Episode 30: Tackling Fear Part 2 - Addressing Anxiety
Welcome to Going in Grace, a podcast where we go beyond simply understanding God's word. We explore how to live it out daily, making a meaningful impact in our lives and the lives of those around us. Let's tune in to this week's episode.
Dr. Brandi Stover:Welcome back to our series entitled Tackling Fear. Last week, we defined fear in the spirit of fear. Today, let's address anxiety fear's persistent, restless cousin and discover God's way for peace. Let's define the difference between anxiety and fear. Fear is a reaction to a real and specific threat.
Dr. Brandi Stover:If you are crossing a path and see a bear, what you feel naturally is fear. There is an actual bear in your line of sight, and bears are not known for being friendly. Anxiety, on the other hand, is a response to perceived threats and what could happen. Anxiety is future focused worry. For example, using the same bear scenario, anxiety asks, What if there's a bear outside the next time I take a walk?
Dr. Brandi Stover:It will then cause rumination or worry as you ponder all the scenarios that you might face if you are ever approached by a bear. Scripture uses two Greek words to describe fear and anxiety. Phobos is the Greek word for fear, and merimnao is the Greek word for anxiety or worry. So we see that fear and anxiety are not the same, but as I like to say, they are related, hence why I call them cousins. Paul warns us in Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Dr. Brandi Stover:And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. I love this verse and use it often because as I testified in part one of this series, I have also had to address anxiety over the years. This verse is medicine to my soul, and it reminds me of what to do when I face a challenge. First, I have to reject future focused worry. I have to talk to God about it with gratitude in my heart, knowing that He cares about me and He is listening to me.
Dr. Brandi Stover:As I do, God's peace will envelope me and will shield my heart and my mind from all my worries. Communicating with God and not going inside myself to think and rethink and think about it again is key to overcoming anxiety. Anxiety is ultimately a trap. It steals our joy. Proverbs 12:25 says, Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.
Dr. Brandi Stover:When we allow ourselves to go inward, instead of casting our cares upon God and making our requests made known to Him, we open a door for depression. Anxiety also clouds discernment. Matthew 6:34 says, Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. We can become so focused on the potential issues of the future that we miss the opportunities of today all because our vision is clouded.
Dr. Brandi Stover:Anxiety also isolates us from community and prayer. There is something about embracing all the possible bad scenarios in life that will leave us crippled and frozen. We must decide instead to trust God and allow Him to keep us moving forward even if our knees are knocking from time to time in the process. The way that we battle and win over anxiety is with the Word of God. We use Philippians 4:5 to remember to pray and be thankful.
Dr. Brandi Stover:We turn every worry into a prayer. When we bring the concern back up, it is not with begging like God did not hear us the first time. It is with gratitude knowing that He has heard us and that He is working it out. Listing our blessings as we pray can be incredibly encouraging because it will help us to keep things in proper perspective. Anxiety can make us feel that the entire sky is falling.
Dr. Brandi Stover:Counting our blessings, on the other hand, helps us see God's hand at work in our lives, despite our challenges. First Peter 5:7 tells us, Casting all your care upon him, for He cares for you. To cast means to throw something. Throw those worries right on God. He is big enough to handle it.
Dr. Brandi Stover:We, on the other hand, are not. Once we give our cares to Jesus, we have to remember to leave them in His capable hands. Romans twelve:two encourages us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We have to reject catastrophic what if thinking and replace it with God is for me talk. Romans 8:31 says, What then shall we say to these things?
Dr. Brandi Stover:If God is for us, who can be against us? I say we must talk because it's important that we hear the Word of God and even more importantly that we hear it coming out of our mouths. Romans 10:17 says, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. So we must speak it over ourselves. And as we do, we allow God's words to get deeper into our hearts and to renew our minds.
Dr. Brandi Stover:Sometimes it's important to have a process for how to fight for our victory with the Word of God. Here is an example of what you can do when anxiety has you in its grip. Monday Journal your worries and pray them back to God. Tuesday Memorize Philippians 4:6-7 or another scripture that resonates with you and brings you peace. Wednesday Identify one thing out of your control and release it.
Dr. Brandi Stover:If you want a visual, you can write a word representing that issue on a stone and throw that stone into a lake or the woods. The same way that you can't locate that stone again, be reminded not to go looking for that issue again. Thursday Reach out to a friend and share your prayer request. Pray for your friend and allow them to pray for you. Thank God for His answers so far.
Dr. Brandi Stover:Have a praise break and tell God about the good things that He has done. Over the weekend, worship. Sing or listen to a worship song that reminds you to trust God and shun anxiety. Anxiety is a signal that we need God's peace. Each time worry surfaces, treat it like a prayer prompt.
Dr. Brandi Stover:Grab that worry, verbalize it in prayer, and most importantly, get into the Word and remind yourself of how much God cares for you. Next week, we'll talk about deliverance from fear, how to break its chains for good, and until then, I want you to cast your cares, renew your mind, and rest in his peace.
Dr. Brandi Stover:You've been listening to Going in Grace. Be sure to visit us online at brandistover.com.
