Why Are Christians Not Overwhelmed by Anxiety?
Did you know that on average one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds across the globe? Close to 800,000 people die by suicide every year, and the number is even greater for attempted suicides. Suicide surrounds us, like invisible neighbors. Ultimately the source of suicide is depression and life’s endless worries.
The Gospel of Matthew says, “… Do not be anxious for your life, what you should eat or what you should drink; nor for your body, what you should put on …. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (6:25, 33). Anxiety arises because of people’s need for a living, career, and family.
The Bible’s thought is that since God created our life and our body, He will take care of the needs of our life and body.
God asks us to carefully observe and consider how the birds and the lilies are under His care, so that we can change our goal in life to the pursuit of the God who cares for us. Naturally, we would have no need to worry anymore.
1 Thessalonians also mentions, “Always rejoice, unceasingly pray, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (5:16-18). God’s life is a life of joy, satisfaction, rest, comfort, and enjoyment.
Anxiety is not part of the divine life, but the human life; just as barking is not part of the bird’s life, but the dog’s life. In contrast to the divine life, our human life is a life full of anxiety.
Anxiety is a foreign term to God, as there is no such thing as anxiety to God. On the contrary, our human life is composed of and constituted with anxiety. As long as you are alive, you are not immune to anxiety.
However, for those who have received God’s life, joy has replaced their anxiety and has even become a characteristic of a believer. Therefore, Christians cannot be overwhelmed by anxiety because we have God’s life!
Then what do we do when anxiety strikes? The Bible says to cast “all your anxiety on Him because it matters to Him concerning you” (1 Pet. 5:7). Praise the Lord! Because we matter to Him, He is willing to allow us to cast all our anxieties on Him.
Therefore, dear friends, if you just open your mouth and call, “Oh, Lord Jesus! Oh, Lord Jesus!” — like taking a deep breath, we can breathe out our anxiety and stress from within, and breathe in the peace and joy that comes from God.