Anxiety Is Real!

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

These are anxious days – months – year or even an entire decade. The elections for 2024 are a coming – strap yourself down and enjoy the ride! There is a deep split in our denomination with members – churches and even conferences leaving the UMC as fast as they can or are allowed. Schools are on summer break – but – there still seems to be some issues from the pandemic and some liberal lessons are taking front and center stage. I could name some more things – but you get the point – we are in anxious times.

Anxiety is tough to face. Anxiety is defined online as – a feeling of worry – nervousness – or unease – typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Anxiety can overwhelm us. It can cause disorders – and emotional and medical issues. It can immobilize us and take us down if we allow it to do so.

Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways. WebMD defines anxiety this way: Everyone feels anxious now and then. It’s a normal emotion. For example – you may feel nervous when faced with a problem at work – before taking a test – or before making an important decision. Anxiety disorders are different – though. They are a group of mental illnesses – and the distress they cause can keep you from carrying on with your life normally. For people who have one – worry and fear are constant and overwhelming – and can be disabling. But with treatment – many people can manage those feelings and get back to a fulfilling life.

We Are in Anxious Times

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

These are anxious days – months and even an entire year or more. The elections that are still being questioned – the split in our denomination that is still in question – the pandemic that still has no solution (although some seem to be on the verge of being released) – school is still virtual for most Americans – Thanksgiving and even Christmas will not be the same – and people are still dying and having surgeries alone. I could name some more things – but you get the point – we are in anxious times.

Anxiety is tough to face. Anxiety is defined online as – a feeling of worry – nervousness – or unease – typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Anxiety can overwhelm us. It can cause disorders – and emotional and medical issues. It can immobilize us and take us down if we allow it to do so.

Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways. WebMD defines anxiety this way: Everyone feels anxious now and then. It’s a normal emotion. For example – you may feel nervous when faced with a problem at work – before taking a test – or before making an important decision. Anxiety disorders are different – though. They are a group of mental illnesses – and the distress they cause can keep you from carrying on with your life normally. For people who have one – worry and fear are constant and overwhelming – and can be disabling. But with treatment – many people can manage those feelings and get back to a fulfilling life.

Anxiety and Depression

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I know a number of people that battle anxiety and depression. I was reading this passage the other day – and even talked recently to some folks about their anxiety and depression. What are we anxious or depressed about in life? What is it that causes us to have trouble sleeping at night? What do we think about and can’t seem to stop thinking about – moment by moment? What decisions in our lives have caused us the most anxiety or depression?

As I reflect back on my life – I can think of numerous things that caused me anxious or depression moments. I can remember being anxious when I went out for the High School football team and cuts were being posted (I made the team each year by the way)! I can remember being anxious when I asked my future bride to marry me and wondering if she would say yes or no (she said yes – and we will celebrate 40 years of marriage this summer if we hang in there). I remember being anxious when my children were being born – the first because she was the first (she is 37 now) – the twins because they were twins (they are soon to be 32). I can remember times when I was anxious about my job – about my health – about many things. And on this side of those anxious moments – I can testify that being anxious didn’t help the situations one little bit. As a matter of fact – being anxious made some of them more difficult and didn’t help my health any at all.

We Should Give Our Anxiety To Jesus

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Anxiety is tough to face. Anxiety is defined online as – a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Anxiety can overwhelm us. It can cause disorders and medical issues. It can immobilize us and take us down if we allow it to do so.

Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways. WebMD defines anxiety this way: Everyone feels anxious now and then. It’s a normal emotion. For example, you may feel nervous when faced with a problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. Anxiety disorders are different, though. They are a group of mental illnesses, and the distress they cause can keep you from carrying on with your life normally. For people who have one, worry and fear are constant and overwhelming, and can be disabling. But with treatment, many people can manage those feelings and get back to a fulfilling life.

WebMD lists these among the anxiety disorders – panic disorders – social anxiety disorders – specific phobias – and generalized disorders. Each – if not treated – can be disabling. Some – who battle an anxiety disorder – are unable to function in society. Some need medication. Some need psychotherapy. Some may need both. But the passage today suggests another treatment for anxiety. We’re called to give our anxiety to Jesus.

Anxiety

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I know a number of people that battle anxiety. I was reading this passage the other day – and even talked recently to some folks about their anxiety. What are we anxious about in life? What is it that causes us to have trouble sleeping at night? What do we think about and can’t seem to stop thinking about – moment by moment? What decisions in our lives have caused us the most anxiety?

As I reflect back on my life – I can think of numerous things that caused me anxious moments. I can remember being anxious when I went out for the High School football team and cuts were being posted (I made the team each year by the way)! I can remember being anxious when I asked my future bride to marry me and wondering if she would say yes or no (she said yes – and we just celebrated 39 years of marriage). I remember being anxious when my children were being born – the first because she was the first (she is 36 now) – the twins because they were twins (they are now 31). I can remember times when I was anxious about my job – about my health – about many things. And on this side of those anxious moments – I can testify that being anxious didn’t help the situations one little bit. As a matter of fact – being anxious made some of them more difficult and didn’t help my health any at all.