a saved believer away (John 10:28). God knew everything about us before we were even born (Jeremiah 1:5). He understands our needs even when we can't put them into words (Romans 8:26). And He specifically told us we don't need to worry (Luke 12:25–26). He already knows what we need, and He's in control (Matthew 6:34).
If only we could just tell ourselves, "stop worrying," then OCD wouldn't be a thing. We can't do that (Romans 7:22–25). But we can recognize the difference between good worries and bad worries. Good worries sound like, "I smell smoke, I need to be sure there isn't a fire." Bad worries are things like, "if I don't read the Bible enough today, God will be mad at me or abandon me."
The key is using our non-emotional mind (Romans 12:2). When we feel anxiety, we can examine it: does it make "sense?" That doesn't mean trying to intellectually vaporize the feeling. It's simply to ask: is this really coming from good thoughts, good reasons, and good evidence? Can we tell it's faulty? Is it part of the same block of thoughts that always seems to pop up? If we realize it's not valid, the fear does not instantly go away. But it does help us make good choices. Instead of acting in fear, and making it worse, we can say, "I'm still anxious, but I'm not going to let that feeling control me. I don't have to do what my OCD—or fear, or insecurity—tells me. This feeling will pass, but God will never abandon me."
Prayer is also very helpful (Philippians 4:6). There's great value in being honest with God: "Lord, I'm really scared about this. I know I shouldn't be, and there isn't really anything to be afraid of. Thank you for loving me, even when I'm broken. Please help me remember your promises and be less afraid."
When we feel anxious, we can refer to those truths, and those Scriptures, as a reminder. We can also celebrate that God gave us so many tools to work with (1 Timothy 4:4). That includes friends, pastors, doctors, and family. Mental health issues usually need more help than any person can provide for themselves. Getting assistance is not a problem—in fact, it's exactly why God put us around those people in the first place.
Satan wants us to fight a battle beyond our power, while trying to hide from God. God wants us to acknowledge our weaknesses, and bring them to Him. Daniel was anxious—that didn't make him an apostate.
-- Editor
