Anxiety: When Fear Feels Bigger Than Faith

The biggest mind game the enemy plays on us is the game of “what if.” It all starts with a seed of doubt. Will this work out? Will things ever get better? Am I even good enough? Did God forget about me? Will He come through?

Thought by thought, these questions build into a mountain of fear that seems impossible to overcome. Anxiety can become a monster in our lives, a tormenting weight we lug around as it whispers lies about who we are and what we can expect from the future. It can even convince us that we’re bad Christians because we struggle with worry, as if experiencing anxiety means we aren’t trusting God enough.

Anxiety, like other mental health conditions, can look very different from person to person. For some, it’s a constant internal battle with racing thoughts. For others, it’s nighttime anxiety that leaves them rocking on the bathroom floor. And for others, it may show up through compulsive behaviors, such as those associated with OCD.

At its core, anxiety can make it so easy to get caught in a trap of intrusive thoughts. Naturally, it can feel incredibly isolating. The lies build up until you feel like no one could possibly relate to your specific situation. For me, it often feels like drowning. I’m caught in an ocean of raging water, with waves crashing over me while I struggle to keep my head above water.

This reminds me of Peter in Matthew 14. The disciples were in a boat, far from shore, when Jesus came walking toward them on the water. Frightened by what they saw, they thought He was a ghost and cried out in fear.

But Peter was the first to respond with a bold request: “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
 
“Come,” Jesus said.
 
Peter climbed out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he became afraid. Beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
 
Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

But the truth from this story in light of anxiety is this: If the enemy can get us to take our eyes away from God for a single moment and toward our fears, we can easily drown.

The enemy can make our problems look bigger than God. Maybe today, you're caught in your own storm of what ifs. Maybe your mind won't slow down, your fears feel bigger than your faith, and you're exhausted from trying to keep your head above water.
You don't have to be ashamed of that.

Peter began to sink, but Jesus didn't abandon him. And when Peter cried out for help, Jesus reached for him.

You may not know what tomorrow holds. You may not have answers to all the questions racing through your mind. But you can bring those fears to Jesus. You can ask for help. You can take the next step without having the whole path figured out.

When you start to spiral with fear and the “what ifs” of tomorrow, Jesus will be right there. As you keep your eyes fixed on God, you can begin to experience the peace that comes from knowing He is with you, even in the middle of the storm.

Cover photo by Christopher Ott on Unsplash

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