A Practical Guide to Fight Anxiety and Worry

With all the evil in the world, I thought it would be beneficial to fight anxiety and worry with soothing words from the Bible. There is COVID-19, deception at all levels of government, recent deaths, money, broken marriages, and the list goes on and on.

Life is stressful. Here you will find Dr. Gary E. Hill's guide to fighting anxiety, stress and worry with the Word of God, the Bible.

First, from the leading book of the New Testament, we have the former tax collector Matthew with this bit of Scripture he took down as he followed in the dust of the Rabbi. Read it carefully, and let it sink into your soul. Jesus Christ said,

Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

What a beautiful proverb. How true it is – each day does have enough trouble. Matthew, of course, was a tax collector and overlord who worked for the Roman government and not well-liked because of that. Matthew's surname was Levi (Mark 2.14), who responded quickly to the call of Jesus Christ and followed the Lord till his death.

Second, as we continue, Paul was at his best with this peaceful and appealing Scripture from the former persecutor of the Church and the Jewish members of it.

Paul wrote, "And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

Paul founded the Church at Philippi on his second missionary journey, and the first Church established by him in Asia. (Acts 16) God's peace is not the peace of the world. It is a deep soul peace that is beyond our ability to understand, but it is easy for us to thank Him for giving it to us.

The Third is probably one of my favorite Scriptures concerning Jesus Christ and who He is. John, the beloved one, wrote this saying of Jesus Christ:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

God's peace is not the peace of the world, which seems to be the theme. It is a peace that goes down to the core of our soul's core southing us tranquility. It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, "Spiritual relationship is far more precious than physical. Physical relationship divorced from spiritual is a body without a soul." I agree with that.

Fourth, we go to the Old Testament and the Psalm, which is a Book of songs, prophecies, prose, prayer, chant, and poems that you could study for years and not even scratch the surface. Here is a simple one. If we did it, we would be so much better off:

"When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise—in God, I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 56:3, 4)

Man cannot do anything to us that God does not permit them to do. In God, we trust because He loves us as like a child. Man is not something we need to be afraid of in this world. A poll taken year's ago found the following:

One hundred percent of the Christian youth leaders ranked this generation's "loss of a Biblically-based value system" as the number one concern as the dominant problem facing youth today? Don't we all share their concern?

Fifth, we have a Solomon Proverb. Solomon spoke over 3,000 sayings that were written and over 1,000 songs from this brilliant mind. A proverb simply means comparison and is wisdom for living in peace. It says:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5,6)

I recall from my studies that God wants your all. It is all or you are not going to get the full guidance of the Holy Ghost. After all, it is He who has made us, and it is He will make your path straight. Want some straight paths?

Now, Sixth, we are moving on to Luke, the Physician, and his words he heard that Jesus said are very soothing.

'Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this tiny thing, why do you worry about the rest?" (Luke 12.25,26)

Paul's excellent advice is claiming just to read. He was in his first imprisonment in Rome when he wrote

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

The Colossian believers had Paul teach them of a triad of Christian Graces: Faith, Hope, and Love (cf. 1 Corinthians 13.13).

Seventh we have the Colossae letter, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

Put our minds on the things that are right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Memorize this list and think about these things for peace and love. Well done, Paul.

John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Here we have one of the most famous words of the entire group. Peace. Where do you find it, and when you do, put it in force in your own life? Real peace comes from God above with Jesus Christ giving us His peace through the indwelling Holy Ghost.

Eighth, now from one of the three most famous verses in the Bible, the 23^rd Psalm probably written by David being apocalyptic and more beautiful

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23.4)

Jesus Christ, through the Holy Ghost, is always with us even in the darkest valleys of our lives. We are not to fear evil because the maker of light is in us that are born again by faith.

Ninth, another striking Psalm, "I was young, and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." (Psalm 37:25)

I have seven adult children counting adoption, and as of today, none are hungry. If one wants to strengthen their resolve, then the Psalm is one to claim for your family. We are not forsaken even amongst all the evil in the world.

"I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." (Psalm 91:2)

The way to fight fear is with faith. Faith grows strong when we trust in God, who is our fortress and refuge. The bottom line always goes back to studying and knowing God's Word, the Bible.

Tenth, Paul says, "No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)

In my college work, they called Romans Paul's thesis, and it does read passionately like he is before a Dissertation Committee. If He is our God, we are more than conquerors as His children. Paul is direct as well, stating "No" get rid of wrong thinking and know who you are in Christ Jesus.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

What a promise. When we go to the Lord Jesus in our state of weariness and worry, He will give us a real rest. One you cannot find in anything else, anyone else, or anywhere else.

Finally, eleventh, we will end this essay with a gem from John the Apostle and David, King of Israel.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, even torment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

my hope comes from him.

Indeed he is my rock and my salvation;

He is my fortress; I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God;

he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, you people;

pour out your hearts to him,

for God is our refuge." (Psalm 62:5-8)

Thank you for reading this essay. Please leave feedback on the essay below. Thank you in advance for doing so.

I would like to thank you for reading the post. I hope you found some peace from the clamor of the world. The verses I chose by no means cover the subject in its entirety. There are many more.

The ones I used were the ones that I love and they give me some peace from being weary and rundown. It is easy to get that way. Instead, if we are peaceful and relaxed mentally through the Holy Spirit, our lives will not pass by so quickly.

Again, thank you for reading, write some feedback, and peace be unto you, Dr. Gary E. Hill