Meanwhile, I thought I'd share a few things I wrote this Spring semester. Forgive the formality and distant voice at times, this (and the following post) were originally written for more academic settings.
#1 - Reflections on Anxiety - Excerpts from a paper written March 1, 2011.
. . . The Bible contains the Words of a God who very much knows and understands our stresses and anxieties. He knows that we are finite; “for he himself knows our frame; he is mindful that we are but dust” (Ps. 103:14), and he cares for us deeply. He is sovereign over all creation and the details of our lives do not escape his notice. The psalmist reminds us of God’s loving care towards us in the midst of disquieting and distressing situations with the words he writes to the Lord: “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your consolations delight my soul” (Ps. 94:19). Not all anxious thoughts are the same, however. The Scriptures distinguish between two kinds of anxiety, one is a healthy concern and the other is a detrimental fret or worry.
Anxiety that presents itself “in the form of realistic concern is neither condemned nor forbidden” in the Bible.[2] Paul wrote to the Corinthians that he has “concern for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28), and in his letter to the Philippian church he wrote that Timothy was the only one of “kindred spirit” who would “genuinely be concerned for your welfare” (2:20). In the Old Testament King Darius expressed serious concern for the welfare of Daniel, to the extent that spent a sleepless night fasting while Daniel remained in the lion’s den (Dan. 6:18-20). This kind of healthy concern corresponds to being on the alert, motivated, or eagerly anticipating a certain event.[3] It is important to note that since the Bible does not denounce or rebuke this kind of anxiety, we must allow for encountering or experiencing a natural, healthy concern in our personal ministry and with our counselees. This means that we should not view all anxiety as innately bad, nor should we encourage others to have a totally negative view of all anxiety. Anxiety must be acknowledged as a real and present concern, and then honestly evaluated in light of God’s Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
When anxiety becomes a fret or immobilizing worry it can be symptomatic of a lack of trust in our Heavenly Father, and the Bible clearly teaches against allowing such anxiety to preoccupy our minds. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches us not to worry about basic needs such as food or clothing, or about the future because “your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matt. 6:32). The Psalmist also tells us straightforwardly: “Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing” (Ps. 37:8). How do we know when a healthy concern has grown into an unhealthy anxiety? It is all about where our trust and security is functionally placed. Collins explains it this way:
Anxiety as fret and worry comes when we turn from God, shift the burdens of life on to ourselves, and show by our attitudes and actions that we alone are taking responsibility for handling problems. Instead of acknowledging God’s sovereignty and power, or determining to live for him and make his kingdom our primary concern, many of us – both counselors and counselees – slip into sinful self-reliance and preoccupation with our own life pressures.[4]
Of course it is difficult not to worry, and none of us should be brash enough to say that we perfectly trust God in everything so that nary a fretful thought enters our minds. However, this should not discourage us from applying the wisdom of biblical counsel to combat the anxiety and temptation to worry that threatens to undo us at times.
God repeatedly and emphatically tells us not to fear, but the command to not fear is not a command that we are to adhere to simply for the sake of morality or because God ‘said so’. Rather, like all of God’s commands, it finds its basis in who God is and how he sees you and I. “Do not fear, for I am with you,” God says through the prophet Isaiah, “Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Is 41:10). From this passage and others like it, we learn that we do not have to be worried or fearful because God is strong and he is with us and for us, working out things for good and for his glory. “Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows,” says Jesus (Matt 10:31); again we see that we have the freedom not to give in to paralyzing anxiety because we are precious in the sight of the God who cares for all creation.
Now that we know we have the freedom not to be anxious, Peter gives us a helpful “how to” strategy for walking in that freedom. First, we are to be humble (we are not God, and cannot do it all, nor do we have his sovereign perspective), and second we are to cast all our anxiety on him, because he cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7). Notice once again the reason that we can trust God with all our anxieties is because of who he is. The worries that threaten to crush us can be lifted off our shoulders and given over to a loving Father who is infinitely bigger than we are. Another powerful strategy for overcoming anxiety is that of authentic prayer and thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6). It is hard to be simultaneously grateful and anxious, the act of offering thanksgiving to God reminds us of all he is and all he has done for us. Thanksgiving is an antidote to worry because it helps us put things back into their rightful perspective. . .
