How do you deal with anxiety? This can be a serious stronghold for some of us, myself included. Our anxiety can be triggered in various ways and can be a burden in so many (if not all) areas of our lives. When we are experiencing anxiety, most of the time it can be hard to share this with our spouse, family members and friends. When you’re having “one of those days” it can be difficult to find the words to express exactly why you’re feeling anxious.
My anxiety has been a lifelong battle. I’m still not sure exactly when it first started but I can say I did not realize that this was what I was experiencing until I became an adult. What I know now is at certain points in my life it seemed manageable. Short seasons in my life where I felt uneasy, restless and tense. Other times it would be so overwhelming it would feel as if I would never come out of the “funk” that I was in and return to my normal self. This was my truth that I was unable to put into words that could be understood. Outside of my anxiety, I was (and still am) a very vibrant person, who loves to have a great time and cares deeply about the well-being of my family and friends.
Many days, because of my anxiety, inside I felt broken and weak. I felt this way and I had no idea how to handle it. I felt this way and brought it into my adulthood, into my marriage and into becoming a mother. That is a lot of weight for one person to carry around on their own. Can you relate to this?
If you have experienced anxiety, you can relate to it getting in the way of the amazing person you really are, being disabled by it because all you can think of is what you are worried about at that moment. Being socially awkward, tired, nervous, sweaty, and a host of other things. This is the hard truth about anxiety and how deeply it can affect our day to day lives.
So how can we change this habit? I can only share with you what I have done and I do feel this is the best thing anyone can do who is fighting a battle with a stronghold of any kind.
**Make a commitment to turn this battle over to Jesus Christ!**
A couple years into my motherhood journey, I made the conscious decision to finally give my uncontrollable anxieties and worries to Jesus. I did not want these things weighing on me any longer. Did I fail in this area sometimes? Yes (still do), but God’s saving grace in sufficient enough for me and you!
Alongside, reading my bible and prayer, I learned how to affirm God’s Word over my life, particularly in this area because it was the hardest struggle for me at that point in my life. I began to realize that speaking God’s truth over myself (even on my hardest days when I felt most anxious) was powerful. By doing this, it humbled my spirit. It assured me that, not I, but only God could fix this brokenness.
Just a few short years ago, when I made a commitment to having an intimate relationship with God, I clung to (and still cling to) this scripture.
God tells us in Philippians that there is no need for us to be anxious or worry but by our prayers and petitions with thanksgiving, we are to let our requests be made known to Him. And He will give us His peace and guard our hearts and our minds through Christ Jesus.
I would like to share with you 10 biblical affirmations you can speak over yourself when feelings of anxiety and worry arise. Remember you can say these as many times as you need to. God’s Word is very powerful and has an amazing ability to heal our hearts and minds from the enemies’ attacks.
10 Biblical Affirmations for Worry & Anxiety
1) In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. -Psalms 94:19 (NKJV)
2) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid -John 14:27 (NKJV)
3) Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. -Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV)
4) Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. -Psalms 139: 23-24 (NKJV)
5) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to the God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
6) I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. -Psalms 34:4 (NKJV)
7) Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. -Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
8) I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. -Psalms 139:14 (NKJV)
9) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. -II Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
10) Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. -Psalms 143:11 (NKJV)
God understands that we will feel anxious, worried or fearful sometimes. However, He does not mean for us to sit in it. This is why He gives us encouragement and direction through scripture. I also feel that this is why we should look at these feelings as warning signs to go to Him and lay our burdens down because He is the only one who can give our spirit the healing it needs. Anxiety and worry will always be present, but the way we respond to it will lessen the time we let it take up in our lives. God has equipped us with what we need to overcome what the enemy is using to steal our joy.
My hope for you today is that you are able to make a commitment to come to God with your worries and anxieties, even on your roughest days and that when you speak His precious Word over your life, you are able to feel His peace come over you. I pray that you will stay consistent and make this a habit that will, in the short-term, come naturally to you.
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I love this post! I have also struggled with anxiety a lot over the years. This post reminds us that God is a God of peace, and He wants us to rest in Him to receive the peace of the spirit. I love the part where you say “God understands that we will feel anxious, worried or fearful sometimes. However, He does not mean for us to sit in it.” He does not want us to sit in this. He is the answer. Thanks for this post. A great reminder to lay all our burdens down before Christ.
Hi Christina, I would love to have God’s peace in my spirit all the time. I know many of us would. Experiencing anxiety can be so tough, mentally and emotionally draining. But I am so grateful that we have His wonderful Word to speak over our lives during those times to get that peace back when the enemy tries to take it from us. Prayers for the anxiety you experience as well. Thank you so much for your comment!
Thank you Frances! I too have had a lifelong battle with anxiety. After a childhood of abuse and spending my teen years in foster care in Los Angeles county, I developed extreme anxieties and social anxieties. Like you there have been times when they were less severe then others. I take one day at a time, dig into God’s Word and live a life of prayer. I have loved these verses. They have been such an encouragement for me! I now pray over my 25 year old daughter who is deployed to the Middle East. Tensions with Iran have eased in the last few months, but when she tells me they have “bunker runs” to see how fast they can run to the bunkers in case of a missle attack it makes it pretty real. There is danger there. Thank you for sharing your heart!
Patti I deeply admire your strength reading all that you have been through. Anxiety is a tough battle to fight but I am so grateful that you rely on God for His strength, guidance and healing power. I am also grateful to be able to play a small part in helping to encourage you. Many prayers for the Lord’s protection to cover your daughter during her time overseas and for you to continue to have faith that He will bring her home safely. Thank you so much for sharing your story. <3
I love this! Thank you for these amazing reminders! I am naturally a very anxious person but saying these daily will definitely remind me to not worry and let God be in control!
I truly enjoyed writing this not only because I too have dealt with worry and anxiety most of my life but I also felt that there are other people that could benefit from reading this too. I am so glad to hear this will help you!