When You Recognize Anxiety You Can Learn to Navigate It Without Letting It Control Your Life

In a TV segment a while back, I talked about navigating anxiety, and I talked about it on my podcast this week as well. I think it’s important to talk about it because so many of us are battling it right now.

I explained that there are anxiety disorders that require professional, medical attention, but that’s not the kind of anxiety I’m talking about today. I’m talking about the everyday worries that threaten to steal our peace. When left unchecked, anxiety often leads to fear and loss of joy. Anxiety is a part of life, but it does not have to control your life.

There are so many reasons to be tempted by anxiety right now. Sometimes the reasons are obvious, but sometimes they sneak in without us realizing it, and it typically comes from allowing our minds to run with “what if” scenarios. In his book, “Anxious for Nothing,” Max Lucado, says that fear alerts you of real danger while anxiety says, “what if?”

Fear is an emotion but can also be a powerful indicator; anxiety is an emotion, and while many people are driven by their mood and emotions, you don’t have to be. I’ve wrestled with worst-case scenarios countless times, and in most cases, the worst-case scenario never even happened. I’ve also busied myself when I knew what I truly needed was rest, and that never ends well for me. That’s why I’m passionate about rest and renewal now.

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning to late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.”

— Psalm 127:2

People often act surprised when I call anxiety an emotion, but it’s important to characterize it for what it is. It’s an emotion, so it’s unwise, and frankly, dangerous to let anxiety take the lead in your life.

Emotions are fickle too, and it’s important to remain aware of that when you feel anxiety creeping in. When I hear people in my life or in movies say things like, “follow your heart,” I cringe and want to beg them to do something different. It’s a sweet phrase, but our hearts and emotions can shift several times in a single day. Letting our emotions take the lead means that our minds will be divided, but we have the authority to take our thoughts captive.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ”

— 2 Corinthians 10:5

In addition to choosing to take control of our thoughts, we also have opportunities everyday to choose our perspective. When we choose to focus on what’s true, lovely, and life-giving rather than focusing on “what if” we don’t have to worry about things that haven’t happened and may never happen. It also helps us focus on the reasons we have to be thankful. Gratitude is the antidote to anxiety. We cannot control most situations, but we can choose our perspective.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

— Philippians 4:6-8

And as we practice thankfulness, focusing on what’s true, noble, pure, and lovely, we’ll be able to live a peaceful life without being consumed by anxiety. And honestly, I couldn’t live like this without God’s grace. Thankfully, I don’t have to, nor do you. His grace is sufficient, and when you turn to him, he’ll renew your mind - through scripture, during your prayer time with him, etc.

There is so much freedom in realizing that we don’t have to make these changes without God first changing our hearts and minds. If you’re looking for a place to start, start there. Ask Him to be part of your life, your daily decisions, your thoughts…Get to know Him, which will help you learn to trust him.

What do you do to navigate anxiety?