Did you know during the pandemic, statistics say that anxiety and depression rose by sixty five percent? Sixty five! That’s insane! I see memes and jokes about social anxiety much more now in a post covid world. It began to normalize being anti-social – which by the way, we were not created to be without social interaction. I don’t need to remind anyone that we were stuck inside without an inkling as to when we could gather again. Understandably, that caused some anxiety!
For some, anxiety has always been looming. Maybe you have always struggled with it. Being social, or even going in public may fan the flames of panic for you. Or maybe for others like me, never struggled with anxiety until a specific life event took place. I can’t say that I struggled much with consistent anxiety until postpartum hit. I always had friends who deeply struggled with it all throughout my life and I empathized with them, but I never fully understood it until after having a baby.
Maybe you have tried medication, therapy, meditating, exercising – you name it. None if it has sent anxiety packing for you. Those things have a place. They can have a place in tandem with Jesus, too. Or, maybe you don’t want to touch the world of psychotropic medication for anxiety with a ten foot pole. Either way, God has promises we can 100% lean on that have the power to make anxiety cease. I can attest to that truth because I have lived it and fought for myself with the tools that God has given me!

First, I’ve learned, the opposite of anxiety is praise! This i’ve found to be the biggest shutdown to anxiety. In the middle of your panic, turn on worship and if you can, sing! There is power in what comes out of your mouth with what you verbalize! If you’re around people, this may be more difficult. I often worship Him by recollecting His faithfulness to me. Thanking Him for how much He has blessed me with, what He’s delivered me from and simply how dang good He is! Sometimes that isn’t enough, though. Sometimes we need Gods concrete word along with praise to put a quick stop to the enemies attack. It’s important to understand that most anxiety isn’t from God. He doesn’t create fear in us. God is peace. If we’re focused on Him rather than the things of this earth, He’ll keep us in ‘perfect peace’!
Isaiah 26:3: You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Did you catch the end though? Trust. God is seeking our fully surrendered trust. In order to trust Him, we have to have faith. We have to believe and unabashedly trust that He holds us in every moment. I believe His promises when a cloud of anxiety hits me, I trust and believe that Gods promises and His word are true. He has never ever abandoned me in my time of need.
Here are some truths to declare out loud if you can, or just in your head if you can’t in the moment along with some prompts to remember them:
He lifts me up above all anxiety:
Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will lift you up with my righteous right hand”.
I have authority in Jesus over anxiety:
Luke 10:19
“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you”.
He keeps me safe and I can sleep in peace:
Psalm 4:8
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety”.
He sustains me:
Psalm 55:22
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you…”.
He delivers me when I call out to Him:
Psalm 72:12
“For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help”.
Fear has no place with Jesus:
Psalms 27: 1-2
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
With Jesus, anxiety is temporary:
James 4:7
“Resist the devil and he will flee from you”.
He is with me:
Deuteronomy 31:8
“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you”.
These promises are powerful when put into action and partnered with trust in God!
The last thing to pull yourself out of anxiety, is to pray for someone else. It takes you out of your own head, and focuses on others. And it’s beneficial at the same time! God tells us to do this, and in turn, He guards us with peace: Philippians 4:6
“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”.
Do you have anything that helps you through moments of anxiety? I’d love to hear!
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