Overcoming anxiety: Finding spiritual unity with God

It’s not spoken about often enough, but anxiety is one of the leading mental health problems globally. Anxiety comes to humans naturally as a reaction to the uncertain future, whether it be war or political anxiety, social nervousness or financial worries, the list of things to worry about can seem endless, but the Bible teaches us to think differently.

Matthew 6:31-34, Jesus addresses the issue of worry: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

In the original writings of the New Testament, the Greek word used for worry is “MERIMNAO,” which means to be anxious or to be overly concerned. This speaks of a state of mind that is preoccupied with cares or burdens, a form of anxious attention that distracts one from living in the present moment and trusting in God’s provision. 

The bible reminds us to remain single minded in our faith, and this is a necessary requisite for the elimination of passive anxiety. Anxiety creates instability and division of the mind that directly stops stable faith. James describes worry as stemming from doubt, doubt that comes from a lack of trust in Gods plan. James 1:6-8 "He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James describes a "double-minded" person who lacks faith. 

This suggests that truly trusting in God’s provision, as taught by Jesus, involves releasing anxiety. It is a call to prioritise spiritual pursuits over material concerns, trusting that God will provide for our needs.

So the choice is ours, we either be the wave of the sea tossed and blown by the wind or we face our worries with a confident smile and a bold step forward, knowing we walk the path that God lays before us.

James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that testing of your faith produces perseverance.”