Anxiety has plagued humankind since the dawn of time. Modern society is plagued with physical, mental and social ills caused by anxiety. This article looks at Saul, later named Paul, who lived roughly 2,000 some years ago and the wisdom/therapy handed down through his life and words.
The Apostle Paul lived during Jesus’ time. It is unknown whether Paul met Jesus prior to Jesus death on the cross. What is known, is Paul – a Jewish member of the Sanhedrin and a Roman citizen, was given official authority to direct the persecution of those who followed Jesus as the Messiah/Christ. However, when Saul was traveling on a road to a city called Damascus to carry out his duties, he, himself, encountered the risen Jesus Christ. Jesus appeared to him and asked him, “Saul, Saul – Why do you persecute me?” Saul, later re-named Paul, was literally knocked off his … donkey and experienced temporary blindness great light that accompanied the encounter. Saul was given instructions to go to …. And be instructed further in “The Way,” which he did. Needless to say, this was a whole re-orienting of Saul’s life-purpose; from persecutor to promoter of Jesus Christ. Saul’s name even was changed to Paul (Acts 9:1-32). And, now he, Paul, was on the receiving end of much persecution: beatings, stoning, imprisonment, shipwrecked, tortured … the list goes on. Paul’s life was constantly threatened.
It is safe to say, Paul experienced much anxiety. But he didn’t let the threats and the fears deter him from his mission which was to spread the truth of Jesus Christ throughout the then known world (Acts 13 –27). I suggest Paul was able to do what he did because he learned the remedy for dealing with his own anxiety. Paul wrote this remedy in a letter to the congregants in Philippi. It was written under anxiety producing conditions: Paul was imprisoned (Phil. 1:12-26, 2:17) and most likely, according to most Biblical scholars, he was imprisoned in Rome where he awaited probable execution (Acts 28). I imagine he wrestled with anxious thoughts – “What if I’m never released?” “What if I die here?” He also, could no longer travel to fulfill his calling the way he had been. “What if the rest of the world doesn’t learn about Jesus?” However, it is in this setting, the theme of his letter to the Philippian church and to us today developed: “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoice!” The words “joy,” and “rejoice” are found 16 times in the letter’s 104 words! I hope you will read those words for yourself and find the answers Paul found to his “What if …?” questions.
But he also writes the remedy for all of our “What ifs.” Anxiety can grow and is fed by continued anxious thinking. Anxious thinking causes our neurological brain to activate bio-chemicals such as adrenaline and cortisol to be released into our bodies which gives the increasingly disturbing feeling of more and more anxiety. Anxious thinking typically begins with some form of “What if …..?” For example, “What if – I lose my job?” “What if I get a bad grade?” “What if they don’t like me?” “What if I make a mistake?” The list goes on and on. But “What if …?” asks a question we can’t really answer, because “What if …?” has to do with the future – and we don’t know the future. Only God knows the future. We can make guesses but usually our guesses lead to more “What if …?” thinking and we become more and more anxious. Here is an example of “What if” thinking leading to more and more anxious thinking and becoming, an ‘anxiety carnival,’ as one client put it:
“Oh no! Its Tuesday and the teacher just told us there is a test on Thursday but I have to work on Wednesday and now I won’t have enough time to study! OH NO! What if I get a bad grade? And what if I don’t pass the class? And what if I flunk out of school? And what if I can’t get a job? And what if I end up on the street? AND what I the homeless shelter is overcrowded and I have no place to go …. AHHHHH!”
Anxiety makes it hard to concentrate, and hard to sleep. There may be other physical symptoms such as stomach and/or headaches. None of which are good for test taking either!
Paul wrote the antidote in Philippians 4:4-8.
4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! … 5b The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, 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 … and the God of peace will be with you.” (Bible: New International Version)
A simple formula is suggested here to help us deal with anxious thinking:
STOP the anxious thinking. The English translation – “Do not be anxious …” would be better translated from the Greek as, “do not continue anxious thinking…” Much like a thought of temptation that suddenly enters our minds, we cannot keep an anxious thought from entering our mind – but, much like the tempting thought, we can control what we do with it. We can choose to STOP it and tell ourselves the truth. “
TRUTH – I don’t know the answer to “What if …?” What if ….?” Has to do with the future and I don’t know the future. But I do know God…
REFOCUS – Here, Paul tells us to refocus on God who is all powerful. Simply ask God to supply what is needed in the situation and thank God. Then, note the peace that comes when the anxious thoughts are no longer allowed to control. Instead, you take control over them and turn from inward anxious thinking to outward trust in God.
RESET – v.8 gives lots of great suggestions for meditation, helping us turn away from anxious thinking. Resetting the neurology of a brain that is recovering from anxious thinking is very important.
Remember the example above of learning only two days before that one has a test. Using the Philippians 4:4-6 example, the inner dialogue, instead of becoming an “anxiety carnival,” could move from anxious thinking to ‘highly motivated concern’ with much better results:
“Oh no, its Tuesday and I just learned I have a test on Thursday … and I have to work all day Wednesday! Oh no! What if I don’t have enough time to study? STOP! Let’s see – I could study tonight instead of going over to my friend’s house. … I could wake up early and review before work. I could review when I get home from work. I could pray, get a good night’s sleep and pray again – asking God to help me do my best.”
Instead of anxiety robbing the ability to concentrate, rest and feel good – Anxious thinking about the future is stopped. Instead, refocusing on what is possible in the present can help to attain peace and power for a healthier life.
Also, see Groff Blog Article: “Hope for Overcoming Anxiety,” by Christy Bakker, LMHC
