Anxiety: The Nagging Emotion
Page Four
The Spiritual Dimension
One of the most necessary ingredients for peace of mind is being related to our Creator. There is no real security in any of the temporal factors of our few short years here on earth which will compensate for an insecurity about our eternal destiny. Matthew 16:26 says, "What is a man profited if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" When any human being comes to Jesus Christ in faith, confessing his sins and receiving Christ's free pardon, he enters into a relationship with God Himself. This is the spiritual beginning point for dealing with anxiety. I John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment." One incredible resource for overcoming fear is the assurance that all of our sins have been paid for. God isn't angry at us, and He will never punish us because His Son took the punishment we deserved in our place. Knowing that God has forgiven our sins, that His Holy Spirit indwells us, and that we will spend eternity with Him, provide a wonderful spiritual foundation for overcoming anxiety.
We seldom think of Christian parents or of church teachings as having a negative effect on a child. But it is possible in a distorted sense. Take for example the concept of "father." Most people's concept of God is much like the concept they hold of their own earthly father. They perceive their heavenly Father, whom they have not seen, as being much like their earthly father whom they have seen and know. If you should ask a child what God is like, he may very well describe his earthly father. This is reasonable inasmuch as from the time of early childhood, a child knows that along with his mother, his father is in charge, that he is a provider, that he represents authority, and that he can make things happen. So it is with God.
Consequently, a child's view of God is usually shaped by the qualities of his dad. When a father (or mother) is critical, mean, short-tempered, unkind, impatient, unloving, or punitive, the child is likely to grow up thinking of God as having many of the same characteristics. This is often true of adults who are unduly anxious. They think of God in negative terms, afraid that He will punish them or reject them, or find them unacceptable. This adds to their anxiety and affects nearly everything they do.
Occasionally, a well-meaning pastor or evangelist repeatedly threatens his parishioners with fears that God will toss them out if they don't do things God's way. Instead of proclaiming God's love and forgiveness, along with His righteous judgment, such pastors may keep their listeners in a constant state of uncertainty, fearing that they may lose their salvation, and that they may never measure up to God's demands and standards. This is a common cause of spiritual anxiety.
But the message of God's grace is just the opposite. God places us in His family because Christ paid for our sins, not because we live well enough to earn it. The Bible says, "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and my Father are one" (John 10:28-30). Security is a gift God gives to us. That is real security!
Solutions
A person who is anxious and nervous in most situations can realize some relief through practical procedures. First, find someone with whom you can discuss your anxieties. All of us do better when we have a caring friend with whom we can share our burdens. In fact, the Bible instructs us to "bear each other's burdens" (Galatians 6:2), and to encourage each other and build each other up.
Next, try to identify the culprits in your environment. Make a list of the situations that trigger anxiety in your life. Perhaps in your marriage or your daily work there are conditions which you can avoid. If you know that certain situations will cause you difficulty, do your best to avoid or change them.
The same with people. If you know there are certain personalities that cause you to feel ill at ease and insecure, don't keep asking for trouble. If it isn't necessary to be around them, choose to stay away. If it is a family member or someone you want or need to be in relationship with, talk with that person and tell him or her how you feel. That person may be doing things that upset you and yet never be aware that he is causing you real concern and pain. Even if it is strictly your problem, he might take steps to help you.
 While we are all products of
our past to some extent, we need
not be prisoners of our past.
Next, take note of your activities. For example, are you being pressured to volunteer to do jobs which will only cause you anxiety? If so, try to make the necessary changes. It is not pleasing to the Lord to needlessly put yourself in harm's way. Many people who once suffered from anxiety have learned what to avoid, just as a person who cannot tolerate certain foods does not eat them. Modern life may also be bearing down on you to the extent that you need to simplify your lifestyle. There are numerous ways to reduce stress by living more simply. Take time for renewal and restoration.
If your marriage is unfulfilling, seek help from a Christian counselor. If a child is causing you undue worry, get counseling for him. If in-laws are creating pressure in your life, talk to your mate about making definite changes.
Look inside. Since most anxiety comes from longstanding inner conflicts, memories, habits and concerns, it is usually necessary to gain greater understanding as to the reasons for your anxiety. Sometimes talking to a caring friend is enough. But often we need a trained professional counselor to help us uncover the hidden sources of anxiety and learn to overcome them. Don't keep living with undue anxiety when there is help available.
Rework your childish thoughts. Once you have identified the causes of your fears, decide whether the threat you have so greatly feared is real. Often we have been afraid because we have been continuing to view things through a little child's eyes rather than through the eyes of an adult. The Bible says, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (I Corinthians 13:11). As adults we can put off childish thinking, including childish fears, and see things more realistically. Things are rarely as potentially catastrophic in an adult's eyes as they are in a young child's!
Take time each day to read a portion of God's Word. It may not supernaturally make your anxiety disappear, but if you let it penetrate your life, it can bring unbelievable comfort. God gives us this promise: "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone" (Psalm 91:11,12).
In summary, nervousness and anxiety have various causes. Some are physiological, some are spiritual, and some are emotional growing out of childhood experiences involving losing control.
While we are all products of our past to some extent, we need not be prisoners of our past. We don't have to go through life feeling nervous and anxiety ridden. We can turn to God, and we can also have the help of friends, family members, or professional counselors whom God has gifted in doing His will on earth!
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Dr. Clyde M. Narramore is the Founder of the Narramore Christian Foundation, was President for half-a-century, and is a well-known radio and conference speaker, and author.
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