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Overcoming Fear and Worry · Reformed Thinking

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Welcome to Reformed Thinking, a place where we take the vital
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truths of God's Word and apply them to our lives.
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Today we're doing a deep dive into some really critical
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material, focusing on fear and worry.
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You've given us some rich sources and our mission, as
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always, is to extract those key insights, helping you grasp what
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truly matters. Indeed, and it's a topic that
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hits home for, well, pretty much everyone.
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I think we'll be looking at the origins of anxiety, how it
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affects us, and most crucially, how we can move towards God's
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peace. And this whole discussion really
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builds on a foundational truth that God is sovereign.
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He is truly in control of all things, even those circumstances
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others might mean for evil. You know, we may not know what
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the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
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OK, let's unpack this then, because we often use words like
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fear, worry and anxiety almost interchangeably and just, you
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know, daily conversation. And they certainly can feel
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similar in our experience, right?
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That not in the stomach. But our sources point to some
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really fascinating nuances, especially when you look at
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their original Greek meanings. It really sounds like getting a
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deeper handle on these terms could genuinely change how we
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respond to these while these difficult emotions.
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So let's start with worry or anxiety.
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Where do we begin there? Right, so the Greek word often
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translated as worry or anxious, anxiety, even care in the New
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Testament is marimna, and it's root, martso actually means to
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divide. To divide.
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OK, Yeah. And this concept is incredibly
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helpful for grasping what worry truly is.
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At its core, it's a mind pulled in different directions, a kind
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of fractured focus. It can also mean to be anxious,
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or maybe to have a distracting care.
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Just picture your mind trying to focus on, I don't know, five
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different things at once. And all of them are future
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oriented and potentially negative.
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That's really the essence of marimna when it tips over into
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being unhealthy. That divided mind concept is
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really striking, isn't it? Captures that internal conflict
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so well. Like your thoughts are literally
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being pulled apart. But here's what I found
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fascinating in the material. This in Greek word marimna.
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It can be used in both positive and negative senses.
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In scripture, we usually think of anxiety as purely negative,
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right? Something to get rid of.
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But the Bible uses this exact same word in ways that are
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actually presented as good. Can you walk us through those
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distinctions? Absolutely.
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And this is critical because we need to distinguish this.
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Not all anxiety or care is the type we need to overcome.
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In fact, some uses of marimna are quite healthy, even
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commendable. And that's a really important
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point for you listening because it helps us understand that not
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every unsettled feeling, not every deep concern is
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automatically sinful. So for instance, think about
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first Corinthians 7.32. Paul speaks of an unmarried man
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being anxious about the things of the Lord, How to please the
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Lord. Now, this isn't a negative,
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unsettling worry that's draining his Spirit.
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Not at all. Rather, it's describing a deep,
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extensive thought given to pleasing God.
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It's a proper focus for one's life.
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It actually signifies A beneficial spiritual devotion, a
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mind fully absorbed in serving God.
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OK, so that's a positive use of marimna, A focused concern for
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God's things. Exactly and similarly, First
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Corinthians 12.25 talks about church members having the same
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care for one another. Here, Marimna reflects a
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genuine, healthy concern for the well-being and unity of others
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in the community. It's like the active mental
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exertion that prevents divisions within the body, making sure
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everyone is looking out for each other.
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It signifies, again, extensive thought given to caring for the
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church. That makes sense, like actively
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thinking about others needs, right?
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And then Philippians 2.2 O mentions Timothy being genuinely
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concerned for your welfare. Paul commends him for this.
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This highlights a healthy, selfless care for others, where
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Timothy's focus is completely on the good of the Philippians, not
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his own comfort or gain. So it's OK to have a kind of
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distracting care, you could say, for some things, when that care
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is directed towards God's purposes or towards others.
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These are forms of marimna that aren't meant to be overcome, but
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actually embraced as virtuous. OK, that's really helpful.
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So there's a godly version of this anxious care.
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Yes, but now let's turn to the negative uses of marimna.
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This is the unhealthy, the sinful worry that truly tears us
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up inside. This is the kind that is meant
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to be overcome, and maybe one of the most powerful examples is
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Martha in Luke 10.41. Remember, Jesus says she was
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distracted with much serving, and anxious and troubled about
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many things. Right while Mary sat at Jesus's
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feet. Exactly.
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And our sources describe Martha's state as caring more
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about service than sacrifice. You know, choosing external
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accomplishments and a sense of duty over just delighting in
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Jesus's presence. Martha's problem wasn't the
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serving itself. Serving is good, but it was the
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agitated, troubled heart with which she approached it.
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Her priorities were kind of mixed up.
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She was focused on the doing rather than just being present
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with and listening to Jesus. That Interstate of being anxious
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and troubled, that's the sinful marimna.
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So the hard attitude behind the action.
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Precisely and another negative application is when we start to
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fret about things that are ultimately God's responsibility,
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not ours. Jesus warns US directly and
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Matthew 6.25 do not be anxious about your life, telling us not
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to worry about what we'll eat or drink or wear things God
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promises to provide and Paul Eckers this in Philippians 4.6
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telling us do not be anxious about anything, anything.
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This is the stomach and knots kind of worry we often feel.
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It's a distracting care all right, but it isn't driving us
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towards the Lord or service to. Others.
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No. It usually does the opposite,
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right? It does.
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Instead, it causes us to, as the sources put it, get sucked into
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our own vortex. It's a self focused turmoil that
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pulls us away from God, away from genuine service.
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This kind of worry happens when we try to take on God's role,
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fretting about outcomes that are completely out of our control
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and entirely in His hands. It's really a fundamental
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misplacement of trust. OK, So that raises a really
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vital question then for all of us.