. . . We must point others (and ourselves) back to the Scriptures again and again, not so that we can read the words “do not worry” and walk away, but so that we can awaken to the reality that there is no need for worry. Anxiety stands no chance when it comes nose to nose with the reality of an omniscient, loving, and sovereign God.
When anxiety becomes a fret or immobilizing worry it can be symptomatic of a lack of trust in our Heavenly Father, and the Bible clearly teaches against allowing such anxiety to preoccupy our minds. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches us not to worry about basic needs such as food or clothing, or about the future because “your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matt. 6:32). The Psalmist also tells us straightforwardly: “Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing” (Ps. 37:8). How do we know when a healthy concern has grown into an unhealthy anxiety? It is all about where our trust and security is functionally placed. Collins explains it this way:
Anxiety as fret and worry comes when we turn from God, shift the burdens of life on to ourselves, and show by our attitudes and actions that we alone are taking responsibility for handling problems. Instead of acknowledging God’s sovereignty and power, or determining to live for him and make his kingdom our primary concern, many of us – both counselors and counselees – slip into sinful self-reliance and preoccupation with our own life pressures.[4]
Of course it is difficult not to worry, and none of us should be brash enough to say that we perfectly trust God in everything so that nary a fretful thought enters our minds. However, this should not discourage us from applying the wisdom of biblical counsel to combat the anxiety and temptation to worry that threatens to undo us at times.
God repeatedly and emphatically tells us not to fear, but the command to not fear is not a command that we are to adhere to simply for the sake of morality or because God ‘said so’. Rather, like all of God’s commands, it finds its basis in who God is and how he sees you and I. “Do not fear, for I am with you,” God says through the prophet Isaiah, “Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Is 41:10). From this passage and others like it, we learn that we do not have to be worried or fearful because God is strong and he is with us and for us, working out things for good and for his glory. “Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows,” says Jesus (Matt 10:31); again we see that we have the freedom not to give in to paralyzing anxiety because we are precious in the sight of the God who cares for all creation.
Now that we know we have the freedom not to be anxious, Peter gives us a helpful “how to” strategy for walking in that freedom. First, we are to be humble (we are not God, and cannot do it all, nor do we have his sovereign perspective), and second we are to cast all our anxiety on him, because he cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7). Notice once again the reason that we can trust God with all our anxieties is because of who he is. The worries that threaten to crush us can be lifted off our shoulders and given over to a loving Father who is infinitely bigger than we are. Another powerful strategy for overcoming anxiety is that of authentic prayer and thanksgiving (Phil. 4:6). It is hard to be simultaneously grateful and anxious, the act of offering thanksgiving to God reminds us of all he is and all he has done for us. Thanksgiving is an antidote to worry because it helps us put things back into their rightful perspective. . .
. . . We must point others (and ourselves) back to the Scriptures again and again, not so that we can read the words “do not worry” and walk away, but so that we can awaken to the reality that there is no need for worry. Anxiety stands no chance when it comes nose to nose with the reality of an omniscient, loving, and sovereign God.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?
Psalm 27:1
[2] Collins, Christian Counseling, 142.
[3] Dr. Justin Smith, “Depression & Anxiety”; Lecture notes in Principles for Biblical Counseling, Phoenix Seminary, Spring 2011.
[4] Collins, Christian Counseling, 142.
Excellent and surprisingly complete post!
ReplyDeleteQuestion:
"Instead of...[making] his kingdom our primary concern"
I don't know what "his kingdom" is. Understandably, this is outside the scope of the post, but does Collins have a particular definition for "kingdom"? Does it mean Planet Earth, heaven, or relationships with people? Does it mean "simply not running away from the world you are placed in?"