A Good Word About Anxiety

I recently read a verse in Proverbs that has stuck in my thinking. Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” I think all of us know what it feels like to be weighed down with anxiety. It dampens our spirits, dominates our thinking, and can damage our effectiveness in fulfilling our responsibilities. Doctors can tell us of a multitude of ailments which are anxiety-induced. From purely a human perspective we can see the negative consequences of anxiety.

From a spiritual perspective, we realize that anxiety is so much more. Anxiety is sin. Anxiety reflects a lack of trust in God—perhaps in His sovereignty, His goodness, His power, or His love. The Bible is full of commands such as Do not fear, Do not fret, and Do not be anxious. Anxiety disobeys these commands. How can we overcome anxiety?

We must stop and pray. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.” We need to stop being anxious, and instead bring everything to the Lord in prayer. We must cast all our anxiety upon the Lord, knowing that He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7)

We must stop and seek God. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells his listeners three times--do not be anxious (v25,31,34). Literally, he says, stop being anxious. Aren’t you glad that God know our frailties, and instructs us? We are to stop being anxious about our life, our food, our clothing, our tomorrow—all the issues of this life. Instead we are to, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.’ (v33). We must seek God. We must look at life from His perspective. We must set our affections on things above, not on the things that are on earth (Col 3:2). Our focus must be on the spiritual and the eternal rather than the physical and the temporal.

We must stop and trust. In the first eight verses of Psalm 37, David says three times “Do not fret” (v. 1,7,8). Instead we are to trust in the Lord (v. 3,5). We must realize that these two attitudes are contradictory and mutually exclusive. When we fret, we are not trusting in the Lord. When we are trusting in the Lord, we will not fret. David develops what it means to trust in the Lord. It involves delighting ourselves in the Lord (v.4)—pursuing our joy in Him, thankful for all the blessings He wisely and lovingly gives us. It involves committing our way to the Lord (v.5)—seeking to follow Him and not our own desires. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” It involves resting in the Lord (v7)—dependent on and content in Him, casting our burdens upon the Lord and leaving them there. It involves waiting for the Lord (v7,9)—acknowledging His plan is far superior to our own and His timing is always perfect. As Psalm 27:14 exhorts, “Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” As we wait patiently for Him, our heart is strengthened, not anxious.

We must stop and listen. Proverbs 12:25 reminds us that a good word makes a heart glad. We must continue to put off anxiety, and put on listening to that good word. Do we daily spend time in God’s Word? Do we regularly and eagerly expose ourselves to good Bible teaching? Do we surround ourselves with other believers who will encourage us spiritually and help us to think biblically? Are we open to biblical exhortation and even reproof from others?

Our hearts need not be weighed down with anxiety. We can stop being anxious and pray, seek God, trust in Him, and listen to that good word which will make our hearts glad.