Three weeks ago, I discussed how the fear we can have of the unknown or unexpected situations in life can be driven by our anger. However, neither fear nor anger should we express in times of uncertainty because of the faith that we must have in knowing that God has got His best in store for us. Even though I talked about anger driving fear, this week I plan to discuss how anxiety, worry, and tension can fuel fear. There are many passages of scripture that talk about how us, as believers, should not worry or have anxiety in regards to uncertainty because God has in store what is best for us. However, let us focus on anxiety and worry for a bit.
It is definitely part of human nature to experience the emotions of anxiety and worry. However, anxiety and worry are more than just emotions. As is the case with each emotion we experience and express, not only do we feel it within our being but our bodies also react in the correct response to each emotion. For example, if you are happy and are experiencing a great day, chances are your body feels great and you feel as though you’re filled with high amounts of energy. When we’re mad, many times our fists can clench, we sometimes can grit our teeth and the features of our faces can get tight. However, with both of these emotions, including many others, our bodies interact even more internally to what we are feeling externally.
The same can be said for when we feel anxiety and worry. According to the DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fourth Edition, Text Revision), here are some of the physiological symptoms one may experience when he or she may feel anxiety or worry: accelerated or pounding heart rate, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, choking feeling in the throat, chest pains, stomach discomfort, dizziness, numbness or tingling sensations, hot or cold fluctuation in body temperature, body fatigue, and muscle tension. The DSM-IV-TR is any and every therapist’s diagnostic code guide that contains all mental and behavioral disorders, their descriptions, and diagnostic codes for insurance purposes. These are all just physiological effects too! If you find one in this list that is positive, please let me know. I know that I dislike or would dislike experiencing any of these, when given the opportunity.
Just imagine the thoughts we can have and that are usually tied to these emotions! One of the things I learned in school is not only can one’s emotions tie into how he or she is feeling, but those emotions can also tie into how one thinks and behaves. There is a mode of therapy that is tied into this concept and it is called Rational-Emotive Therapy and was originally developed by a man by the name of Albert Ellis. One of the components to this mode of therapy is a theory called the ABC Theory of Emotions, in which this theory explains “that all emotional responses are the result of cognitive processes and the invariant sequence is (A) perceptual processes–situational determinants; (B) cognitive processes–thinking, evaluating, self-talk; (C) physiological responses–feelings”(Found in Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology and Counseling, page 1002). This description reveals exactly how our feelings are influenced by external stimuli in relation to our thought processes and how our body reacts to all of this. Let’s use an example. Hypothetically, there is a child who has a fear of bees. This child is outside enjoying a wonderful, sunny, and warm summer day. He is minding his own business when suddenly a bee buzzes right past his face and instantly lands on this boy’s hand. The boy immediately reacts out of fear, as he recognizes that this bee has landed on his hand. Connected to his ability to recognize this bee, he instinctively remembers that bees sting, which then causes fear to strike and settle in to this boy’s mind and heart. At this point in time, the boy then has two choices in how to respond, either to fight the bee off or to run away in fear. This response is referred to as the fight vs. flight response. Many times, with anxiety, one can be so paralyzed with fear that s/he could act as though s/he could not do anything except for running away in fear. This would be the flight response. The fight response would be if that boy would choose to stand his ground against the bee and swat it!
As I believe I mentioned in my previous post, fear is not from God. In terms concerning the uncertain future, we shall not hide. In fact, it would be merely impossible to do so. And would fighting off what we have coming to us be appropriate either? Therefore, when it comes to our uncertain futures, we must simply just stand and wait patiently for our futures to arrive. However, this can be easier said than done. Of course during the time of uncertainty, we can experience anxiety, worry, and tension. Even though it is human to experience these feelings, God does expect more from us in matters of faith. Scripture even discusses the topic of anxiety. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus“(Philippians 4:6-7 NIV). During tough and trying times in which we may not know the outcome, anxiety can definitely take root in one’s heart. Of course, this is a natural reaction, but Paul encourages us to lift those anxieties, those concerns up to our Lord because only He can handle the weight of those concerns and issues. When He does, He then supplies us with overwhelming peace that then occupies our hearts and our minds. Going back to the Rational-Emotive ABC Model, that would then include part B, which deals with our cognitive processes. Instead of us focusing negative energy on things uncertain that can cause anxiety, Paul mentions we should focus our thoughts more on God and how He is still going to take care of us!
But what about worry? Sure, anxiety and worry can be found hand-in-hand. Actually, there wouldn’t be any anxiety if it was not for worry. For me, it is very easy to worry about things both determined and uncertain in my life. Looking back on most things in my life I have worried about, I now realize I have no reason to worry now, nor should I back then. I must also confess that I’m not all null and void from still experiencing worry. In fact, there are still factors either present or not yet present in my life that I still worry about. One of the passages of scripture that really helps me in terms of worrying and the blessing of God’s peace is Matthew 6:25-34. This passage of scripture is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The headline of the passage even says: Jesus Teaches about Worry. Here is that passage in full:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Summarizing this passage, Jesus is telling His disciples and followers that there is no need for them to worry about what may occur for the future in their lives. Jesus is also telling His disciples and followers that there is no need to worry about the material things in life, because He has them provided for you! Overall, Jesus is telling them He knows their needs and is reassuring them that their needs are provided for! Instead of worrying, Jesus offers an alternative form of behavior we should enact when we begin to worry. Jesus prescribed for His disciples and followers to firstly seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness and everything else will be added! The same can be applied to us. If we are to seek God first in our lives and if we were to put him first, He will supply and bless us with our needs. Therefore, what is the purpose in worrying?!
Since we know that God will provide for our needs and bless us with His peace when we lift up our concerns to him, we should in return be able to receive the peace He has in store for us and that we desperately need! In addition to His peace and Him providing for our needs, He also has a wonderful plan in store for all of us! I realize in my last post, I shared Jeremiah 29:11. This verse rings true with my point to this blog post as well. Therefore, since God has a plan for our lives, He will provide for our needs, He blesses us with His peace during the difficult times when we turn to him and since “His perfect love drives out our fears,” (ref. 1 John 4:18) we know that we have absolutely nothing to get anxious or to worry about. And when we do experience worry or anxiety, instead of fretting about what might or might not happen, we should just lift up our worries, anxieties, cares, and concerns up to Him “because He cares for us“(1 Peter 5:7)! Once we do this, and we realize that He loves us, we can also be reassured that “If God is for us, who can be against us“(Romans 8:31b). Since we recognize all these wonderful things about God and His caring relationship with us, it then becomes easier for us to grow farther in our faith in Him as well. Therefore, we should choose to live our lives in faith instead of fear!
Please stay tuned for my next blog post when I begin to talk about issues regarding faith and how we should live our lives according to matters of faith. Passages of scripture will include quotes from Hebrews 11. Looking forward to sharing that with you all soon! Thanks for reading. God bless and be encouraged……..
Last 5 posts by TriCounselor
- Fear vs. Faith Part 1: Anger driven by fear - August 23rd, 2009
- Boy With Autism - And God Remembered - August 8th, 2009
- "Identity in Christ" - July 26th, 2009
- "Purify My Heart" - July 9th, 2009
