Curious Christian

Reflections on culture, nature, and spirituality from a Christian perspective

When Suffering From Anxiety

Published by

Matt Stone

2009-04-30

Cast all your anxiety on him
because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith,
because you know that your brothers
throughout the world
are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace,
who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,
after you have suffered a little while,
will himself restore you and make you strong,
firm and steadfast.

1 Peter 5:7-10

Tags Anxiety, Fear, Mental Health

4 responses to “When Suffering From Anxiety”

sonja

2009-04-30

Matt, for a couple of reasons, this is a sensitive subject for me, could you give some context to this post before I start shooting off my mouth? Thanks …

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Matt Stone

2009-04-30

Sonja
No specific context, only that, like many, I suffer from anxiety from time to time and at those times I find it helpful to be reminded to rest in God and hold to a broader perspective. Foundations are important. Though Paul seems to be focussed persecution anxiety, I think it does have broader application. Does that help?

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sonja

2009-05-01

I guess I’d just add that sometimes anxiety can get to a place where faith/prayer/scripture is not enough. I’ve been to that place and to say it’s no fun is a gross understatement. I was very nearly hospitalized. Couldn’t drive or be left alone for about 6 months. That’s the short story … the long story is quite painful.
So, scripture is good and now, for generalized anxiety, I do remember it. But there are times when one must seek out medical assistance for this as well. I think God honors that too.

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Matt Stone

2009-05-02

Oh, I totally agree that people should seek out medical assistance where appropriate. This is where it is good to have a healthy respect for the providence of God.
In his wisdom God has blessed us with a world that produces all sorts of healing herbs and helpful chemicals and so forth, and doctors with the wisdom and skill to use them appropriately. I don’t think we should so limit our vision that we only see God at work through the extraordinary, and so miss how God works through the ordinary. Our understanding of healing needs to be holisic. God is god of everything, even the small things. I think scripture leads us down that direction too. I can think of many scriptural examples when God uses mediators to accomplish his will, even though he is perfectly capable of accomplish his will without them. It suggests we welcome God’s help and listen for his voice in whatever form it comes, direct or indirect.

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