Tips For Managing Anxiety – Glorify Blog

Do you find yourself attacked by anxious, intrusive thoughts? Or feel the impact of anxiety on your body? Life today can seem like a recipe for anxiety. Here we share our tips for managing anxiety.

It is true that you were designed to live a life of freedom, a life defined by joy. Use these tips to take your first step toward that freedom.

Learn from the Bible: Martha and Anxiety

It’s good to remember that anxiety and restlessness are not new. A lot of biblical heroes have had to deal with their own fears, navigating them with God. Looking back on their lives can be a great source of comfort and lessons for your own journey with anxiety.

The story of Martha is a famous example of someone in Jesus’ life who was affected by fear and anxiety.

Martha, who was once a friend of Jesus, is often used as an example of what not to do. Her sister Mary, who famously poured a precious perfume on Jesus’ feet, is celebrated for her devotion and focus on Him. Martha, instead of sitting at Jesus’ feet, was busy receiving guests.

In Luke 10:41-42, Jesus said: “Martha, Martha… you are worried and troubled about many things.”

In the ESV version, which is a word-for-word translation of the original Greek into English, this verse says: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and confused about many things.”

Martha did not sit at Jesus’ feet, where she should have been, because she was worried. In short, her anxiety prevented her from experiencing an intimate moment with God.

Tips for Managing Anxiety: What Martha Can Teach Us

Jesus spoke of Martha’s distraction and busyness by saying: “…but few are needed – or really only one.” Jesus was reminding Martha that her focus should be on Him, not on her to-do list or clutter or her worries about food or taking care of everything. People. That doesn’t mean you can’t take on your chores or your job, but it should never worry you so much that it takes you away from Jesus.

Martha shows us that fear and anxiety rob us of precious time with the Lord. As Jesus explained to her, there is only one thing that is necessary and worthy of our concern, and that is whether we sit at His feet or not.

Three Tips for Managing Anxiety

Martha’s story speaks to the cost of living with anxiety as our ruler. Anxiety is a thief who will rob us of the life-giving, restorative, healing encounters with Jesus that we are invited to participate in and we need to thrive.

If you feel you are empty and exhausted by life’s challenges, try to learn from Martha’s mistakes and focus on one important thing. Stand at the feet of Jesus.

Here are some tried and tested methods to help reduce anxiety, along with wisdom and examples from the Bible to help you worry less and rest more with Jesus.

Sing your way

First, we take a page from the book of King David. As you read the Psalms and study the life of David, you will find many examples of mixed emotions as well as real fears and anxieties.

Psalm 13 says, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you stay hidden from me? How long do I struggle with my thoughts and day after day in my heart I suffer?”

We can learn two important lessons from David: first, talk about your feelings to God. It’s not pretty or it’s okay to scream or scream. The safest place to express your feelings, no matter how dark, is with God.

Second: sing your way to overcoming fear. David is famous for his songs. He sings to God and praises, without caring if he looks stupid or not.

Choosing to worship, even when you feel overwhelmed with emotions and fears, is a powerful statement of faith and hope.

But I believe

Later in the same psalm, David wrote: “But I trust in your unfailing love; My heart rejoices in His salvation. I will praise the Lord, for he has been good to me.”

This “But I trust” line is key.

David set a healthy, disciplined example for dealing with anxious times: he rejoiced and worshiped, despite the hardships, because he realized that God had been good to him.

This is the leaf we need to take from David’s book. Even in our deepest anxiety, we need to worship God. Because no matter what we are facing, God is always greater. And, no matter how hard life gets, God is good.

Breathe and Walk

Many books and magazines are filled with advice on practicing breathing exercises and getting out to help reduce anxiety.

Connecting with our breath and connecting with nature are both powerful ways to reduce anxious thoughts. Why? There is evidence from various studies that shows how clearly both have physiological effects. As Christians, we believe this impact is due to connecting with our breath and with nature as a way of connecting with God. We will feel the benefits of connecting with God because that is what we were created to do.

Don’t underestimate the impact of deep breathing and walking; These tips for managing anxiety are powerful. When you take the time to try a mindful breathing exercise, or try a bath in the woods, you’re connecting with the author of it all: God.

This adds another impetus to the time you spend going for walks and being in nature, or arranging a meditation to do when you wake up. These are not just simple wellness techniques. They are ways of connecting with God, therefore, the biggest investment in your health you can make.

Open

One of the simplest tips for managing anxiety is also often the hardest: be open-minded. You don’t have to tell everyone in your life that you’re nervous, but telling a few trusted people is a really healthy idea.

People will be equipped to pray for you and then be able to offer advice and support when you need it most, when they know the healing journey you are going through. The more light you allow in the light of human connection, the harder it will be for those anxious thoughts to persist.

The Glorify app has a bunch of meditations to try. Why not try starting and ending your day with a few deep, slow breaths and a devotional or an audio psalm?

Azzedine Rouichi’s photo on Unsplash