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How do you practically discern the difference in your own
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heart? I mean, how do you know if
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you're concerned that feeling of unease at marimna is the
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positive, healthy kind or if it's tipped over into the
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negative sinful kind? Because it feels like it could
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be a fine line sometimes. And it's honestly pretty easy to
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rationalize our worries, isn't it?
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Oh, absolutely. It can be subtle, but the key, I
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think, is to drill down into what you are truly concerned
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about and maybe even more importantly, what that concern
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reveals about your heart. You have to ask yourself this
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tough question. Does that concern, does that
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nodded up feeling in your chest show that you are ultimately
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trusting God? Or are you trusting yourself?
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That's the core question really, that reveals the true nature of
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your care or anxiety. It comes down to where your
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ultimate reliance lies. If your concern drives you to
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more prayer, to more dependence on God, maybe even to more
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thoughtful service to others, it's likely a healthy care.
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But if it leads to self focus, agitation, maybe trying to
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manipulate circumstances, a desperate desire to control what
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you cannot, then it's likely crossed the line into sinful
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worry. Trusting God versus trusting
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self. That's a clear benchmark.
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OK, now let's pivot a bit to the word fear.
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The Greek word is Phobos, which sounds familiar, right?
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It's the root of our English word phobia, which instantly
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makes us think of something irrational or extreme.
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But how does our source material explain Phobos?
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And again, are there positive and negative forms here too?
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You're spot on. Phobos is typically translated
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as fear, dread, or sometimes terror.
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And just like Marimna, it also has both positive and negative
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applications in Scripture, which again highlights that not all
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fear is something we should just try to eliminate.
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In fact, some fear is actually commanded.
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It's beneficial for us. Commanded fear.
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OK, tell us more. Well, in a positive sense, fear
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can be a healthy, even commanded response.
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One primary positive use is what we often call reverence for God
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or the fear of the Lord. Matthew 10.28 puts it starkly.
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Do not feel those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul,
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rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
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Now this isn't a cowering terror, but a wholly and
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appropriate fear. It's acknowledging God's
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ultimate justice, His Holiness, His power, His authority.
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It's about aligning our allegiance correctly, fearing
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disobeying God more than what people might do to us.
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This kind of fear actually leads to submission and obedience, not
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paralysis. It's a healthy awe that rightly
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places God in His supreme place. So a fear that leads to worship
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and obedience, not running away. Exactly.
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Then there's another positive use of fear that arises from,
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well, real or perceived danger. Our sources give this really
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vivid example from a camping trip.
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The speaker describes an incident where a group of young
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girls got injured and then some suspicious individuals appeared
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on the scene, causing the dad's immediate instinctive fear.
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Phobos. OK, I can imagine that feeling.
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Right. And this fear, which led to a
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prompt flight response, getting the girls out of there to
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protect them, is presented as a healthy God-given emotion.
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It acts like that warning light on the dashboard, alerting us to
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potential threats and prompting us to take action.
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It's often an involuntary reaction that signals, hey, pay
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attention, this is real. It prepares us for action.
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It doesn't necessarily freeze us, the source says.
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This heightened sense of fear is good for you in major crises
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because it activates your mind to consider, OK, what now?
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It sharpens your focus. The positive aspect lies in what
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you do with that heightened sense, how you respond and act
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with your thinking, not just the feeling itself.
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It's a protective mechanism God built into.
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Us that makes sense. Fear as a motivator for wise
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action in danger. Yes.
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Now on the flip side, in its negative or sinful form, Phobos
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is something that absolutely needs to be overcome.
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This is the self focused fear that pulls us away from God,
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that dishonors Him. It's often characterized by
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fearing man over God. We see this in Matthew 10.33,
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where prioritizing human approval or fearing consequences
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lead someone to deny Christ. This is fundamentally about
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misplaced allegiance, caring more about what others think or
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might do to us than about obeying the Lord.
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It's the fear that causes us to shrink back from doing what is
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right because of potential repercussions from people.
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So fearing horizontally more than vertically.
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That's a good way to put it. Negative fear also manifests as
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trusting ourselves over God's sovereignty.
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Our sources describe this quite graphically as implicitly
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telling. God, scoot off your throne, I
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got this. Wow.
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That's blunt. It is, but it captures the
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underlying attitude, doesn't it? It's an attempt to seize control
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of situations that are rightfully his to manage.
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It's essentially saying not your will be done God, but mine.
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This completely undermines God's supreme authority.
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It substitutes our very limited wisdom for his infinite wisdom.
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It's us trying to manage the universe ourselves, which is
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frankly ludicrous when you think about.
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It and exhausting. And exhausting?
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Yes. Finally, negative fear involves
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dwelling on what God forbids us to dwell on.
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Philippians 4.8 provides that critical filter for our
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thoughts, right? It instructs us to dwell on
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whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable,
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excellent, or worthy of praise. So when we engage in unhelpful,
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self focused ruminations, spinning those anxious thoughts
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that fall outside these categories, we are giving into a
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negative form of fear. It doesn't align with God's
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desires for our minds. Instead of building us up in
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faith, these thoughts tear us down.
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OK, so there's a lot to unpack just in the definitions,
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healthcare versus sinful worry, Marimna, and healthy fear versus
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sinful fear Phobos. Now here's where it gets, well,
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really telling for our own experience.
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Our sources describe this concept of a downward spiral of
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fear and worry. I think we've all felt caught in
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something like that at times. What does that actually look
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like when it takes hold of someone's life?
