Your mind feels clouded, distracted, and unable to focus on getting one thing done. You are swirling out. Will it ever stop? Yes! You can beat this! In my last post, I spoke about The Truth about Anxiety. I gave tips 1-4 to overcoming it. In this post, I’m going to discuss tip 5-9, and give you 4 more ways to conquer anxiety in your life.
One time a good friend of mine drank a little too much and luckily had the sense to call me to come to pick him up and take him home. He was unable to see straight, claiming, “Why are all the cars all over the road swerving?” and openly admitting, “no one should ever drive like this.”
Like a spring bursting forth, he just started crying. Shocked I asked him what was happening, and he looked at me and just said “You’re my best friend. You’re just so good to me man.” I laughed, and he mumbled away into the night, “No I’m serious, your like my best best friend man. I’m so sorry you have to see me like this.” Praise God I got him home, and he never drank that much again. Lesson learned.
This is what anxiety does to us.
Tip 5 – Don’t Get Drunk on Anxiety
Luke 21: 33-34 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life— and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
In this verse, Jesus says to guard yourself, watch yourself, and stay alert. If you do not, your heart is going to get weighed down by these two things.
Drunkenness, and Worries of this Life.
The word used for “Worries of this life,” is the same word for Anxiety.
Isn’t it crazy that Jesus says His words will never die, but these two things will blind you from seeing them! Drunkenness and Anxiety!
What do Drunkenness and Anxiety have in common? Why would those be the two things he chooses to say will cause you to miss his words?
Both cloud your vision. Both cause you to not see right. Both become a filter that perverts the words of others. They both equally make you “out of it.”
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Tip 6 Watch Yourself
If I had an issue with alcoholism in my past and I wanted to overcome it, I would guard myself when I’m around alcohol. I would set things in place to make sure I don’t fall into old habits right? I wouldn’t go to bars or drinking parties, because I know I have a weak area there. I’m going to guard myself and stay alert.
Jesus says here to guard yourself against your anxiety the same way you would guard yourself against drunkenness.
To me, someone who has a weakness towards anxiety, that means I have to be extra alert. When I feel anxiety rising in my heart, I have to choose to stop drinking in more anxiety, get up, leave the situation, go get sober. Walk it off.
We must unplug from the things making us anxious and go be with God. Drink some water of his everlasting truth that will never past. Repent and say God I drank too much anxiety again, I’m sorry, help me to stop doing that.
According to this verse, his Word is the antidote for anxiety. Whatever area we struggle with anxiety in, we must look up a verse in his Word that directly fights that and memorize.
Joyce Meyer’s has one of the best books on Anxiety here (affiliate link). She says “Don’t just learn from God’s Word, but believe it will change your life.” We must take Jesus at his word until it transforms our lives!
As a child I would often get anxious about the future, so my mom had me memorize Matthew 6:34
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Tip 7 Get Ready then Rest
The Bible was written during a time when war was a reality to the average Joe. Imagine being surrounded by enemies who are planning on coming into your house and killing you and your family!
Talk about Anxiety! How do you sleep?!?
King David recognized this and said in Psalms 127:2 that,
It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.
Practically, this means we prepare the best we can, but also know there is always going to be something we forget, probably because it will force us to trust God.
Tip 8 Make a Cut Off Time
In this verse, David says, “Do not work from early morning until late at night all the time.” It’s useless, it creates anxiety, you have got to trust God and go to bed.
So work hard, prepare what you can, but make an alarm with a cut off time and say wherever I am by 6 o’clock, I’m going home to be with my family, or at 10 o’clock, I’m going to bed.
David reminds himself, “God gives rest to his loved ones.” We must choose to take a moment and say, “God, I’m done, help me to rest. I trust you.”
There is NO Condemnation or Shame in Christ.
I am not a Doctor or Psychologist. I understand that trauma or predisposition can make it extremely difficult to overcome anxiety. If that describes you, don’t ever let someone shame you for that! Medication may be the wisest choice for some individuals. God gave us wisdom to medically attack anxiety as well, and this can be a good thing.
I do believe however that even if we are predisposed, we can still overcome with Jesus! I believe also that we must choose to attack anxiety from every angle. Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually.
If we take medication that only solves the probably physically, but never emotionally deals with our past or current pains, we will still have issues. If we never spiritually learn to give it to Jesus or invite him into the process, then we are trying to win an impossible battle in our own strength.
Though I know this is just a few tips on a subject that thousands of books have been written on, I pray that they help you as they continue to help me overcome Anxiety with Jesus. It is possible! You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength!
Awesome blog Taylor