I buy books for professional development. Some are theological, some are Bible Studies, and others are books to help me put more tools in my tool belt. Recently, I purchased a quick read on anxiety since anxiety is so prevalent, especially after 2020. I know I’ve felt more anxious recently, so I pulled that one out to read.
Redefining Anxiety by Dr. John Delony rarely mentions God or Scripture in the book, even though he is a Christian man. The author points out Anxiety and an Anxiety Disorder are different things; even though they are often used interchangeably. The author argues these terms are actually not interchangeable. He defines anxiety as that “alarm system” that something is wrong. Alarm systems aren’t bad; it alerts us to a problem. Thankfully, anxiety does not have to be a permanent condition.
Some people decide anxiety is part of who they are and it becomes their identity and they may let it control their life. The author asserts anxiety helps acknowledge someone is going through a tough circumstance, but it doesn’t have to be the person’s identity. We are often addicted to comfort and quick fixes so some people would prefer to take a pill for anxiety rather than deal with what is setting off the alarm which is the hard choice and fix.
The book helped me realize I get to choose how I respond to things, including the stress in my life. It also helped me realize that it doesn’t matter that “someone else has it worse.” Downplaying my own grief (in any situation) doesn’t make anyone else feel better. It does minimize my own feelings and can hinder the grieving process. There are many other great tips in the book, but while reading the book, I thought of Job.
I know Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 11:28-30, and 1 Peter 5:6-7 should be some “Go to” verses for anxiety. However, I don’t personally find those helpful for myself. I think that’s one of the reasons I thought of Job. Most know the story of how Job lived an upright life, he was wealthy and had many children. God permits Satan to test Job. Four things happen in a row that turn Job’s life around. His work animals and servants are destroyed, his sheep and servants are destroyed, his camels and servants are destroyed, and his children were killed. Talk about anxiety! This would be more than enough to send anyone into a negative mental spiral, negative self-talk, or even anger with God.
Yet, Job blessed the name of the Lord.
Then, Job’s health is afflicted. His wife disagrees with him and his friends give him some less than stellar advice/”pep talks.” Job eventually sins when trying to justify himself. That’s when his fourth friend steps in to condemn Job’s self-justification. He even talks about how God redeems people even when they’re suffering.
Suffering, stress, and anxiety don’t have to be our identity. Our identity is found in Christ, as baptized children of God. Our identity is found within the Church as members of God’s family and heirs in the eternal life Christ won for us. Sin and suffering are terrible things. Sometimes they set off “alarm bells” in our bodies to tell us something is wrong. Sometimes, people just see all the things in this world and realize “something is wrong.” Even though Christ redeemed this world, it isn’t perfect. We still need to realize this world is broken and we’re still sinners. We need to know that we need a Savior. God is bigger than us. He cares for us. He gives us the grace we need each and every day. There are many things that are out of our control. Those are the things we can pray about and take to God in prayer. Just because we take it to God in prayer does not mean we’ll get result we find most favorable. God doesn’t reward or punish us on earth based on our faith. Instead, we’ll receive our eternal reward in heaven where there will be no more stress, sin, or anxiety.
We do have things we can control. We can turn to God in prayer. We can turn to our Church community to help us through stressful times. Our community can sometimes it can come in the form of physical help. It can also give us a reality check of where the thoughts in our head come from and if those words are true. Hopefully, we receive better counsel from our Christian community than Job received from his wife and three friends.
We can practice being thankful, by writing down the things God graciously gives us each and rejoice in what God does for us. We can also rejoice in Christ’s atonement for our sins. Christ has separated us from our sins so we are not summed up by the worst thing we’ve ever done or the meanest thing we’ve ever said. We are forgiven, children of God. That’s who we are. With confidence, even amidst stress, anxiety, or suffering, we can be like Job and say,
” For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.”