Overcoming Anxiety

Anxiety is not something often talked about because I believe that it has become such a subtle attack that it’s become a norm for our lives. But just because many of us struggle with anxiety doesn’t mean that it’s right. The good news is that we don’t have to handle anxiety on our own; we have help!

Anxiety is a form of fear. It deals with worrying about what hasn’t happened yet. In other words, while condemnation can haunt of us past mistakes, anxiety can try to rob us of looking forward to the future. Not to mention, its hard to have joy in the present.

One thing I learned on how to conquer anxiety is to decree the Truth. Anxiety brings lies with it. It loves to make us worry about what hasn’t taken place. Anxiety causes us to ask the question, “what if?” What if I get rejected? What if I don’t get the job? What if they don’t like me? What if they’re not for me? Worry is negative meditation. If we give in to these questions instead of confronting them with the Truth, our thoughts become consumed with lies. Instead, start speaking the opposite of what’s tormenting your thought life. Say things like, “I am accepted by God and those He has sent to my life.” “God has my future in His hands.” “I don’t have to worry about my needs because He promised that He would supply them.” Remember that life and death are in the power of our tongues, and we will eat the fruit of what we speak (Proverbs 18:21).

Another way to conquer anxiety is to focus on the now. Remember, anxiety deals with worrying about the future. Some practical ways I learned how to focus on the now is to simply take deep breaths (anxiety loves to bring panic attacks which affect our breathing, causing shortness of breath and chest tightness). As you breathe, focus on a few things you can smell. Then focus on what you can see. Next, focus on what you can feel. What do you hear? All these things surround us in the moment, and when we pay more attention to what’s happening now, it removes the power of anxiety in that moment. I learned from an amazing therapist, “when we’re in an anxious state, we’re not in the now.”
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My prayer is that you know that because of Christ, you have power over anxiety. Christ died for us to be free from the spirit of bondage. I wanted to share some ways that I learned on how to overcome it, and I pray these ways help you.
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