Truth is: Anxiety, Stress, Worries and Fear are meant to rob us of our joy! The Bible has equipped us with armor, and His word is a sword against Satan. We can win the spiritual war if we train ourselves in spiritual martial arts.
Coming from a traumatic situation or home life can no doubt be troubling. Anxiety, fear, depression, worry, just a few ailments to name, can overcome even the faithfullest of Christians if they are not dressed in the full armor of God. If you are not ready for an attack, then you can easily be overcome.
Growing up I witnessed many things that we all want to shield our children from. My parents introduced me to church at a very young age. I can remember being in the Nativity play, vacation bible school, reciting bible verses I had put so much work into remembering. We started out on the right path. My father had many issues from his childhood. He turned to alcohol and drugs to ease his pain, until my six year old brother was diagnosed with cancer. My Father changed his life around. We started going to church again, and things seemed to get better, until they weren't again. Life moved on, and old habits came rushing back. The fear that a child feels when their father is engaged in a drunken rage, and their mother is so fearful that she is frozen in place while taking all the abuse, is almost insurmountable. My father turned to a powerful drug: Methamphetamine. I was a teenager by this time and had a few years of salvation under my belt. I had to grow up very quickly, and I learned what it meant to put on the full armor of God to battle my spiritual wars.
Anxiety is no joke. I never really knew that I had a problem with anxiety until I became a mother. The trauma that I endured growing up didn't seem to affect me much until I was fully responsible for another person. Babies cry a lot. They need you for everything, and in my case, they don't like to allow you to get much sleep. The way I dealt with anxiety, though I didn't know that is what I was suffering from before, was to get somewhere by myself, and listen to music, or pray, or sit in silence. I realized quickly that you can't do to much of that when you have a newborn. All of your free time now belongs to a tiny baby. I had my first full on panic attack shortly after my daughter was born. Racing heart beat, intense worry and fear, and a hotness flushed over my body. I chalked it up to being a change in hormones after the baby was born. But later I realized that I was suffering from anxiety. I soon began changing. I was snappy, had more of these attacks, and my husband thought I was just over exaggerating.
Soon after my brother came to live with me, he was having the same "fits," as I like to refer to them. All these attacks had some sort of trigger. In my case, loud noises (crying baby), stressful situations, yelling or arguing, disagreeing of any sort, or being around certain types of people, or social situations, were what really set me off. As kids, growing up in a home where there was constant turmoil, yelling, fights, feeling of uncertainty, left a mark on my brother and me. I guess you could equate it to some sort of post traumatic stress. I realized that all of these things that were happening to me stemmed from the fear and uncertainty I had growing up.I like to be in control of everything, know how things are going to work out, and have certainty. Unfortunately, none of these things come as easy as we like in life, and sometimes God doesn't let us see the whole picture, he only hands us a small piece. I struggled with this for a long time.
I eventually realized that overcoming this anxiety was not going to be near as hard if I just let go. I had to remember that God has my best interests at heart. He will provide always. If I don't see a solution, or an end in sight to my pain, God does. I slowly started to trust God with my life, only making it harder on myself. When you put your life and trust into his hands fully, then the anxiety, fears and stress fall off of your shoulders. You may not know how in the world a problem in your life will be solved, but God does. So sit back, and put your trust in him!
Overcoming this anxiety was not a simple do this or do that. It wasn't any medication, or miracle drug for me. I had to first forgive my parents, mostly my Father, and learn to trust them again. It took years, but after finding the Lord they both became sober. That distrust in them did not magically disappear by no means, but I began a relationship with them based on forgiveness. The most important part of overcoming was prayer. Lifting my worries, and fears, triggers of the anxiety to the Lord. I prayed for peace, and peace I was granted. I prayed for stillness when my body began to shake, and I was stilled. I prayed for my thoughts to be eased, and they were. I was able to fall asleep at night with out lying awake in fear. I was able to let go of all the things that plagued me. The attacks still come, but I am prepared. I know how to control them. I recite scripture. I remember what the Word tells me about anxiety, how God provides, and that I can overcome these things with the help of the Lord. I just have to let go, and let Him take them on for me.
The Bible says that we should not worry about anything, God will provide, and that fear is not from the Lord, but instead from the devil. Fear is meant to rob us of our joy that the Lord provides. The Bible tells us over and over again, "Do not be afraid." Be courageous, casting all our fears and anxieties to Him. Kicking Satan out of our minds to win the spiritual battles will be a piece of cake when you put on the full armor of God!
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:10-18
Our conflict with Satan is a spiritual one, not physical. No Tangible weapon is going to defeat him when he makes his move against us. You have to put on the full Armor of God to strike him down.
The Helmet of Salvation: By believing that Christ died for our sins and rose again. We have to turn from our sin and live for Christ.
The belt of truth: To identify Satan's lies. It keeps us from giving into the worlds beliefs.
The Breastplate of Righteousness: Being fair, honest, and humble. Remembering that it is Jesus who has taken our place so that we may be called righteous.
Shield of Faith: Being sure that God will keep his promises, and Faith in God protects you when you are tempted in doubt.
The sword of the spirit: The word of God is our defense weapon.
Feet being prepared with the Gospel of Peace: Being right with God, and content in times of trouble. Jesus said that peacemakers are blessed.
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you. Psalms 55:22-23.
But now thus says the Lord , he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isiah 43:1
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isiah 43:1
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalms 56:3
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control 2 Timothy 1 :7
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matthew 6:25-34
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”Joshua 1:9
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Proverbs 12:25
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Romans 8:31-39.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Psalms 118:6
Verses taken from the Holy Bible ESV. English Standard Version.
*I am not a Doctor, and my beliefs are not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. You should consult with your physician about starting, continuing, or discontinuing any type of medication or treatments.
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