If you follow along with the Etsy store I run with my friend Kara, you might have spotted one of our newer stickers, "Even Kings". In the description of this sticker, we were honest about the fact we both struggle largely with anxiety. Its just a part of who we are and our daily lives, but over the years we have both sought professional counselling and learned some important tools and truths about anxiety, about ourselves and about God. Today I wanted to share a bit of my tool-box for combating anxiety through abiding in Christ with you in hopes you are encouraged in your journey of abiding and in your ability to handle anxiety well. Anxiety and mental health is different for everyone, this is just a glimpse at my journey, but I know many of you have your own. I hope and pray you're encouraged to seek God through it all and this gives you hope.
Through a lot of counselling I have come to learn that anxiety doesn't have to be a sinful or controlling negative thing in my life. Anxiety is part of who I am, and as I live in a broken world, its something that can be bent towards sin instead of used as a healthy warning tool to let me know I'm taking on too much or am relying on myself instead of God. When under control, the feeling of anxiety can be used as a tool to help me realize areas that I am striving too hard, being too self reliant or am allowing worry to control me. When not under control, anxiety can paralyze me, pull me into despair, take my eyes off of God, and sink me into a pool of often unrealistic worry and turmoil. In counselling I have learned and am continuing to learn ways that work for me to control my anxiety, but one of the largest and most helpful tools I have been taught is to examine every thought for if it is true or not. Sound familiar? It should! 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 talk about how our battle isn't against flesh and how we are able to take every thought captive so our thoughts obey Christ.
While we may not be able to control what thoughts pop up in our heads, we are able to take those thoughts captive and determine what is true and only focus on those and dismiss the lies from our minds. This takes practice as well as knowing Truth well. One of the large ways I compare my thoughts to truth is to bring it to the Scriptures to see if it aligns with God's Word and Truth. Below I am going to give you a few verses to use as you compare your anxious thoughts to truth. I hope and pray they become a heart-deep tool to encourage you and free your mind from the grip of lies.
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