Psalm 139: 23-24; Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Do you believe anxiety can be a habit? I ask this because all around me I see significant suffering. And it seems that as a culture we bend toward this mindset as a habit. We surf the wave of success at all costs, use comparison of the fittest as a measure of identity, and pursue beauty as a way of life.
Of course we are stressed and anxious. These rigid lanes of existence promote insecurity, feelings of lack, and often unattainable ideals.
For clarification, anxiety is a serious mental health disorder. One that is therapeutically characterized by feelings of worry and fear that interfere with one’s daily activities. Not to mention the mass of information linking neurobiology and how we experience the effects of stress and anxiety.
But do you think anxiety can also be a habit for some of us who don’t necessarily cross the line of diagnosis, medication, or hospitalization?
If we buy in to the cultural mindset of anxiety, we quickly find ourselves stuck in the muck of instability. We ignore warning signals and adjust to the conditional stress best we can. Even so, this habit of anxiety isn’t unlike the habits associated with our craving behavior. We seek to silence the discomfort through pleasure principles and pain avoidance.
The only way to change what isn’t working is to choose to change how we respond.
Changing how we respond by tapping into the power of God’s presence halts the downward spiral of negative thoughts. You can do this any number of ways but it requires stillness. This follows the directive of Psalm 46:10; Be still and know that I am God.
In the stillness of His presence we experience what is called: Divine Peace. And it is this peace that allows us to see our current situations, even if they don’t change, with new perspective.
Is it as easy as that? Honestly, no. Anxiety isn’t going anywhere. It’s a fact of life. We are at the mercy of unpredictable circumstances that wage war on our thoughts and emotions. But what we can do is change our response to it and in turn ease the burden of anxiety.
If anxiety is a habit for you, consider a new approach. Making a conscious decision to stop the spiral of anxious thoughts starts with stillness. Invite God into your stressful thoughts and let His peace steady you in the storm.
Be bold. Be brave. Be free.
Discover & Discuss
- Does anxiety play a major role in your thoughts and everyday life?
- What causes most of your anxiety?
- How can you practice the power of God’s presence this week during times of anxiety?