Do you often feel guilty that you struggle with anxiety? Do you beat yourself up afterwards? When you hear, “Be anxious for nothing but in everything and with thanksgiving present your requests to God” (Phil 4:6-7) do you feel more burdened knowing that you are often anxious and filled with worry?
Indeed the Scriptures speak very frequently about our anxieties and worries. Might it be that it is a human experience (this side of the Fall) that will not be removed? If you worried less about your worries; if you felt less shame and guilt for them, how might that change how you respond to your worries?
Discuss!
I leave you with this thought as you ponder your way of responding to your worry. Psalm 56:3 says, When I am afraid I put my trust in you. It doesn’t say that such trust erases fear. You can be afraid and be full of anxiety and trust God in the middle of that experience. One does not necessarily invalidate the other.
Musings on Faith and Psychology 
Couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve come to think of God’s “Fear not” statements as comfort given to a two-year-old rather than commands given to a warrior. Here’s a blog on that with a handout at the end containing some practical suggestions and journaling ideas: http://dearchristiancounselor.com/fear-not-command-or-comfort/
Isaiah’s words (50:4) – “The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.” reflect my immediate response to your thoughts. Thank you!
The first time I was pregnant we knew something was wrong early on and my entire church spent six weeks praying… and then she died. I was told it was for the best and God would teach me through this which sounded like I had done something wrong and God needed to teach me a lesson. A year later I was pregnant again and everyone at church said “you just need to trust God” or “just have faith”. Something about pregnancy eliminated any filter I normally had so my actual response was “I did that the first time. Wasn’t really happy with the results”. I think the idea that trusting God means there’s “nothing to worry about” is not possible without a lot of beating yourself up for having doubts or for wanting something that might not be in his plan. Maybe the advantage of prayer has nothing to do with results and everything to do with having someone to lean on in the middle of the worst fears. Like a child afraid of a storm that feels better in their mother’s arms.
So well said. Thank you.
Reblogged this on geraldfordcounsel and commented:
May I share another blog post? This is one, of the blogs I read, and this post, I believe, is one to share. I have often shared this same thoughts with clients in the Counseling Room.