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And how does it feed itself? Right, this downward spiral idea
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is so important because it explains how worry and fear can
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escalate. It's a self perpetuating cycle.
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It gets more intense over time, becoming more destructive the
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longer it continues. It's like being caught in a
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deceptive current that pulls you under slowly.
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And it originates from something we've touched on, a fundamental
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desire to control things that you simply have no ability to
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control. It's that futile attempt to
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grasp what is ultimately and only in God's hands.
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Think of someone trying to hold onto sand.
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The harder they squeeze, the faster it slips their fingers.
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So you try to control it, it's uncontrollable.
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Then what happens? It sounds like a losing battle
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from the very start, and one that just keeps getting worse.
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Precisely. It is a losing battle when
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fought in our own strength. So when you realize your efforts
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are fruitless, that things are still out of your control, what
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happens? The worry or the fear increases.
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And this intensification paradoxically leads to an even
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greater, sometimes almost frantic, desire for control.
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You flail more against the current, so to speak.
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This continuous, escalating cycle ultimately leads down some
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dark paths. Anger because your efforts are
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constantly frustrated, Deep discouragement because nothing
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seems to change. Maybe bitterness towards your
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circumstances or even towards God, And eventually a profound
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sense of defeat and powerlessness.
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That sounds bleak. It is.
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And the ironic, really tragic outcome is that each additional
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effort you make to control the situation only compounds the
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original problem. It drives the roots of worry
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deeper, making it harder to extract yourself.
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It's like trying to bail out of sinking ship with a thimble.
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The effort itself becomes part of the problem, exhausting you,
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not actually fixing anything. You become trapped in this cycle
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where your very attempts to solve the worry only make it
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grow stronger and feel more overwhelming.
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It really reminds me of that analogy used in the sources
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about acorns that painted such a vivid picture for me of how
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these things can take root almost without you noticing and
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then become this monumental struggle.
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Yes, that's a powerful image, isn't it?
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The sources say. If you don't pick up those
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acorns, those small seeds of concern, and address them early
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on, they quickly sprout roots. They become deeply anchored
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seedlings, much harder to uproot later.
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And unchecked. Little worries are exactly like
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those acorns. They sprout, They root
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themselves deep into our minds, into our hearts, and they become
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far more difficult to extract if they're left unaddressed.
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It's really a cautionary tale. Passivity makes the problem
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worse. Just ignoring it or hoping it
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goes away doesn't work. Waiting until, you, say, can't
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sleep at night to start thinking about mind renewal makes the
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whole process significantly harder than proactively
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addressing those initial concerns with God's truth right
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when they first surface. Early intervention is really
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key. Pick up the acorns early.
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Got it. So what are some common what if
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questions that typically trigger this downward spiral?
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These are the kinds of thoughts that can just loop and loop in
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your mind. Aren't they pulling you further
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down? They almost feel like these
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inescapable traps sometimes. They absolutely can feel that
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way, and these questions almost always focus intensely on
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potential negative future events and invariably they turn our
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attention inward, creating that self focused vortex we talked
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about. They really reflect A
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fundamental lack of trust in God's care and His Providence
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because they assume the worst and then take on the burden of
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trying to prevent it ourselves. So some common examples.
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The sources mentioned things like what if my spouse leaves me
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or dies? What if I'm left completely
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alone and just can't cope? Or what if I inevitably get
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dementia like my parents did? What if I lose my mind?
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Lose my dignity? That's a common fear people
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worry. What if I lose my job or I can't
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find a well paying one? What if my family faces
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financial ruin? The spiral also feeds on fears
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related to family big time. What if I never have children?
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Or what if I lose a child? Or what if my child never comes
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to faith? What if they get arrested?
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What if they end up homeless? These fears can destroy the
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hopes we have. And then, often more subtly,
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there's the fear of exposure of what others might think of us.
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What if people find out what I've really been doing?
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Or what if they find out how little I actually know?
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What if I'm shamed? Each one of these what ifs
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represents an attempt to predict and control an uncertain future,
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which is of course impossible. And they really do reflect that
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focus on self, don't they? They're almost all about
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personal fears, what might happen to me or my
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circumstances, my hopes, rather than say what God might be doing
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or how he might sustain me. They do, very much so.
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And the spiral occurs precisely when these what if matters are
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taken into one's own hands, either through that frantic
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independent action, trying to do God's job like Martha, you know,
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distracted with much serving instead of just sitting at
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Jesus's feet and trusting his timing and provision.
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Or it can happen just by spinning the same self focused
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thought around and around and around in your mind, refusing to
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cast those cared on the Lord who truly cares for you.
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This is where that self-reliance becomes so evident.
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And it's a really dangerous place to be spiritually.
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We end up trying to carry a burden that only God is equipped
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to carry. This raises such an important
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question then. How does the self-reliance, this
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attempt to control the uncontrollable connect to sin,
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specifically the sin of pride? It really sounds like it goes
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beyond just being an emotional struggle to something deeper,
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something in our fundamental spiritual condition.
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It absolutely does. This isn't just about feelings.
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It's about faith and allegiance, A crucial element contributing
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to this spiral. And really the underlying sin
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here is the refusal to cast one's cares on the Lord.
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You know his first Peter 5.7 instructs us.
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Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
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And this failure to cast our cares, our sources define it as
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an act of arrogance, an act of pride.
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Arrogance. That sounds strong.
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It does, but think about it. It signifies not trusting in
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God, but attempting to solve 1's own problems all by oneself.
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And the sources clearly state that the Lord opposes the proud.
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He opposes that kind of self-sufficient attitude.
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So this respectable sin of worrying, even though it might
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not look like overt arrogance on the surface, it fundamentally
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involves trying to usurp divine authority.
