by Kenneth Gregory Smith

Created on: June 22, 2009   Last Updated: June 23, 2009

The Bible has much to say about the core issues that drive anxiety-fear and lack of trust.

Fear is a hallmark of anxiety. Fears manifest themselves in different ways. One type of fear focuses on the future, what psychologists call "anticipatory anxiety" or the "what if" syndrome. For example, a person negatively dwells on the future and that dwelling causes anxiety in the present. There are many things we can choose to worry about concerning our future: What if I lose my job? What if I incur a huge expense that I can't pay? What if I get sick? What if a hurricane destroys my home? Jesus counteracts this attitude with His saying in Matthew, Chapter 6: "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Anticipatory anxiety is caused by a lack of trust that God holds the future. Even when bad things happen, God says in His word "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5 quoted from Deuteronomy 31:6).

Another cause of fear centers on what psychologists call "cognitive distortions," that is faulty thinking. A child thinking there are monsters under his bed, or an adult convinced that a perfectly safe elevator is dangerous are examples of confusing feelings with the facts. A mnemonic for fear is "false events appearing real." Biblical comments on thinking include Romans 12:2, "Be transformed by the renewal of your mind" and Isaiah 26:3, You (God) will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee." If you suffer from an unrealistic fear, get the facts and then allow God to heal your mind.

Other types of anxiety provoking fears include fear of rejection and fear of failure. These fears are set up by an inner attitude that says, "I'm not sure I am good enough." Throughout the Bible God assures us of His unconditional love and acceptance. This assurance is echoed in the words of Paul: "For I am convinced that neither death or life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height or depth, nor anything else in all of creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39).

Peace, the opposite of anxiety, is NOT a state of being calm because of external events, but being calm in the midst of external events, whether those events are good or bad. The Bible, God's word, reveals a personal God who knows us and loves us intimately. To again quote Jesus, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.... (John 14:27).

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