It was just over a year ago that I had my first foray with anxiety. This was not a slow and steady introduction, more like waking up in the midst of being pushed out of a plane to parachute behind enemy lines. In the span of one night, it felt as though my mind had gone from a safe haven where I could parse out my feelings to a chaotic and unpredictable environment. Not only had my mind betrayed me, but so had my body. My heart constantly raced, blood-pressure skyrocketed, and my stomach was flooded with nausea. I remember one night sitting in the waiting room at the local ER, heart pounding so hard that my vision blurred, thinking with certainty that I was about to die.

That was my first panic attack.

In a Western world that is so focused on the prevalence of mental health, it is shocking how unprepared you can still feel when it creeps up in your own life. Anxiety often feels like an uncontrollable storm that has blown in without warning. It is the reality of living in a fallen world that has not only impacted us spiritually, but also mentally and physically.

Thankfully, our gospel hope extends to all of those categories.

Proactive protection

As instantaneous as anxiety can feel, it is rarely the case that it has spontaneously arisen. Typically, there are patterns or events in our lives that, when accumulated, create the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back. The aim is not to predict or address that singular moment where everything comes crashing down, but to prevent mental stockpiling from occurring in the first place. Every day we face a multitude of potential stressors: traffic jams, an upset boss or bad shift, and that unexpected bill in the mail. Each one can feel insignificant or fleeting but can subconsciously compound if left unaddressed. I firmly believe this is one of the reasons that Paul encourages us, as believers, to consistently be in prayer over every aspect of our lives. Recognize those small moments and give them to the Lord as an offering that He might use to do a work in your heart and mind. Make a habit of sharing your “highs and lows” at the end of the week with another trusted believer so that you might recognize both the blessings and trials, name them, and practically address them.

Control what you can

One of the most common lies anxiety tells you is that you have lost complete control. While it may be true that some aspects of this experience are outside of your influence, there always remains opportunities to make an active impact on your state of mind. Peace does not come passively; it is sought after, practiced, and won. Perhaps this is a meeting with a pastor to discuss doubts that have arisen, a session with a counsellor to address past trauma, or an appointment with a doctor. God has gifted all of these people for a reason. One of my greatest mental health breakthroughs was working with a trainer to improve my physical health through diet and exercise. Your faithfulness to the Lord is not put into question when you seek help. Our ultimate hope is in our Father, but His mercies are poured out through the hands, hearts, and minds of His children.

Anchor yourself with truth

Potentially the most prevalent and devastating impact of anxiety is its ability to create distrust. With little to no prompting you begin to question others, yourself, your health, your future, even God. It produces within you a lack of confidence that only serves to greater compound the despair, and so the cycle goes on. With that, the question must be asked: What is the cure when the main symptom is lack of assurance? Surely, it must be total confidence. Surprisingly, no. The chaos of your life will not be quelled by curating your existence to the point where nothing remains unforeseen or unknown. Such a life is impossible, and attempted pursuits of it tend towards unhealthy seclusion. Unpredictability is inherent to the human experience. What counters it is not more assurance, but trust. Trust that, whatever occurs, you serve a God who is in control, knows all things, and has your eternity secured in His hands. Preach that truth to yourself each morning, write it on your heart through reading scripture (Romans 8:38-39), and pray that God might make those words your active reality.