Alright, let’s talk anxiety.

Picture this: it’s 2020. There’s a mysterious plague running rampant around the entire world and everyone’s scared. Of course, amid this chaos, I decide “yup, let’s get pregnant!”

Want to know something super fun? The symptoms for pregnancy are eerily similar to covid. I spent each and every day worried about getting sick, stressed that I already was, and anxious to be around anyone. I was SUPER fun to be around (I say sarcastically).

But, Jesus talks pretty specifically about anxiety in Matthew chapter six.

Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25 CSB)

Jesus is pretty explicit in His instructions here: don’t worry about trivial things. He goes on further in this chapter to explain why.

“Don’t worry about your life” seems pretty explicit to me. But luckily He tells us why later in the passage: But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:33-34 CSB)

If we seek God first and foremost, He will provide for us. We may not have an abundance that gives us a physical representation of provision, but we do have His promise that we will be taken care of. 

God is the King of keeping promises. He doesn’t let us down, and if He promises to provide, then we can trust in that. 

Now, this is specifically speaking to scarcity anxiety: the fear that ends won’t meet and we will have to do without. Whether that be in regards to food or money, it’s a valid fear when we look at it with worldly glasses. In the world, we are the only ones that are capable of providing for ourselves, but when we trust in God, we realize He already has a plan to work everything out for us, we just have to submit.

This doesn’t mean that we can just quit our jobs and wait for a paycheck from God to come in (although, man do I wish), instead it means that God will light our path so that we can follow His way and find abundance. Sometimes that looks like a new job opportunity opening up, sometimes it looks like a reimbursement check we weren’t expecting, and sometimes, it looks like medication to help manage our bodies response to anxiety. God will always provide.

For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 CSB)

Now this verse, I’ve heard a lot and I’m sure you have, too. It really is encouraging though, for two main reasons.

1- God said this. The Lord declared it! Not some dude claiming to know God’s thoughts, but He Himself. So, if He says that He has plans for us for our well-being, it means He does. If He says that He wants to give us a future and hope through these plans, it means He Does.

And number 2- These plans are not for disaster. That’s usually what anxiety stems from, right? That everything is going to go to heck in a handbasket, but God is promising the opposite. His plans will prevail. His plans will end in hope.

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. (John 14:27 CSB)

Here’s another example of promises. Jesus is telling His disciples that He is different from the world. The world gives anxiety. The world gives unrest. But, not Jesus; He gives peace. 

When we feel like life is too overwhelming, or we feel like fear has us in a headlock, Jesus has promised us peace!

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. (2 Timothy 1:7 CSB)

As born again christians, we have been given the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit doesn’t change based on who He is in, but remains exactly who He is regardless. Aka- just because we are prone to anxiety, doesn’t mean His peace and lack of fear isn’t available to us. We just have to ask Him for it.

How comforting that we are always with the Holy Spirit and He is always willing to take away our fear and anxiety and replace it with peace.

 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world. (John 16:33 CSB)

Again, another promise, but this one isn’t a fun promise. This one isn’t “we can get ice cream after the big bad dentist violently flosses your teeth.” It’s You Will Suffer. God isn’t going to protect us from that, especially if it can lead others to His Kingdom. This is a lesson I learned with my daughter: God loves us more than we could ever imagine, but that doesn’t mean He’ll spare us from everything.

But we do know that our God created and rules over all things. Our Savior has conquered sin and death! No matter how hard the situation is, or how unwelcome it is, we will never have to go through it alone. Instead we go through it with the one who has conquered the world!

Casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7 CSB)

And finally, my favorite. How often have you had someone in your life that you wish you could just fix everything for? I truly believe this is a communicable attribute with God. While we want to fix it, we usually find that we can’t, right?

But, God can.

He cares about us, and wants to hold the burden of the anxieties and fears that we have. Just like with the Holy Spirit mentioned above, He wants to walk alongside us through it all.

Anxiety is a horrible feeling in the moment and even for a while after, but God wants to be there with us through it. He wants to cleanse us of it, and give us peace. 

Prayer is always the first step amid anxiety, but maybe one of these verses will be something you can cling to as you find your footing during a moment of fear. I hope they serve you as reminders of how incredible our God is even in crazy situations!