Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.                                                                                                              

                                                                                                   Proverbs 12:25 

Today: Read Proverbs 12

Anyone who has dealt with anxiety knows the devastating effects that it can have on life. While the cause of anxiety can be physiological, it can also arise from faulty thinking. That is why it is so important for believers to understand and live in biblical truth. Today’s passage identifies the stinging effect that anxiety can have on our beings. But just as it can “weigh our hearts down”, the flip side is that a good word can “make us glad.” A biblical good word should serve to guard our lives against the debilitating effects of anxiety. Here are three biblical truths to speak into your life.

Good Word #1: Understanding Your Worth To God

You matter to God! If you’re a believer then no doubt you continue to enjoy the presence of God in your life. But if you have rejected the gospel, that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care about you. Rejecting the gospel is like a condemned man turning down a stay of execution. The refusal to be pardoned doesn’t take away the reality of the offer to pardon. Anxiety and fear often go hand in hand. Anxious people tend to fear while those who fear are usually anxious. Jesus tells us that we should not fear. Consider the following: 

Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

                                                                                                            Matthew 10:28-31 

This is the only place in the gospels that I am aware of in which Jesus instructs us to fear. Notice, however, that He uses that as a comparison between fearing mankind and fearing God, instructing us not to fear others rather to be reverently and respectfully fearful of God. But even this instruction to fear is sandwiched between two pronouncements of “do not fear.” God knows us intimately, a truth expressed in the reality that He “knows the very number of the hairs on our head.” God is providential over all that He has made and that includes our lives. As believers we need to remind ourselves of our importance to God and we need to share this same care and provision of salvation to those who have yet to experience this reality. Knowing our eternal worth acts to defeat anxiety in our lives. 

Good Word #2: Depending On God For Provision

Not only do we need to know our spiritual worth, we need to rely on God for provision in our lives. Consider the following: 

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

                                                                                                            Matthew 6:25, 32-33 

Along with Jesus’ pronouncement of “do not fear” is the equally important message to “not be worried about our lives.” This is where we see the life of a believer and that of a non-believer take very different turns. It is not that we don’t seek an education or work hard to make a living, but for the believer, we follow the calling of God in our lives, trusting that He will provide everything necessary for us to live an abundant life in Christ. The Gentiles (meaning those living by the world’s philosophy) eagerly seek material wealth. But Jesus reminds us that not only does God know what we need, He is more than willing to provide for our needs as we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Relying on God for provision acts to defeat anxiety in our lives. 

Good Word #3: Making Your Requests To God

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.                                                           

                                                                                                Philippians 4:6-7 

Christians should be living a life free from fear and free from anxiety. One of the amazing privileges we have is to approach God with our concerns and requests. If you have been a believer for any length of time, no doubt you have experienced God responding to your requests. Paul’s instruction is to “be anxious for nothing” rather we are to bring all of our hopes, dreams, and desires to God. Nothing is too big or too small. God observes everything, even the hidden things that no one else sees. And what do believers receive in exchange for praying? They receive peace. The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds, a powerful tool for defeating anxiety. This peace is beyond our comprehension, meaning that we will not even understand it, but it will be there nonetheless. Talking to God about everything brings peace of mind and acts to defeat anxiety in our lives. 

As believers, we are to live in gladness, not sadness. Anxiety is a natural part of life but when it begins to take over daily existence, it is time to explore the cause. When anxiety arises from faulty thinking or spiritual forgetfulness, born again believers can utilize the power of the Spirit of God to assist in battling against its crippling effects. It is my hope that you are living daily with eternity in mind and experiencing the gladness that comes from knowing Christ!