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It's trying to, as we said, take care of this myself.
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It's an implicit declaration deep down that not your will be
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done God, but mine. It's really exalting self over
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God. It's believing, even if
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unconsciously, that we know better or we can handle things
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more effectively than the creator of the universe.
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This lack of faith, this unbelief is right at the core of
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the sinful nature of unhealthy worry.
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We as if God isn't capable, or isn't good enough, or isn't
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actually in control. And all of those positions are
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positions of pride against Him. Wow, seeing worry as arrogance,
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as trying to take God's place, that really shifts the
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perspective. So OK, what does this all mean
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for us then? Practically, how does this
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internal battle, this self focused pride and unbelief
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actually show up in our lives, both inwardly, you know, in our
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thoughts and feelings, and outwardly in our physical bodies
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and our behavior? What are the tangible effects we
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might see or experience? Right.
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The manifestations are significant, and they impact
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both our inner and outer person. The connection is undeniable.
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Inwardly, you'll often see an unsettled heart, a heart that's
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constantly seeking its own favorable outcome to a given
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situation without fully resting in or trusting God's plan.
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There's often a disturbed or agitated Interstate, even when
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maybe you're sitting perfectly still physically, your mind is
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just churning. Life starts to feel so hard like
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this constant grinding struggle against unseen forces or
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circumstances and even spiritual activities, things that should
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bring delight, like reading the Bible, going to church,
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fellowship with other believers. They can start to feel like
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chores or even frustrating because the heart is so
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preoccupied with its worries. Yeah, it's hard to connect with
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God when your mind is racing elsewhere.
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Exactly. And this inward turning often
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makes every conversation about oneself the source used, the
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image of an ingrown toenail. Even a small problem becomes all
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consuming and all your focus gets drawn inward to your own
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pain, your own situation. It causes us to seek to protect
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ourselves rather than giving of ourselves, especially if we've
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been hurt in the past. The temptation is to say Nope,
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I'm not going to let that happen to me again instead of
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submitting to God's will and allowing him to care for us even
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through difficulty. That self protective instinct
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driven by fear. Right.
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And then outwardly, these internal battles have really
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tangible physical and behavioral consequences.
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It's not just in your head. Common symptoms include things
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like sleeplessness because the mind just won't shut off, and
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inability to relax or maybe concentrate on tasks.
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Sometimes nervous energy, like you just can't sit still.
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Muscle tension is huge, leading to constant aches, maybe in the
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neck, shoulders, back, even sweating.
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And beyond those immediate symptoms, chronic worry can lead
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to more serious health problems. Things like a suppressed immune
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system making you more prone to illness, various digestive
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disorders, ulcers, IBS, things like that, heart palpitations.
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And even in severe cases, the burden can become so heavy it
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leads to thoughts of suicide. So this clearly shows that
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strong, undeniable connection between the inner man and the
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outer man. How our spiritual and emotional
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state profoundly impacts our physical well-being.
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It's a holistic problem. And it's vital to, I think, to
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acknowledge, as the sources do, that not all inner churning is
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solely spiritual in origin, right?
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I mean, physical issues can definitely affect our inner
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feelings. Though how one deals with those
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physical effects that can become a spiritual matter like the
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example given being extremely hot or maybe experiencing
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hormonal changes like menopause that can make a person feel
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physically tense, irritable and that can certainly impact their
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mood and lead to anxious feelings.
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That's exactly right, and it's an important qualification.
20:49
Not all problems are purely counseling problems that
20:53
originate solely from inner sin. We're not denying that real
20:56
medical issues affect people, or that chemical imbalances can
20:59
contribute significantly to feelings of anxiety.
21:02
That's real. However, our response to those
21:04
physical effects? How we choose to think and act
21:07
when we're feeling physically off or mentally foggy?
21:10
That reveals much about our hearts focus and whether we are
21:13
ultimately trusting God through it.
21:15
It's about what we do with those feelings, not just the feelings
21:17
themselves. So even if a physical ailment or
21:20
chemical imbalance triggers anxious feelings, how we process
21:23
and respond to that anxiety, whether we let it spiral into
21:25
sinful worry or use it as an opportunity to lean harder on
21:28
God, that's where the spiritual battle often lies.
21:31
Right, the response is key. So we've laid out the problem
21:34
pretty thoroughly. The definitions, the downward
21:37
spiral, the root in self-reliance and unbelief, the
21:41
manifestations. Now the crucial part.
21:44
What's the antidote? How do we break free from this
21:47
self focused spiral of fear and worry?
21:50
Our sources outline this practical 2 fold process,
21:53
putting off the old patterns and putting on new godly responses.
21:57
Where do we even begin with such a fundamental shift?
22:00
The starting point, the absolute foundation for overcoming fear
22:03
and worry, is understanding and truly believing that you can
22:07
trust God, because God is in control now.
22:09
This isn't just some abstract theological concept you nod your
22:12
head to. It has to become the bedrock of
22:14
practical peace in your daily life.
22:16
He is actively involved right now in every single circumstance
22:19
of your life. He's orchestrating them for His
22:20
purposes, even those circumstances that others might
22:23
intend for evil against you. Remember, Joseph, God
22:26
providentially brings things in and out of your life for His
22:28
glory and ultimately for your good, As Romans 8.28 promises.
22:32
His hand is in all things. Believing that deeply, not just
22:35
intellectually. Yes, and when you genuinely
22:37
grasp that God holds the future, that He is working all things
22:40
together for the good of those who love Him, then your hope can
22:42
be securely tied to a trust in Him rather than being
22:46
precariously tied to your ever changing, often frightening
22:48
circumstances. Because worry and fear, at their
22:52
root, inherently deny God's sovereignty and His Providence.
