Stress and Anxiety

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)

Attaining freedom from anxiety, worry, stress, and pressure is a high priority for most people today. We live in a world with an increasingly rapid pace of change, and change brings uncertainty. Uncertainty tends to bring worry, stress, and a general feeling of being unsettled. Feeling unsettled, uneasy, and anxious tends to sap your joy and faith. Those feelings of dread or “not knowing” can throw a wet blanket on your outlook or hope for the future. 

As Christians, we have the blessing of several wonderful promises on this topic which give both spiritual and practical advice. Promises like:  “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved”. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You”.

We have to make a conscious effort to give our burdens to the Lord.

We must commit to spending regular time with Jesus.

We need to learn to surrender our fears and worries to Him.

We need to meditate on God’s Word. God, it gives us an outlet for our anxiety: God.—PA, Directors’ Corner [1]

Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.—Saint Augustine

[1] “Feeling Unsettled?” Anchor, June 18, 2018.