-
Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
What is the spiritual meaning of anxiety?
- Thread starter ElenaP
- Start date
I will address this generally, and it's relevance can be applied as you see fit.
I would suggest to you that it is simply a symptom of something lacking in one's life. I'm not going to assume one's faith is weak, or that one doesn't study enough, but, I am going to say that there is a remedy for anxiety, and it doesn't come in pill form: it is simply immersing oneself into the God Who has already given us everything we will ever need to live life without anxiety, or it's big brother...fear.
Welcome to the Forum, Elena, you may be in the right place to battle anxiety, if it is you that is troubled by it. I hope your time here will be blessed, and that you in turn will be a blessing to others here.
As Christians (and I am assuming you are a Christian, you can correct me on whatever points are wrong and irrelevant) there are certain needs we have that, if not part of our lives, can lead to mindsets which we need not troubled by. We need Fellowship with God, and we do this through prayer and study, and we need fellowship with other Christians. Those two things can be found on Christian Discussion and debate forums (though I do not suggest this is an alternative to fellowship in person in a local fellowship), where we can, by being exposed to the perspectives of others, learn at an accelerated rate (as opposed to a few lessons each week. Many will hear the sermon of the week but never study independently), whether it is through understanding sound doctrine in our fellow members, or even unsound and sometimes heretical nonsense, lol. Either way, it will challenge us to dig into God's Word, and for me, there are certain ways to commune with God that stand out (for me):
1: Witnessing to people. There is no time when I feel the Lord's presence stronger.
2: Prayer.
3: Bible Study.
This is just how I list them, for some it might be headed up with prayer. For some, ministering to others in physical needs. But you get the point.
There is no anxiety that I have ever been under which has not made me realize that my walk with the Lord has been neglected. When I seek to be in His will there is a difference. And when I am fellowshipping with other Christians there is a difference. When I am in constant study there is a difference.
2 Timothy 1:7
King James Version (KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
So just as a quick response to the OP, I would encourage you to focus on your walk with God (and again, assuming this is relevant to you), and strengthening communion with Him. Sometimes we get our relational priorities out of sorts, and that is typical for all of us, because, after all, life is busy, and sometimes we don't realize where we have wandered.
Hope that helps, and again...welcome to the forum.
God bless.
Some people suffer from anxiety due to a chemical imbalance in their body. It must often be dealt with using medication. Temporary anxiety can be from being overwhelmed emotionally due to a trauma or excessive amount of stimuli to the brain.
I have seen many who suffer with panic attacks. Most of the time, they are treated like patients having an potential heart attack. They usually experience breathing difficulties accompanied by chest pain. I would venture to guess the chest pain is caused by the breathing problem, which is probably hyperventalation. But, please see a doctor about this. Medicines usually help, if it is a physiological problem.
heisrisen
Active Member
It depends. Everyone gets a little nervousness from time to time. But if it's like freaking out panic attacks, that is a demonic attack. I used to have those all the time, then I got saved and haven't had one since then. I believe it has to do with possession or oppression.
And the worst thing to do is take that route first.
Too many people prefer to medicate rather than confront. Many on drugs, whether alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescribed drugs...are medicating the issues rather than dealing with them.
The Word of God is the first response to anxiety, in my view. I have seen the damage psych meds can inflict, and how anxiety is trivial in comparison.
So before considering a psychiatrist and medications, consider the Counselor.
God bless.
Thank you for all of your replies. There is truth in everything you have all written. It is interesting to see how anxiety is addressed from the physiological side, to the emotional, to the spiritual. All explanations seem correct, yet the cure is different, depending on which way you perceive the problem.
I suppose for myself, I feel I've been exposed to a few too many personal traumas and major life changes that have all been out of my control. I feel I'm not in control of my life and God has continually taken my off my path to start over on a new path with nothing, again and again. I know I should trust in the Lord and his plan for me but it is hard when I can not understand or fathom what he has in store for me, so I no longer even have a personal vision for my future.
The feeling of not having stability, continually watching things crumble, and seeing how little control I have over my own personal path is difficult to deal with. I suppose I should have more faith, but it is hard to rally myself and start over yet again, when I see how my personal efforts seem futile as the results have been lackluster, and the path keeps changing. The alternative however feels like I am drifting, waiting for direction that I am not sure I am receiving.
I suppose all this has manifested into a physical anxiety that now can just well up for no particular reason.
I suppose for myself, I feel I've been exposed to a few too many personal traumas and major life changes that have all been out of my control. I feel I'm not in control of my life and God has continually taken my off my path to start over on a new path with nothing, again and again. I know I should trust in the Lord and his plan for me but it is hard when I can not understand or fathom what he has in store for me, so I no longer even have a personal vision for my future.
The feeling of not having stability, continually watching things crumble, and seeing how little control I have over my own personal path is difficult to deal with. I suppose I should have more faith, but it is hard to rally myself and start over yet again, when I see how my personal efforts seem futile as the results have been lackluster, and the path keeps changing. The alternative however feels like I am drifting, waiting for direction that I am not sure I am receiving.
I suppose all this has manifested into a physical anxiety that now can just well up for no particular reason.
Let me add though it is not that I have been without blessings, for I certainly have been greatly blessed as well. Which I am so immensely thankful for. All I've been blessed with was just given to me, with hardly any personal effort on my part. So I suppose it is the feeling of almost being powerless over the direction and events of my life.
Here is something for you to consider, Elena:
Psalm 37:4
King James Version (KJV)
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
If we delight ourselves in the Lord...what will be the desires of our hearts?
Delighting ourselves in the Lord.
In other words, this encourages seeking after God to find joy, which should not be confused with happiness. Many Saints can be seen to be in very unhappy circumstances, yet they do not lose the joy of their salvation.
As we grow in Christ we come to understand that the things we once were unhappy about could never have brought us joy. The things that make us happy as we better understand the will of God for our lives are usually things we were once never even aware of.
When we are saved we enter, not just a new chapter in our lives, but in reality it is a different book altogether. We are new creatures, old things have passed away, and all things have become new.
But it usually takes a little while for that to sink in.
If you make your relationship with the Lord the priority, you will find all other things will fall in place. A good way to begin understanding God's will is simply to study the will He has already declared for you. That is found in His Word.
Engage in conversations with other believers, ask questions, test the beliefs you currently hold with those of other believers. God will speak to you, I am confident about that.
God bless.
Anxiety may not be currently dangerous but can lead to dangerous levels. It is important that you get a clear diagnosis from a professional and a plan to manage it. No matter what the cause diet and exercise play an important role in helping to manage it. Do not ignore it or try to pacify it. Seek professional help even if it is just a regular doctors visit. There are a plethora of Christian counselors out there and you may only need a visit or two to be able to move forward.