22:55
They implicitly suggest, don't they, that we are somehow wiser
22:58
than God, or that we know our needs better than He does, Which
23:01
is both incredibly foolish and deeply arrogant.
23:04
That whole mindset undermines His wisdom, His power, and His
23:07
loving care for us. But when you truly grasp the God
23:10
is upholding all things by the word of His power, as Hebrew
23:13
says, then a true sense of security can finally begin to
23:16
take root. It allows you to actually rest
23:18
in His care. Our peace comes not from trying
23:20
to manage every variable ourselves, but from knowing and
23:23
trusting the One who manages all variables according to His
23:26
perfect plan. Trusting the manager, not trying
23:28
to be the manager. OK, now our material included
23:32
this really powerful comparison table illustrating the stark
23:35
difference between concern that's wrongly handled at a
23:39
negative anxiety we've been talking about and concern that's
23:41
rightly handled which is about overcoming anxiety through this
23:44
God centered approach. Can you walk us through some of
23:47
the key contrasts? It seems like it could be a
23:49
great self diagnostic tool for anyone listening.
23:51
Absolutely, this comparison is incredibly illuminating for self
23:54
examination. It really helps you pinpoint
23:56
where your own heart truly lies when you feel anxious or
23:59
concerned. OK, let's start with focus.
24:02
When anxiety is wrongly handled, where's your focus?
24:05
It's entirely on tomorrow, isn't it?
24:07
On the unknown future, on all those negative what if
24:10
scenarios. It's that constant spinning in
24:12
circles in your head. But when concern is rightly
24:15
handled, your focus shifts. It comes back to today, to what
24:19
God wants you to do right now, to obeying Him in the present
24:22
moment. It's about being present and
24:24
faithful right where God has placed you, trusting Him with
24:27
what's to come tomorrow. Today's obedience, not
24:29
tomorrow's worries. Exactly.
24:32
Next let's look at trust or reliance.
24:34
Wrongly handled anxiety places Trust where in self, in other
24:39
people, or just in circumstances somehow working out on their
24:41
own. It's relying on your own efforts
24:44
or external factors that are frankly prone to failing us.
24:47
However, rightly handled concern places ultimate trust and
24:50
reliance squarely on God, knowing that when push comes to
24:54
shove, you trust Him over any circumstance, over any person,
24:57
even over yourself. Your confidence rested in His
25:00
character, His promises, not in your own abilities or resources.
25:04
Big difference there. Huge.
25:06
Now consider pursuits and goals. If your anxiety is wrongly
25:09
handled, what are you pursuing? Often temporary things, things
25:12
that are seen fleeting earthly gains like maybe financial
25:15
security. Above all else, a reputation or
25:17
comfort with rightly handled concern.
25:19
Though your pursuits are different, they're eternal,
25:22
focused on things unseen. You're actively seeking God's
25:25
perspective, seeking His Kingdom first, knowing that those are
25:28
the things that truly last. Earthly versus eternal goals,
25:31
right? Then there's our planet actions
25:34
wrongly handled. Anxiety tends to be problem
25:36
centered and it leads to improper independent reactions.
25:40
What does that look like? Well it could be gossiping about
25:42
your worries just event. It could be laziness or inaction
25:45
because you feel paralyzed. It could be murmuring and
25:48
grumbling about your circumstances, maybe to
25:50
collecting prayer altogether. Discouragement is a big one.
25:53
Or even trying to manipulate situations or people to try and
25:56
seize control. It's basically you trying to fix
25:58
the issues in your own strength, often with behaviors that are
26:01
actually self defeating. In contrast, rightly handled
26:05
concern is solution centered but dependent on God and godly
26:08
people. This leads to being prayerful
26:10
first and foremost and then actively seeking wise counsel
26:14
from others. Not just venting about how
26:15
terrible things are, but genuinely asking for guidance on
26:18
how to walk through this situation in a God honoring way.
26:21
It's proactive, independent, not panicked and independent.
26:24
Seeking help versus just spinning?
26:27
Yes. Moving to attitude?
26:29
Wrongly handled. Anxiety is almost always
26:31
characterized by grumbling and fretting.
26:33
It's a mind that has in effect, quenched the Spirit, as Paul
26:37
warns, by refusing to acknowledge God's goodness or
26:40
sovereignty in the situation. But when concern is rightly
26:43
handled, even when you still feel anxious because the
26:45
feelings might not go away immediately, your underlying
26:48
attitude is one of Thanksgiving. You actually fight your flesh to
26:52
be thankful. You actively move your mind
26:54
towards gratitude even in the midst of trials.
26:56
It's a deliberate choice to count your blessings, to
26:59
remember God's faithfulness even when worry tries to pull you
27:02
down into negativity. Choosing gratitude even when it
27:05
feels unnatural. That's it.
27:06
A deliberate choice. Now on the matter of
27:09
responsibility, wrongly handled concern often means you're not
27:13
trusting God to fulfill His responsibility to care for you
27:16
as He promised. And interestingly, it often
27:18
leads to failing to fulfill your own responsibilities properly,
27:21
sometimes leading to laziness or apathy because you just feel
27:24
overwhelmed and give up rightly handled concern.
27:26
However, trust God to do what He will do, His part, and then you
27:30
diligently fulfill your own responsibilities before Him.
27:33
You do your part faithfully, trusting Him completely with His
27:36
part with the outcome. Doing my job, trusting God with
27:39
his OK. Then the symptoms also differ
27:41
greatly. We touched on this.
