According to a former Google data scientist, Australians make more searches looking for help with anxiety than anyone else in the world. Apparently, whilst Australians don’t always confess their anxiety openly, they do confess this to Google. I Googled “anxiety” right now and it shows 380,000,000 results. How many of those represent Australians is anyone’s guess, but I imagine there’s enough of them to cause us to question the accuracy of our reputation for being a “no worries” laid-back, easy-going people. In fact, I questioned that years ago when sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ door to door in my local community for 3½ years.
I found the reputation to be rather inaccurate back then, and that was at a time when there was no such thing as a Google! What I did find, and still do today, there is nothing like a face to face sharing of the gospel of Christ to find out where a person is at emotionally. Anxiety was clearly evident within many who came to the door, and those who allowed me to pray for them, peace replaced it, even if only for the few minutes we chatted. For those who wanted, “nothing to do with you religious people,” anxiety remained and probably increased. Something else very evident within those people: emptiness, loneliness, guilt and fear of death; no wonder the anxiety! Am I a psychologist? No, I’m a Holy Spirit-led Bible believer who says Jesus Christ has is THE Solution to anxiety.
Not having done any research to speak of, I don’t know if it’s factual or my imagination, but it seems a lot more young Australians are suffering with anxiety than there were when I took the gospel to the streets in those days. Comments from today’s young Australian anxiety sufferers: “Admitting there’s something wrong is always scary and like, having to depend on someone.” “I remember not wanting to talk about it because it would just sound like I was a complainer.” “Things to do with school or self-image and more social situations concern me.” “Just going to the supermarket and buying groceries, and you have to actually talk to a stranger.” “I think it’s hard because anxiety is not just around the future, it’s around a lot of things right now.”
Some psychologist solutions from Google: “Exercise is really good.” “Diet and nutrition is really important.” “Don’t drink alcohol.” ” Stop smoking.” “Ditch caffeine.” “Get some sleep.” “Find stuff that you love and engage in it.” “Tell others you need help.” “Meditate.” “Practice deep breathing.” “Stand up straight.” “Stay away from sugar.” “Watch a funny video.” “Try aroma therapy.” “Drink chamomile tea.” “Talk to your doctor.” If it is true that psychology is the occupation with one of the highest suicide rates, perhaps it’s solutions like these that give some cause for it. Rather than solutions, these appear to me to be band-aid measures. I know what it’s like to experience anxiety. I’m glad for that; I would not have stopped to consider THE Solution to it otherwise.
There was a time in my life when my future looked very bleak in more ways than one. And the more I gave thought to that the worse the situation in my head became. Somewhere along the line I began to accept the fact that I needed to change as a person and for that to be successful I would need to change my thinking. Elsewhere on this blog I have written about that pathway to change; it lead me indirectly to Jesus Christ, the Savior and Lord over all stumbling blocks to peace. Anxiety sufferer, give your fullest attention to the last 12 words you’ve just read. There is no other name and no other person possessing the power and the authority He possesses to set you free from your anxiety! Peace is what you are desperately seeking, peace is what you can experience right this moment.
Note this promise from Jesus Christ THE Solution to anxiety, because there is a condition for you to meet: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid John 14:27. What is the condition? Surrender your life to the Lord and allow Him mastery over it. Note again: My peace I give to you. That’s the peace of God on offer to you. Note again: not as the world gives. In other words, in your case, not the peace solutions offered by human psychology. The Bible declares Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6. The reality then being, Jesus Christ is the Owner of peace.
As I understand it, psychologists spend much time with anxiety patients delving into their past looking for root causes. Well, Jesus already knows the past; theirs and everybody else’s. As far as the Lord is concerned, the root cause of all our problems is sin, anxiety or no anxiety. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Roman 3:23. The one who admits they’re a sinner, repents and humbly asks for forgiveness receives it. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9. Now, to be cleansed from all unrighteousness means you are also cleansed from all guilt. The result? When guilt goes, anxiety goes with it! Does that mean your troubles are over? No.
But it does mean whatever troubles you encounter in life from here on, Jesus Christ THE Solution to anxiety is with you in everyone of them. Why? You belong to Him now; you are now His responsibility. Something else, very profound: The Spirit of Christ dwells within you now. That means the emptiness is now filled. Loneliness is gone. Fear has gone – especially fear of death. And so, when all those things go, anxiety has nothing left to feed off. But something else even more profound: You have gone. That’s right. When Jesus Christ enters your life, He doesn’t simply patch up the old you, He creates a new you. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things become new 2 Corinthians 5:17.
So in a practical sense then, how does this work? Firstly, one must act on what has been proclaimed here. Nothing changes until that happens. Jesus Christ THE Solution to anxiety, does not act until one responds to His promises. He reveals Himself, which is what He is doing in this post, but to experience the truth of His promises requires one’s action. Example: “Jesus, I am a sinner, You are the Savior, You died for Me. Forgive me for my offenses against You. Come into my life and show me how to live according to Your will.” That, is when one will begin to experience the immediate reality and presence of Christ, probably by way of His peace, but in any case, in some unmistakable way, shape or form He will make Himself known.
One’s first thought will then be, “My anxiety is being lifted. Everything is going to be alright.” One’s faith is then strengthened by holding on to the promises of the Lord. This is done through prayer, daily Scripture reading and speaking these promises into one’s life. One example; Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication (petition, request), with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Philippians 4:6-7. Every time anxiety seeks to worm its way back in, that Scripture answers to it. It has to; this is not just a bunch of words written on white paper, this is God speaking!
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad Proverbs 12:25. Again, the good word spoken of here is God’s word. It is to be found nowhere but in the Bible. Believe that, claim that, confess that and you will know anxiety has no place in your life. Note: this is not a quick-fix I’m talking of here; there is a spiritual battle taking place within. But Jesus Christ THE Solution to anxiety, is your Conqueror; you are not alone in this now. Act on His word and He will act on your enemy! Something else you must act on: Baptism. Get baptized by full immersion into water. Why? Jesus commands it Matthew 28:19-20. It is your public confession of your commitment to Christ. I have been crucified with Christ; it is longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;……... Galatians 2:20.
Baptism is more than symbolism. It is also God’s means of grace the Holy Spirit uses to bring the blessing of God’s favor for obedience. Through baptism you are strengthened and encouraged in your faith. You receive Holy Spirit-power enabling you to live the life of Christ, plus, plus, plus…… In other words, baptism is not an end, it is a beginning whereby everything else God has on offer to you can be opened up. In addition, everything else God does not have on offer, including anxiety, can be shut down. That’s just a small picture of the benefits of baptism, but it is a true picture. Australian anxiety sufferer, Jesus Christ THE Solution to anxiety, awaits your response. These things I have spoke to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation (anguish, trouble); but be of good cheer, I have overcome (conquered) the world John 16:33.