Anxiety: Escape from the Never-Ending Loop

Anxiety: Escape from the Never-Ending Loop | Philippians 4:2-7

Have you ever felt anxious?
Have you ever been consumed by anxiety?

Anxiety is “a common emotional state that is characterized by feelings of apprehension, uneasiness, worry, and concern; an unpleasant anticipation of some unknown misfortune, danger, or doom; the feeling that something must be done, but not knowing what;…an experience that affects everyone, to some degree, but renders some people nonfunctional.” Dr Frank Minirth

How does a person deal with anxiety?
It starts with a plan to pursue peace.

Philippians 4:2-3 “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.”  

A healthy church is an effective church.

Philippians 4:4-5 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”  

A gentle person would even be willing to endure unpleasant treatment if it is justified.

Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  

Let God’s power address man’s concern.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

God’s peace goes far beyond our comprehension.

Paul’s Plan to Pursue Peace
1. Rejoice in the LORD always!

2. Live a life of gentleness.

3. Prayer with thanksgiving.

4. Trust the peace of God to protect your heart and mind.

Dr. Frank Minirth’s 6 Self-Care Actions to help mitigate anxiety.

1. Read the Bible.

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

1 John 2:14 “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”

2. Listen to comforting music.

3. Allow for adequate sleep.

Job 7:4 “When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’ The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.”

Proverbs 3:24 “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”

4. Allow for adequate exercise and recreation.

5. Live one day at a time.

Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Mark Twain “My life has been filled with calamities, some of which actually happened.”

85% of what we worry about never happens.

79% of the studies participants discovered, either they could handle the difficulty better than expected, or the difficulty taught them a lesson worth learning.

97% of what you worry over is not much more than a fearful mind punishing you with exaggerations and misperceptions.

6. Consider medical attention.