27:43
Wrongly handled anxiety can manifest physically
27:46
sleeplessness, stomach problems like GI issues or ulcers, and it
27:50
often has a tendency to discourage others.
27:52
With your negativity. You become a wet blanket, as
27:54
they say. Your inner turmoil affects your
27:56
outer well-being and spills over on to those around you.
27:59
However, rightly handled concern, even if you're still
28:02
physically restless, perhaps leads to restful sleep.
28:05
In terms of your soul, your mind can be at peace.
28:08
Even if your body isn't perfectly calm, it often leads
28:10
to better eating habits because your mind is more settled and it
28:13
cultivates a spirit that encourages others rather than
28:16
dragging them down. You can rest, truly rest in
28:19
terms of your soul knowing God is in control.
28:21
Soul rest versus just physical agitation.
28:23
Exactly. And finally, the bottom line
28:25
difference. Wrongly handled concern is
28:27
ultimately displeasing to God. It eclipses His glory because it
28:31
focuses on the problem around self.
28:33
And it is ultimately about loving self and focusing
28:35
intensely on self. It's that ingrown toenail
28:37
analogy again, where every conversation, every thought
28:39
revolves around you and your personal discomfort or fear.
28:42
Conversely, rightly handled concern is glorifying and
28:45
pleasing to God. It stems from an understanding
28:47
that life is not ultimately about me.
28:49
And it leads to actively moving out to help other people,
28:52
sacrificing self rather than protecting self.
28:54
Remember, sinful fear isolates. Healthy trust reaches out and
28:58
gives. That comparison is incredibly
29:00
helpful, seeing the two paths laid out side by side.
29:03
Focus, trust, pursuits, actions, attitude, responsibility,
29:08
symptoms, and the bottom line really clarifying.
29:11
OK, so this is where the rubber meets the road then.
29:13
Given these distinctions, what are the specific actionable
29:16
steps we can take building on this God centered approach?
29:18
How do we actually overcome sinful fear and worry?
29:22
It's one thing to understand the problem and the goal, but quite
29:25
another to actually address it practically in the heat of the
29:27
moment or day by day. Right.
29:30
And overcoming negative anxiety isn't usually a quick fix.
29:32
It involves this twofold continuous process.
29:35
We mentioned putting off the old sinful patterns and putting on
29:38
new godly and obedient responses.
29:41
It's really a daily spiritual discipline, a way of life, not
29:45
just a one time decision. So let's talk about 1 putting
29:48
off confessing and repenting. First, and this is foundational.
29:53
You must confess worry as sin. This isn't just casually saying,
29:57
oh, I shouldn't be doing this or shrugging it off like that's
29:59
just my personality, I'm a warrior.
30:01
No, it's acknowledging honestly before God that your worry is,
30:04
as the sources describe it, a crippling fear, anxious, toiling
30:07
and spinning with your eyes on yourself.
30:09
It's recognizing it as an attempt to rule your own life,
30:12
to basically usurp divine authority and handle things
30:15
yourself. It's calling it what it truly is
30:17
in God's eyes, a form of unbelief, a statement that you
30:19
think you know better than the Almighty.
30:21
This humble, specific confession is the absolute first step
30:24
toward genuine freedom. Not minimizing it, but calling
30:26
it sin. Yes.
30:28
Second, related to that, admit your lack of trust.
30:31
Be brutally honest with God about your fear of what might
30:34
happen if you really let go, if you fully give control of this
30:38
situation, this fear, to Him. Actually say the words, Lord, I
30:42
lack faith in this area. Help my unbelief.
30:44
Don't try to minimize it or pretend you trust more than you
30:46
do, except that you struggle with unbelief, even if it feels
30:49
like a, you know, a rookie confession, or even if you fear
30:52
what others might think if they knew the extent of your
30:54
struggle. This honest admission opens the
30:57
door for God to come in and build your faith.
30:59
True trust often begins with acknowledging where it's absent.
31:02
Honesty before God about the struggle. 3rd, humbly cast
31:05
legitimate cares on God. This is crucial and it comes
31:09
straight from first Peter 5.7. We're commanded to do this.
31:13
And remember, failing to cast your cares on the Lord is
31:15
defined as an act of arrogance or pride.
31:18
It indicates that you're still trying to solve the problems by
31:20
yourself, which the Lord opposes.
31:22
Now, repentance here isn't merely trying to remove the
31:25
object of your fear, like if you fear for your child's safety
31:28
becoming an over the top helicopter parent.
31:31
That's just a horizontal approach trying to control the
31:34
circumstances, and it won't remove the rude emotion of worry
31:37
inside you. Instead, true repentance
31:39
involves submitting yourself to God within the difficult
31:42
circumstance, handling things vertically first as the sources
31:45
say, reminding yourself constantly He can care for me
31:48
better than I can care for myself.
31:50
Resolve to do what it takes to please God in your undesired
31:53
circumstance, and let God resolve the circumstance itself
31:56
as He deems wise. Pray for grace in the trial, not
31:59
just for removal from the trial, because true peace is found in
32:02
walking with Him through it, not necessarily avoiding it.
32:05
Seeking grace within it, not just escape from it, that's
32:08
powerful. It changes everything. 4th step
32:11
in putting off look for idols and the sin beneath the sin.
32:16
This requires some deeper digging.
32:18
It means asking yourself penetrating questions about why
32:20
you were so worried about this particular situation.
32:22
What do you truly want here, or what do you truly not want to
32:25
happen? What underlying desires or
32:27
fears? What potential idols are
32:29
revealed in your heart by this worry?
