Our Best Teacher
Theme of the week: Why Am I Anxious?
Monday, December 17, 2012
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Key Bible Verse: Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. (Proverbs 12:25, ESV) Dig Deeper: Hebrews 12:3-11
It is more than likely that if you have ever taken the risk to share your anxiety within the Christian community, you have heard some counsel in the form of the apostle Paul's exhortation in Philippians 4:6, "Do not be anxious about anything." It's a very powerful verse, a favorite of mine, and one that Christians have turned to time and time again when they experience anxiousness. I believe when we cite this as the cure-all to one's anxiety we mean very well. But in our attempts to help others and perhaps deflect our own anxiety and feelings of helplessness, we can inadvertently communicate the wrong message.
When we discourage others from safely expressing their anxiety, it communicates to them that perhaps something is wrong with their Christian faith and they begin to internalize the message, "I'm a Christian. I'm not supposed to be anxious."
Kierkegaard referred to anxiety as our "best teacher" because of its ability to keep us in a struggle that strives for a solution, rather than opting to forfeit the struggle and slide into a possible depression. It would be nice if our lives and our Christian faith did not involve any struggle. But to believe that, and to perpetuate the belief to others that somehow the struggle with anxiety is unchristian, is a mistake.
—Rhett Smith in The Anxious Christian
My Response: How can I best help someone struggling with anxiety?
Adapted from The Anxious Christian (Moody, 2011) by permission. All rights reserved by the copyright holder and/or the publisher. May not be reproduced.
Copyright © 2012 by Christianity Today/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
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Lord, help me to view my anxiety as an opportunity for change and dependence on you, and not to let it paralyze me with fear, doubt, and inadequacy.
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