Stress, Worry and Anxiety

So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. 

Today’s trouble is enough for today.   (Mt. 6:34)

I thought of this verse recently as I was lying awake thinking about Advent and Christmas.  It didn’t seem to matter how many times I told myself that all of the things that we worry about now will be insignificant in the end.  Sometimes the brain seems to have a mind of its own and doesn’t want to listen to reason.

Our bodies, as it turns out, are hard-wired to respond to stress with the “fight, flight or freeze” shot of adrenaline.  This might be useful when being chased by a saber-toothed tiger, but it causes all sorts of issues when a physical response is not what is required.  In fact, sometimes it shows up as anxiety with no discernable cause.

In an online workshop about dealing with stress and anxiety, two basic questions were presented that all human beings ask from a very young age.  These questions are, “Am I safe?” and “Am I loved?”.  When the answer is “no” to either one or both of these questions, a good deal of stress and anxiety results.

During the pandemic, many people have not felt particularly safe.  When these same people also feel unloved and alone, things like stress and anxiety and depression enter the picture.  It is no wonder that we have been hearing more about the need for mental health supports over the past number of months.

As Christians, however, one would also think that our faith would help.  There is the well-known passage in Philippians that talks about bringing everything to God in prayer with thanksgiving.  “And the peace of God, which  surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”  (Phil. 4:7).

This is, indeed, true – that is, when we can get our minds and bodies to cooperate!  Sometimes it takes a long time, breathing deeply, sitting in the presence of God, before we are able to leave it all in God’s hands.  Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of how deeply God loves us – especially if we are feeling unloved.  Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that God has power over all things – including our lives and our health and all that threatens us.

Christians are certainly not immune to stress and anxiety.  However, we do have many more resources at our disposal than those who do not have any faith.  For one thing, we have seen in Jesus how much God loves us, and the lengths to which God was willing to go in order to give us salvation.  We also have the living Christ, who not only effected eternal life for us, but also walks with us now in every situation.

It does make a difference when we know that we are in God’s hands and are truly able to pray, your will be done.  Our bodies and minds, however, sometimes need to learn how to rest in God’s love.  And now, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13).

In Christ,

Pastor Lynne Hutchison