32:31
For example, asking why do I desperately want my kids to be
32:33
safe might reveal underneath the genuine care and idolatrous
32:37
desire for say, my family name to continue.
32:41
Or perhaps an idol of wanting to be perceived by others as a
32:44
successful parent. If your personal comfort is an
32:46
idol, than any threat to your comfort will trigger worry.
32:49
If your reputation is an idol, then the possibility of being
32:51
shamed will cause intense fear. If control itself is your idol,
32:55
than any uncontrollable circumstance will send you
32:58
spiraling. Getting to these roots helps in
33:00
uprooting the true causes of your anxiety, not just trimming
33:02
the leaves. It's asking that hard question.
33:04
Why am I not OK with a potentially bad outcome here,
33:07
even though I know God promises to care for me regardless?
33:09
What is it that I'm cherishing more than God's will or God's
33:13
sufficiency? Digging down to the idols.
33:16
That takes courage. OK, so that's the putting off
33:19
confessing sin, admitting lass of trust, casting cares, looking
33:22
for idols. What about the other side
33:24
putting on? Right 2 Putting on renewing your
33:27
mind and obedient action. Once you've begun to put off the
33:31
old, you must actively put on the new.
33:33
This is about intentionally replacing those destructive
33:36
thought patterns and responses with God honoring ones.
33:39
First, develop a basic plan for when things are going well.
33:43
This isn't for when you're in crisis mode, but for normal
33:45
life. This plan helps you be on your
33:47
toes, as one source put it, proactively renewing your mind
33:50
daily. Practically, this means
33:52
organizing your day to please God, not just to please yourself
33:56
or react to demands. This includes planning your
33:58
tasks, prioritizing them biblically, and focusing on
34:01
daily progress, not getting overwhelmed by the whole future.
34:05
For many people who struggle with worry, the sources suggest
34:07
you might need to become a list person.
34:10
Actively organize your life. Know what you need to do day by
34:12
day. This helps counter the chaotic,
34:14
out of control feeling that worry often brings.
34:17
And don't make your goals too lofty or future focused.
34:19
Focus on what God wants you to do right now, today, rather than
34:23
getting all wound up in future unknowns or those paralyzing
34:25
what ifs. This simple discipline creates a
34:28
framework for faithful living, one day at a time.
34:31
A proactive structure for faithfulness.
34:34
Exactly. 2nd, and this is for when panic does hit, implement A
34:38
contingency plan for immediate panic or anxiety.
34:41
This needs to be a concise, memorable, maybe even four step
34:45
process that you thought through beforehand, ready for those
34:47
moments of intense distress when you feel that downward spiral
34:51
starting to pull you in. The source suggests something
34:53
like this one. Pray immediately.
34:56
Just cry out to God for help. This isn't necessarily a long,
34:58
formal prayer. It's a desperate appeal.
35:00
Lift your heart to Him right in that moment.
35:02
God help. 2 Review memorized scripture.
35:06
Have relevant verses ready in your mind, verses that speak
35:08
truth directly into your fear or worry, maybe Philippians 4.8 or
35:12
promises about God's presence and care.
35:14
You need to have done the work beforehand by memorizing so
35:17
God's truth is readily accessible when your mind is
35:19
clouded by fear. 3 Seek God's perspective.
35:22
Actively asked God, what is your view in this right now?
35:24
What do you want me to do in this situation?
35:26
This is that crucial vertical move, turning your gaze upwards,
35:28
seeking His will and wisdom, not just reacting based on your own
35:31
fearful understanding. Four, act obediently.
35:35
Make a conscious choice to obey God despite your feelings,
35:38
despite the circumstances. Now go do it.
35:41
As the source says. Take that one next faithful
35:43
step, even if it feels small or insignificant.
35:46
Obedience in spite of feeling is how we grow and trust and break
35:48
the cycle. Pray, review scripture, seek
35:51
perspective, act That's practical.
35:54
I can see how having that ready could make a difference in a
35:56
panic moment. It really can.
35:58
It gives you rails to run on when your thoughts are
36:00
derailing. 3rd and this is a critical daily practice for mind
36:04
transformation. Filter your thoughts to
36:06
Philippians 4.8. When your mind is churning with
36:10
anxious thoughts, you need to actively challenge them.
36:13
Ask yourself, is this thought true?
36:16
Is what I'm spinning around and around in my head actually
36:18
factually true? This challenges those distorted
36:22
perceptions fear creates. For instance, the thought I'm
36:25
definitely going to lose my job and my family will be destitute
36:28
might feel intensely true because of the emotion, but is
36:30
it factually certain that immediate destitution is the
36:33
only possible outcome? This forces you to separate fear
36:36
driven fiction from reality. If the thought isn't true,
36:39
consciously dismiss it. Is it honorable?
36:41
Is what I'm thinking about something dignified, respectful,
36:44
something I'd be OK with if it were made public?
36:46
Or is it maybe manipulative, petty, dwelling on someone
36:48
else's flaws, or somehow ungodly?
36:50
Is it just? Is this thought worthy of God's
36:53
approval? Does it align with his
36:54
righteousness and fairness? Or is it perhaps driven by
36:57
resentment, bitterness, or a desire for revenge?
37:00
Is it pure or holy? As a child of God, am I dwelling
37:03
on something characteristic of unbelief or is this how a
37:06
believer trusting God should think?
37:08
Does it reveal a lack of trust in God or maybe focus on single
37:11
desires? Is it lovely?
37:14
Is what I'm dwelling on actually something worth examining, like
37:17
a beautiful painting or a cherished positive memory?
