– By Lori Benka
I woke up grabbing my chest and wondering what was going on. The pain felt like it was squeezing my heart. Fear welled up within me and I quietly walked down the stairs careful not to wake up my husband and young son.
I was just at the doctor’s that very morning where I learned about a mass on my ovary that looked very suspicious. At the young age of 27, I couldn’t believe I was walking through such a frightening situation. Why do doctors always give you the worse case scenario?
As I lay awake that night with chest pain, all of the “what if” questions flooded my mind: “What if this is cancer? What if I die? What if I am never able to have children again? On and on the questions went. As the what if’s flooded my mind, the chest pain increased. Fear welled up within me and I felt short of breath and disassociated with time. With my heart racing, I now feared I was having a heart attack. I woke my husband and he took me to the ER where I learned I was having a vice-grip panic attack brought on from all of the fear and stress I was experiencing.
Unfortunately, this wouldn’t be the last panic attack I would ever experience.
What Is Anxiety?
According to MedlinePlus, Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, or uneasiness that can be a normal reaction to stress. Your body reacts to a threat whether it be real or imagined. It can be mild or severe, and everyone experiences it at some point in their life. However, anxiety can become a problem when it’s more constant and affects your daily life.
Some symptoms of anxiety are anxious thoughts and beliefs that are hard to control, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, shortness of breath, sweating, restlessness, and irritability. Other symptoms can be poor concentration or trouble sleeping.
Many things can cause us to become anxious. Everyday life has its own worries and struggles. But anxiety can also be caused by trauma in one’s life that has not been dealt with, or even an imbalance in the brain.
How Do Anxiety and Faith Affect Each Other
Anxiety and faith affect each other in many ways. Oftentimes, a person will battle guilt because they feel like they are sinning against God. We have to remember that anxiety is often an attack on our mind. Here is a list of ways anxiety and faith can affect each other:
- Anxiety can affect our view of God.
When we experience hardships and trials, our faith and trust in God becomes tested. If anxiety fills our hearts and minds, it is hard to focus on God and prayer because we are listening to the lies of satan which are causing us to fear, doubt and be anxious. 2 Corinthians 10:4 says: “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.”
When you feel anxiety and panic, you need to remember that God is not mad at you and He is still fighting for you even when you do not see His hand at work in your situation.
2. Anxiety can affect our view of church.
Well-meaning christians are good at judging those of us who are battling anxiety and panic. Like Job’s friends, they like to give there two-cents worth that isn’t biblically sound advice. More often than not, they will have you so berated that you don’t even want to go to church anymore because you feel like you are some kind of heathen and not a very good christian.
The opinions of others is not how God see’s you. The advice of well-meaning christians is not out of the mouth of God. He loves you and is wanting to help you through this debilitating battle you are walking through.
3. Anxiety can cause you to grow in your faith.
Feeling anxious is horrible but it can also cause us to get into the Word more and pray more. This in turn allows us to grow in our faith.
How Do We Battle Fear and Anxiety?
One way we can overcome fear and anxiety is by reading the Bible and meditating on His promises. This, in turn, will cause us to be able to renew our minds. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
We need to begin watching what goes into our minds. If you are afraid of sickness or disease, then you shouldn’t google a certain symptom you are feeling. That usually always tells you the worse case scenario. If current events have you anxious, then quit watching the news and get off social media.
Begin filling your mind with good things. Philippians 4:8 says: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Begin to challenge and replace those racing thoughts with something good. Take the fear by the root and plant a good thought in its place.
Think about the things that bring you joy. I know it is hard to find something good when your mind is racing and afraid, but if you can find even a sliver of light, joy will ignite in your heart.
Another way God helps us overcome anxiety is through prayer and thanksgiving. When we pray, we are communicating with Him and telling Him everything that is causing us fear and anxiety. We are casting our cares upon HIm. In return, He will fill us with peace and a sound mind. Oh sis, don’t you long for the sound mind only He can give?
Six Bible Verses to Defeat Anxiety
There are many Bible verses you can find that will help you defeat anxiety, but I’m going to give you a few to start with.
Psalm 3:3-6 “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.”
Psalm 16:1 “Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.”
Psalm 33:18-22 “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”
Psalm 34:7 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”
Psalm 91 “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “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.”
Conclusion
As I walked a road of anxiety and panic attacks, I often prayed that God would remove them from my life. I felt imprisoned by my wandering thoughts. I finally came to a place where I was tired of feeling like my life was being ruled by fear and anxiety. But to overcome this prison I found myself in, I had to take each thought captive and throw it at Jesus’ feet. Only then was His peace able to calm my anxious heart and mind.
God doesn’t look down on you because you are going through a battle with anxiety. He loves you so much and wants to help you walk through the fire and get to the other side. Isaiah 43:2 says: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.”
Whatever is causing you anxiety today, remember that God has given you every weapon you will ever need to defeat the enemy. You have victory in Christ Jesus and this anxiety you are feeling today, will be defeated.
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