“Anxiety: 100 %.” This is what a student posted about a personality test she had recently taken on Facebook. The test divides an individual’s personality into 16 traits, one being anxiety. I am not surprised, because university counseling centers across our nation are overflowing with students whose presenting problem is anxiety. But with a masters degree in counseling psychology and personal experience, I know these traits are not fixed and can move to a more balanced position, as I wrote a couple of weeks ago. I also know present-day realities can influence one’s answers on such personality tests.
For most students, and many adults, life is perpetually overwhelming. They view anxiety as normative for them and unavoidable. I interact with a lot of them on a regular basis. The interesting thing is most of those with whom I associate are believers, or at least claim to be. So the question is, in the face of their persistent anxiety, how do they respond to the commands of Scripture, such as those the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian Church? Do they take into consideration, from a human perspective, that Paul is writing as one who five times received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one; three times was beaten with rods; once was pelted with stones; three times was shipwrecked; spent a night and a day in the open sea and was constantly on the move; was in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from his fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers; labored and toiled and often went without sleep; knew hunger and thirst and went often without food; had been cold and naked; and faced daily the pressure of his concern for all the churches? (II Corinthians 11:24-28)
If in the midst of his life circumstances, Paul can say, “do not be anxious about anything,” then shouldn’t that give each of us pause when we want to excuse our anxiety because of what life is currently throwing at us? Should any of us accept that anxiety for the follower of Jesus is normal, or worse, an integral part of our personality?
There is no doubt that all of us are prone to anxiety; thus, the reason for Paul’s command. It is a trait of fallen humanity, but it is far from unchangeable. Following Jesus is a walk of obedience, and the more we are obedient, the easier it becomes. As Paul says elsewhere, we walk by faith, not by sight. In other words, regardless of what we think or feel, we obey. Thus, when we feel anxious, which we will, then we recognize the command of Scripture and obey. We put our anxiousness aside and go to the Lord in prayer, asking Him, pleading with Him to give us strength to cope and thanking Him for how He has blessed us in our lives. And we do it daily or even more often. We do it alone and we do it together with our fellow brothers and sisters. This was Paul’s way of dealing with the overwhelming circumstances in his life. It should be ours as well.
Today, if you are overwhelmed and anxious, instead of accepting it as normative, remember Paul’s life and heed his words. Take your anxiety to the Lord. Then you can have peace in whatever overwhelming circumstances in which you find yourself.
© Jim Musser 2018
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