37:20
Often those anxious what if scenarios are decidedly not
37:23
lovely. They are ugly and disruptive to
37:25
our peace. Is it commendable or admirable?
37:29
If others knew what I was thinking right now, would they
37:31
find it admirable? Would you tell someone else
37:33
struggling with anxiety that this is a good thought pattern
37:35
for them to adopt? Probably not.
37:37
Is it excellent? Worthy of praise?
37:40
Is this the best possible thing for my mind to be dwelling on
37:42
right now? Or am I just analyzing all the
37:44
negative aspects of my life in a way that's completely
37:46
unproductive, Like obsessing over the cracks in a Cliff that
37:49
looks like it's about to cave in?
37:51
This means actively redirecting your mind toward what is truly
37:54
noble, constructive, and praiseworthy, rather than
37:57
getting stuck in destructive rumination.
37:59
Wow, going through that filter, it really forces you to evaluate
38:03
the thoughts instead of just letting them run wild.
38:06
So it's not just about trying not to think bad thoughts, which
38:08
honestly feels impossible when anxiety is strong.
38:12
It's about putting on purposely choosing to think about things
38:14
that are excellent and worthy of praise.
38:17
It's a proactive feeling of the mind, a deliberate cultivation
38:20
of God centered thoughts. Yes, exactly.
38:23
You've got it. It's an act of replacement, not
38:24
just a passive resistance. And this ongoing process of mind
38:27
renewal is powerfully supported by, first and foremost, engaging
38:32
deeply with Scripture, letting God's truth saturate your
38:35
thoughts daily. It also means things like
38:37
listening to good, biblically sound music that directs your
38:39
thoughts and effectuals toward God, and having meaningful,
38:42
genuinely edifying conversations with other believers who can
38:45
speak truth and encouragement into your life.
38:47
These activities help to fill the mind with what God wants us
38:49
to dwell on, actively pushing out those unproductive, anxious
38:53
thoughts that try to besiege us. 4th element of putting on focus
38:57
on Christ. Look intently at Jesus's
38:59
example, especially on the cross.
39:01
He continually trusted his Father even as his circumstances
39:04
got progressively worse, didn't they?
39:06
Ultimately committing his Spirit into the Father's hands.
39:09
He is the supreme example of trusting God even when
39:11
everything seems lost. And understand you have a
39:14
sympathetic high priest, as Hebrews tells us, that knows
39:16
what it is that we're going through.
39:17
He understands temptation. He understands suffering.
39:20
Rely on His finished work on the cross.
39:22
Know that He is worthy to be trusted because He has already
39:25
overcome sin, death, and the very things we fear most.
39:29
Cast your anchor into God through Christ.
39:31
He promises to walk through the valley with you, your pain, your
39:34
worry. It resonates with Him.
39:35
He's our helper. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the
39:38
author and perfecter of our faith.
39:40
Yes, 5th and this ties much of it together.
39:43
Seek first the Kingdom of God. Ultimately, by trusting God and
39:46
actively seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness above all
39:49
else, you will overcome fear and worry.
39:52
Matthew 6.33 promises that, and seeking His Kingdom often
39:55
involves focusing on how you can help other people rather than
39:58
being solely self focused and isolated in your own struggles.
40:02
Remember, sinful fear isolates. It, draws us inward, cuts us
40:06
off. Healthy, godly trust reaches
40:08
out. It sacrifices self for the good
40:10
of others, which paradoxically brings greater peace and
40:12
perspective to our own lives. Getting our eyes off ourselves
40:15
and onto God's Kingdom and others needs.
40:17
Precisely. And finally, maybe most
40:20
encouragingly, take baby steps. You don't need to conquer the
40:24
world or have everything figured out or feel perfectly peaceful
40:27
all at once. That's not the goal.
40:29
The path to overcoming worry isn't about achieving instant
40:32
perfection. It's about the direction you're
40:34
heading. Just be faithful with each small
40:36
step. God calls you to trust Him with
40:38
the next immediate action, the next obedient response.
40:41
Knowing that God is honored by your effort to trust and obey
40:44
Him, not just by you suddenly fixing everything in your life
40:47
instantly. Each small act of trust builds
40:50
upon the last. It's a process.
40:52
That's really free. Baby steps, faithfulness in the
40:55
small things. But what a challenging but also,
40:57
I think deeply freeing deep dive into understanding and
41:01
overcoming fear and worry. We've seen that worry isn't just
41:04
an emotion we feel, it's often a battle for control rooted in
41:07
self-reliance and unbelief. And that true, lasting peace
41:10
comes not from eliminating problems, but from humbly
41:13
casting our cares on the Lord, trusting His complete
41:15
sovereignty and loving care. Indeed, and by truly embracing
41:19
God's control, by learning to identify our own self focused
41:22
tendencies and idols, and by actively putting off that
41:26
unbelief while intentionally putting on God centered thoughts
41:29
and obedient actions, especially using tools like that
41:32
Philippians 4.8 filter and that practical contingency plan, we
41:36
really can begin to experience the peace of God which surpasses
41:39
all understanding guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus
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knowing as Paul assures us that the God of peace will be with us
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as we do these things. So for you, our listener, as we
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wrap up, here's maybe a final thought to consider.
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If sinful worry is, at its heart, an attempt to scoot God
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off His throne in some area of your life, what 1 practical God
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honoring baby step will you take today, right now, to consciously
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cast a specific care, a specific fear, onto Him and choose to
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truly believe that He cares for you better than you can care for
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yourself? May God grant you His grace as
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you strive to trust Him fully in that.
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Thank you so much for joining us for this deep dive.
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Until next time, keep thinking reformed.