Rock Solid Antidote to Anxiety: Trust
I. What is Anxiety?
Anxietycentre.com defined anxiety as
- A state of uneasiness, apprehension; as about future uncertainties.
- A state of apprehension, uncertainty, and fear resulting from anticipation of a realistic or fantasized threatening event or situation, often impairing physical and psychological functioning.
In other words, anxiety occurs when we behave (think and act) in an apprehensive manner, such as when worrying about an event or situation.
With this in mind, anxiety is not a force or 'thing' in itself. It's a state of uneasiness that results when we worry.
Because imagining the future in an apprehensive manner is a behavior, it's not caused by a biological, chemical, or genetic problem with the brain. Anxiety results from a certain style of behavior.”
This definition considers anxiety to be the physical response to worry in some way.
II. What is Worry?
Worry can be defined as an over anxious concern regarding the future and things that keeps a person from fulfilling current biblical responsibilities.
Matt 6:19-32
“Earthbound treasure leads to anxiety bound needs.”
A. Worry is idolatry.
Inordinately treasuring things of this earth – worship of something other than God.
B. Worry is unbelief.
Worrying is spending my life obsessed with what my Father has promised to give.
I’m acting like a pagan – like a spiritual orphan instead of a daughter of the king of the universe!
Matt 25:14-27
C. Worry is laziness.
It’s much easier to worry than to work.
It takes hard work and discipline to control my thinking.
III. The Remedy
A. Right worship!
B. Believe!
C. Work hard!
-Stop and pray – thanking God for specific attributes that give you reason to trust
-Choose belief – you can choose to take God at His word
-Get busy doing what needs to be done – an act of faith – trusting God with what you cannot control and focusing on what He has commanded you to do – be faithful in the stewardship of the responsibilities He has given you.
-Draw near to the throne of grace – This amazing God promises we will receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need! Run to Him!
-Practice loving God and others in practical ways as an act of faith instead of dwelling on what you fear losing.
What do you know, what have you just been discussing, about God’s character that could help you trust Him, worship Him, believe Him in situations like this?
INPUT
Small Group Discussion Questions:
1. In what areas does worry or fear manifest itself in your life?
2. Which aspect of worry impacted you the most: idolatry, unbelief, or laziness? And why?
3. Would anyone like to talk through a situation and how this material might help them?
4. What can you practically put in place in your personal life to help you grow in this area?
