I’m in the process of settling into my new gig as a full-time counselor. So far it has gone well and I’m enjoying the work.
In moving from part-time to full-time, I’m moving from seeing about seven patients a week to thirty-two. I’ve met a lot of new people and dealt with a lot of issues the past few weeks, but I keep seeing one issue again and again. In session after session, with patient after patient, I find myself talking about anxiety.
It’s a growing problem in this country.
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that:
“Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults (19.1% of the population) age 18 and older every year. …Anxiety disorders affect 31.9% of adolescents between 13 and 18 years old.” (adaa.org)
Those numbers are shocking. We are truly living in anxious times!
But this isn’t the first generation to struggle with worry and anxiety. Walk through the pages of Scripture and take note of the many verses which deal with this issue.
“Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” (Proverbs 12:25)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
“Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Jesus told His disciples:
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ {32} For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” (Matthew 6:31-32)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:47)
Human beings have always struggled with worrisome thoughts. There’s nothing new about that.
But it does feel as if more of us are struggling with this. And, trust me, it’s a tough thing to deal with on a daily basis.
When asked to describe what it was like to live with anxiety, one young person told youthdynamics.org —
“Every day is a struggle, even when I’m at my best. My anxiety is always with me, and panic taps me on the shoulder a few times a day. On my good days, I can brush it off. On my bad days, I just want to stay in bed.”
Another young person said:
“I get nervous about everything. Sometimes, I don’t even know why I’m anxious. I just am. And no one seems to understand that.”
God’s solution to the problem of worry and anxiety is very simple. To the person whose heart is weighed down with the cares of this world, He says: “Put your trust in Me.”
Again, Philippians 4:6-7 says:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
That’s the promise: trust God with your whole heart, turn everything over to Him (1 Peter 5:7), and you will experience peace.
Isaiah says :
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” (Isaiah 26:3-4)
The secret to quieting an anxious heart is to trust God with all our heart.
I’ll close with a beautiful quote from Thomas Watson:
“If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble.”
Amen.