Can A Christian Struggle with Anxiety?
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Of course! Christians are humans who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But they are still humans. The struggle with the hardships of the world are real. On top of that there are biological, chemical and neurological factors that contribute to anxiety. Trauma is also a factor. Traumatic experiences tend to increase a propensity towards anxiety. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) We are guaranteed to have trouble. So anxiety often comes with that. The advantage that Christians have in coping with anxiety is that Jesus has overcome all of that trouble. So we can have encouragement and hope that this is just our right now, not our forever.
So what causes anxiety?
Trying to control situations, people, factors that are outside our control.
Reinforced negative thought process. This is also negative neurological rewiring.
A negative experience we fear will be repeated.
Anticipating the worst outcome that could happen.
Past trauma (big T trauma - life or death situations) This is a re-experiencing of a traumatic situation that the body holds.
Physiological responses to triggers or situations.
Irrational thoughts.
Christians and those who do not have a faith all struggle with these factors. We all have negative thoughts. We all struggle with trying to control things outside our control. We also have a biological chemistry we inherited from mom and dad that can increase or decrease our propensity to anxiety. We also have personalities. On the Enneagram scale, personalities 6 and 4 tend to lean toward anxiety more than the other personalities. (1) Personalities are just the lens we tend to see the world through. Some lenses may have more of a bent toward feeling and thinking in a more anxious way.
Anxiety also can come from experiences. When I was 5 years old I almost stepped on a snake walking in the woods. That experience was extremely anxiety producing. Forty-five years later I am still not a huge fan of snakes. I have learned to tolerate my anxiety so that I could go into snake houses with my son when he was growing up. But I would never have a snake as a pet. Some experiences are more traumatic and therefore more anxiety producing.
Some families are also better at helping kids with anxious thoughts and feelings than other families. Some families teach anxiety. Some families teach resilience. What we learn growing up really does affect our anxiety and how we cope with anxious thoughts. Christians grow up in all kinds of different families that shape these thought processes and practices. We also sometimes pass on our fears and anxieties through family lines. Allowing children to take calculated risks and tolerate fears is an important part of growing up. In our current generation, we have become so fearful of getting hurt or someone we love getting hurt, we don’t take those calculated risks as much as previous generations. This has increased our anxiety.
Some anxiety is physiological. Jesus, who was the most mentally healthy person to walk the planet experienced the worst possible anxiety. Luke 22:39-46, when Jesus was praying in the Garden knowing he was about to suffer and die experienced extreme anxiety. His anxiety was so extreme he was sweating blood. This is a medical condition called hematohidrosis. Web MD states that hematohidrosis is “Sometimes it seems to be caused by extreme distress or fear, such as facing death, torture, or severe ongoing abuse. It's probably where the term "sweating blood," meaning a great effort, comes from.” (2) Jesus was under such duress knowing he was about to suffer and die. He was sweating blood. That is an extreme anxiety. Yet, he never sinned, he was mentally healthy, under extreme anxiety.
There are other examples of anxiety. The woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. Her anxiety led her to just touch the hem of Jesus' coat for her healing. Peter walking on water faltered because of his fear. Martha doing her dinner plans and feeling overwhelmed. All of the disciples after Jesus died. Moses about going to talk to Pharoah. Joseph and his brothers in multiple interactions. Abraham lying about Sarah being his wife was his anxiety. There is a lot of anxiety in the Bible.
The truth is anxiety is a part of life. When we care about the people and situations in our life, we can become anxious. Just like Martha throwing a dinner party became anxious because she wanted it to be just right for Jesus. But the truth is what God wants from us the most is to be in his presence. To soak in his love and truth, to sit at his feet. The more we draw into his presence, the more we feel his rest and peace.
28. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Comments