Anxiety: Getting to the Root, A Biblical Perspective (Part 2 of 4)

“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5

In my last post, Anxiety: A Springboard for God’s Redeeming Grace and Joy, we made the surprising and beautiful connection between anxiety and joy. In keeping with this topic, let’s continue the conversation by digging a little deeper into the ‘why’ behind the anxiety? Together, we want to circle back around to get a closer look at the root causes for anxiety, from a biblical perspective.

What are these root causes for anxiety from a biblical perspective? What truths can we draw from God’s Word to help us recognize and uncover these causes, separating us from the fullness of joy, so that we can deal with them at their core? Hopefully, we can connect the dots to make another profound biblical connection between anxiety and the root cause, unbelief. This antithesis to faith—unbelief—manifests itself in many forms, all begging the question, Do I trust God, truly?

A Question to Consider

Anxiety is an ‘on and off’ struggle for us all. Even the mention of anxiety strikes a nerve within every heart because we all can relate to its debilitating effects in our lives. All of us must learn to cope with it in some way or another. Anxiety strikes us all; no one is exempt from its assailing fiery darts.

A good defense always begins with a plan. Therefore, in our battle with anxiety, designing a battle plan based on what God’s Word says to be true is essential. In unraveling anxiety, our first objective is to identify the problem—the root cause—of anxiety before we can implement a possible remedy and solution.

Do you ever wonder where the anxiety stems from within your heart and mind? I think we all have. One minute, our hearts and minds are at peace, and then the next minute, restlessness, anxiousness, and doubts take root. What is the trigger for anxiety? The triggers may look seemingly different, yet the root cause is the same.

Identifying the Root Cause of Anxiety

During my own ‘on and off’ struggle with anxiety, I always viewed anxiety as the problem. However, what I have learned to be true over time, is quite the opposite. Anxiety is not the issue, but simply a symptom of the greater struggle, unbelief.

What exactly is this form of ‘unbelief’? Unbelief is simply not believing God or putting your confidence in His Word and promises to you.

This biblical connection was so profound to me because it uproots the true culprit buried within each of our hearts and uncovers the truth behind the question posed by anxiety to us: Do we trust God? Do we believe what God says to us in His Word and His promises to us? Are we putting our hope in His Promises to us?

Do we truly put our wholehearted confidence in God, not just for our salvation, but for every single detail, both the trivial and critical of our everyday lives? This is the challenge, the true battle within our hearts.

A Symptom, not the Cause

What if we begin to view anxiety as a ‘symptom’ instead of a deeper ‘issue.’

How would that truth help us process through our anxiety differently?

As I shared, I always viewed anxiety as a problem to be solved, when in all actuality, it plays a significant part leading to the discovery of the solution. Anxiety is not something to be figured out, but it is a part of the equation leading to the solution—God’s redeeming grace and Truth found by faith in Jesus Christ alone. When we make this connection, this Truth is eye-opening and can make all the difference.

Personally, I had never seen this connection or looked at anxiety in this way. For me, anxiety revealed my grasping attempt for control which, in essence, is pride, an outward expression of my momentary inward unbelief amidst my anxiousness.

The Lord often uses the anxiousness to uncover and quiet the inward cry of every heart, ‘I need to be in control’ and then whispers back, ‘You are not in control, I AM.’

“Be still and know that I AM God” (Psalm 46:10).

What if we made this connection—that anxiety is the symptom of the problem, not the problem itself—and it truly took root in our hearts?

In our attempt to pinpoint the ‘trigger’ of our anxiety, we often miss this ‘hidden’ thief of our joy—unbelief—waiting in disguise to attack our peace in our times of weakness and vulnerability. The camouflaged areas of marriage, finances, parenting, relationships, jobs, health issues and concerns, busyness, and the tyranny of the urgent—although legitimate contributing factors to our heightened stress and anxiety levels within our hearts—hide the true ambush of unbelief awaiting us in battle. Therefore, to mistakenly identify these circumstantial areas as the root cause will lead to drawing incorrect conclusions to the root of our anxiety.

The core issue of anxiety to consider is our unbelief and distrust that God will truly show up to meet us in our time of need, in both the way and in the timing that we think He should. Anxiety casts doubts upon our hearts, ‘Can I trust God in this moment?’

The Unsuspecting Appearances of Unbelief

What can unbelief look like in the everyday moments, even in the life of a believer and follower of Christ? Oftentimes, unbelief reveals itself in some unsuspecting ways, manifesting in many forms. If you are naïve to its forms, you might just overlook these ‘blind spot’ areas.

In addition to anxiety itself, some other accompanying forms of unbelief that may go undetected in our everyday moments are:

• Pride
• Fear
• Control
• Worry
• Manipulation
• Unrepentance
• Discontentment

Take an honest look in your own life, what unsuspecting forms of unbelief have taken root unknowingly there?

Personally, I have seen how unbelief can subtly morph itself in the shapes of fear, control, manipulation, unrepentance, and pride in our families, marriages, parenting, and relationships, causing division, brokenness, and a hindrance to our faith growth.

However, God, in His grace, uses anxiety as a tool of redemption to expose and reveal what is truly within our hearts; Anxiety simply exposes what has already taken root there. Anxiety can be a means used by God to bring us to the end of ourselves—our own sufficiency and our so-called attempts at control. Even though God can use our moments of anxiousness for the good, anxiety is not His will for us.

God’s Revealed Will

Did you know that anxiety is not God’s will for you, or for me?

God’s revealed will for us is seen in His Word, “do not be anxious” and “do not fear.” Think about it honestly for a moment. Why would He not ‘enable’ you to do what He has so clearly commanded over and over in His Word in regard to anxiety?  

In His grace and mercy, He has already provided a way of escape out of the anxiety we are experiencing through His Word and His Spirit. “God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Surrendering Wins the Battle

So how do we surrender the anxiety to Him and battle through it His way?

The key is believing and trusting God and His Promises to us. We must choose to humbly surrender our will to His way. Our surrender acknowledges His sovereignty, recognizing that the battle is His. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).

Anxiety is not an easy battle to overcome; however, when we begin to recognize the tactics of the enemy and the driving force behind the anxiety, its grip begins to loosen, and the strong hold it has on our hearts and minds lessens. 

Believing God—what He says is true and His promises to you—and applying His Truth to your everyday moments of life is the first step to overcoming your battle with anxiety.

However, unbelief always keeps us from a wholehearted surrender to God.

May we choose to surrender our anxiety to Jesus by putting our hope in His unfailing promises to us and placing our wholehearted trust in Him.

“When I am afraid (anxious), I will put my trust in You. In God, whose Word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.” Psalm 56:3

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24

Reflection and Application:

• How do you respond when anxiety comes upon you?
• What does God’s Word say about how we are to respond to anxiety?
• What does the term “unbelief” communicate to you in relation to anxiety?
• Have you ever viewed anxiety as a symptom instead of a deeper issue?
• How would making the connection that anxiety is the symptom of the problem, not the problem itself, help you process through your anxiety differently?
• Have you ever connected the dots between anxiety and unbelief?
• Have you personally seen “unbelief” as a possible root of anxiety in your own life?
• In your own ‘on and off’ struggle with anxiety, what unsuspecting patterns of unbelief have unknowingly taken root in your heart?
• Do you find yourself in need of repentance of unbelief rooted in your heart in certain areas or in a specific situation?
• If so, surrender this area to Jesus, ask Him to grant you repentance from unbelief, turning from believing the lies of anxiety to trusting in Him and His promises to you.