POST 16: Faith and Anxiety
POST 16
Faith and Anxiety
Janelle is an eleventh grader who has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. She first began struggling with anxiety in middle school:
I didn’t know it was anxiety at the time. I was always sick, but I would pretend I was fine, like there was nothing wrong. My therapist now says it was a coping skill. I wouldn’t let myself eat if I was anxious. I would tell my mom that I had already eaten so she wouldn’t be worried. Or I would tell her that I had friends I would hang out with, because I didn’t want her to be worried that I wasn’t making friends. I would hide in the bathroom to cry several times a day, and sometimes have panic attacks.
Now Janelle goes to therapy and takes medication to help. While Janelle openly discusses her ongoing journey with mental health and the fears she must battle in her mind, she also loves reading and working with kids. She excels at school and has a good home support system. There’s more to her than just anxiety.
Not every teen has a diagnosable disorder, but almost every teen feels stressed regularly. When that stress begins to creep in, how do you respond? What role does faith play in the anxiety that often looms over your days?
Sometimes we feel anxiety when our perspective is skewed. We begin to feel overwhelmed by life, and we worry how we will get through it all. And rightfully so! Life is absolutely overwhelming at times. When our schedules get packed, when circumstances outside our control occur, when deadlines and tests approach—these can all be anxiety-inducing.
Peace Is a Person
But what if we took a different angle?
We know that life is full of trials—unexpected twists and turns. We know there is so much that is out of our hands. We know our weaknesses and that we are ill-equipped for some of the curveballs life throws at us.
But we also know this: we serve a big God who is with us at every mountaintop and in every valley.
Throughout life, we will face circumstances that could cause stress or anxiety, but God assures us that peace can be ours. Peace isn’t about being surrounded by calm conditions; peace is a person, and his name is Jesus. We can place our trust in him.
Does this mean we don’t need therapy or medication or other support at times to help us manage anxiety? Absolutely not. These are good tools that are available to us. Just like other organs, the brain is an organ that sometimes needs medicine. There is no shame in getting help. Therapy and medication can put us on the path to healing. But while we walk through adversity, God will also grow and develop our faith.
We are marked not primarily by stress and anxiety but by faith in the God who gives us peace.
READING GOD’S WORD
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4–7 NIV)
Whenever I’m afraid,
I put my trust in you. (Psalm 56:3)
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Journaling Questions
When have you struggled with anxiety? What did it feel like?
When you begin to struggle with anxiety, what can you do to face those feelings and move past them?
How might knowing that Jesus brings you peace change the way you respond to or deal with stress and anxiety in your life?
Pray This Prayer
God, fear and anxiety are part of life, but they don’t have to define me. In Christ, I have peace that transcends fear. I place my trust in you to walk me through every storm of life. I am glad you are always with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
SOMETHING TO TRY
When you begin to feel anxious, an immediate and simple action you can take is to perform some breathing exercises.
Let’s try a breathing exercise right now.
Take note of how you feel once you complete the breathing exercise. Next time you start to feel anxious, remember these steps.
THE TAKEAWAY
When anxiety creeps in, we can respond with faith because the God of peace is with us in every trial.