THE ANXIETY OPPORTUNITY

The United States is in an anxiety epidemic. Prior to the COVID19 outbreak, most estimations placed depression as the number one mental health problem in this country, with anxiety coming in second. According to recent reports, anxiety has well surpassed depression for the first-place spot. Although both conditions indeed skyrocketed during the global pandemic, anxiety clearly took center stage and has remained there.

Over 40 million Americans, approximately 19.1%, are currently diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and, an estimated 30% hold the diagnosis at some time in their lives. These numbers only reflect people that seek treatment. What does this staggering data mean for the church? Indeed, it presents an incredible opportunity to reach out to the hurting world and share the eternal love and hope of Christ, but, what about our anxiety?

Although studies indicate that people of faith tend to experience less anxiety in general, that isn’t the whole picture. Certainly, belief in a loving God as well as the positive impact of being part of a faith community are instrumental in safeguarding against some anxiety but, with statistics like the ones shown above, we need to recognize that people battling significant anxiety are indeed sitting in the pews of our churches. 

 There is a plethora of scripture verses on the subject, yet we don’t really talk about anxiety within our church walls. Why is that? From Joshua to Philippians, from Isaiah to Matthew, God’s Word gives numerous messages directing us away from anxiety:

“Do not be anxious.”

“Be not afraid.”

“Cast all you anxieties on Him”

“Fear not”

“Let not your hearts be troubled.”

These are not obscure verses. They are from familiar and beloved passages, many of which have been committed to memory by Christians. 

The biblical directive and virtue these verses promote is trust in God. But what if someone trusts God and remains anxious? The assumption can be that the anxiety is due to weak faith. We often spout partial verses whose sentiments, although true, can result in those battling chronic anxiety to feel mistakenly judged. So, those affected remain silent for fear of being dismissed and criticized. Mental health stigma is real, and I contend that in Christian circles, it is widely pervasive. Dare I say that in the Church, anxiety has been stigmatized into silence.

Partial verses can be experienced by believers as scolding, as though God is wagging his finger in disapproval. This contributes to shame which if left unattended, leaves one feeling admonished by God rather than encouraged. When sharing these scriptures to support others, we can do things to aid in diminishing shame, such as: 1) read the entire scripture! For instance, “Cast all your anxieties on Him BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU” (1 Peter 5:7); “Fear not FOR I AM WITH YOU” (Isaiah 41:10); and 2) consider other ways to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2): listening, praying, helping, laughing, visiting, inviting, and asking.

Anxiety is part of the human experience, yet it can be a silent thief that causes us to withdraw from people and doubt God. Quietly suffering alone was not what was intended in 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you” This message was given by Peter as encouragement in the context of a community of believers. The Christian church is still God’s place where His children are used to bind up one another’s wounds and redirect their attention to the healing, life-giving glory of God. Depending on our own experience, anxiety, with all of its pain and limitations, presents opportunities. The observer can offer safe and compassionate care; the sufferer can allow themselves to be vulnerable and aim to reframe anxiety and view it as an uninvited yet valuable occasion to rely on God more readily. 

 CS Lewis worded it well….

“Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith…I don’t agree. They are afflictions. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the passion of Christ.”

 Did Jesus experience anxiety? For that answer, we need look no further than Gethsemane.