Anxiety: The Unseen Enemy

“’If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?’” Luke 12:26

This question that Jesus posed echoed in my mind as I pondered the topic of anxiety.

We have experienced another worldwide flood. Not a flood of water, but of anxiety. You can find it in almost every section of society. There is hardly a person who is untouched by it. I myself am not exempt from it, which is why I find myself writing about it today.

This verse in the Proverbs sums up the hidden state of mind of those who are controlled by it: “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression…” Proverbs 12:25 It explains why much of our world is depressed from one degree to another. It explains why at certain points in my life, I have plunged into depression too.

Have you struggled with this?

This morning, I decided to dig into scripture to see what God Himself says about anxiety. Maybe it will help someone out there. It certainly has helped me!

Here are just a few observations about anxiety:

1. Anxiety distracts us from Christ, His return, and eternity beyond.

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life (AKA anxiety), and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” Luke 21:34

 2. Anxiety is pointless and does not produce any results.

“’And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?’” Luke 12:25-26

 3.  Anxiety causes depression

“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression…” Proverbs 12:2

 4. Anxiety chokes out the word in our lives and makes us unable to bear fruit for God.

 “’Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares (Greek: anxiety) of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.’” Matthew 13:22

This last point is really important to understand. Just because we hear the Word or read it, doesn’t mean it’s able to bear fruit in our lives if we’re letting anxiety grow wild like thorny vines in our hearts. 

Martha and Mary, a picture of anxiety and rest

The bible has a very relatable story of two women who are a picture of anxiety and it’s stark opposite, rest. We find them in Luke 10:38-42. At the beginning of the story, we meet a very hospitable woman named Martha who invited Jesus into her home, but immediately got distracted with much serving while her sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet and listened attentively to Him, taking in every word He said.

Martha got fed up with her sister not helping her. Who knows, maybe she wanted to sit down and listen to Jesus too? But because of her distractions she became anxious and worried about many things, so much so that she rebuked Jesus for not making Mary help her.

Jesus put His finger on her problem: “Martha, Martha, you are worried (Greek: anxious) and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Verses 41-42)

Some of us know exactly what it’s like to be Martha, jealous of those who somehow make it through life with a smile on their face and joy in their hearts, while every responsibility carries us further from Jesus. 

Others have a deep inner anxiety that has the same effect, but looks different on the outside. Maybe our anxiety is over our body image, over our popularity or lack thereof, over friendships that don’t seem to be working, over lack of financial resources or a fear of lacking what we need, over what we are going to do next, over a game or TV series we are into… honestly, I could fill up the rest of this blog with things we get anxious about.

Each of us is unique with a unique set of things to be anxious about, but the point is not what we are anxious about, but who our anxiety is dragging us from.

Just like Martha, our anxiety keeps us from the feet of Jesus. We are not drinking in His words like Mary, but instead busying ourselves about trying to quell the anxiety. We are missing the whole point of life, that “one thing” that Jesus spoke of that Mary had chosen.

So here are some wrong responses to anxiety based on this story: (Verse 40)

1. Treat anxiety like a friend that needs to be comforted and appeased. “She approached Him, and said, ’Lord, do You not care…?.’”

2. Focus on it and complain. “…My sister has left me to serve alone….”

3. Demand that your needs be met. “…Therefore tell her to help me.”

So….what should a child of God do about it? If we leave it alone, it will grow up like a thorny vine and completely suffocate the Word of God in our lives.

There is better hope than that! We don't have to even keep anxiety near. Here are some practical ideas straight from the Word of God:

1. Treat it like an enemy to be destroyed. If a thorny vine is growing up in your garden and killing off your young plants, you have to uproot it if those plants are ever going to grow.

 “But we have renounced (Greek: disown, speak out, give up) the hidden things of shame…” (2 Cor. 4:2a)

Take a moment right now to speak aloud against anxiety to God. Admit to God anxiety is not a friend but an enemy. Ask Him to change the way you view it and to help you recognize it as an enemy to be destroyed every time it pops its ugly head into your life, and make the decision to humble yourself under God’s powerful, overcoming hand, and renounce and disown the hidden anxiety in your heart. You are more than a conqueror through Christ! (James 4:7; Romans 8:37)

2. Cry out to God for grace in time of need. Understand that in your own efforts, there is no victory. It has to come from Him, and we must boldly approach His throne and ask for it.

 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 

 3. Make a trade with your heavenly Father: Give Him your anxiety and receive His care.

 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7)

4. Turn anxiety into prayer, supplication and thanksgiving -and receive the peace of God.

 “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

5. Fill your mind with truth. Memorize scripture and use it as a sword every time anxiety attempts to come, like Jesus did in Matthew 4. Recognize that anxiety is your opportunity to learn to use that sword well and take joy in the fact that warriors are made in the battle!

 “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 

 “And take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Ephesians 6:17 

“…Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8

6.  Make God your hope and the only One you trust in.

“’Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.’” Jeremiah 17:7-8

 A good test to see if your hope and trust is in God is twofold: Is He the first Person you turn to for help, to talk to about struggles, for direction? Do you need to understand everything before you take His advice? (Proverbs 3:5-6)

7. Seek God’s Kingdom. Look for the ways He’s working in your life and in the lives of people around you. Put yourself at His disposal to use you in His Kingdom purposes. Keep your eyes on eternal things, and set your life’s course on living in light of eternity, not for the temporal.

 “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.” Luke 12:32 

“…We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18)

To sum it up, our response to anxiety could look like Martha –a frenzy of activity trying to cover over anxiety by doing more and more and more- or it could look like Mary, a rested, still heart, drinking in all of Christ and His word and treating anxiety like it has nothing to do with us, because it has nothing to do with Christ.