What do we do when anticipation turns into anxiety?

In the last installment, I actually went back and retitled the post ‘Interpersonal & Decision Discernment’

While it was an exciting week to receive an accepted offer on the Redding, CT property, as I write this there is still no signed contract. The home could fall through (albeit unlikely! 🙏🙏🙏).

That post’s intent was to function as a guide or checklist in discerning big decisions (like buying a home) and responding to those who may question that decision.

But, let’s face it.

Even when we point to our heavenward heart posture and prayerful petitioning, we don’t always feel God’s peace over a decision.

We continue to second-guess ourselves.

We allow doubt and fear to settle in.

Just as we’re in a season of high-anticipation for this home, I imagine that’s a resonant feeling for others right now for…different reasons..

Here's a look at what's up ahead:

• Clarifying the 4 types of anxiety

  • 1. a God-given emotional response for our benefit

  • 2. a disordered physiological response

  • 3. a natural consequence of sin

  • 4. sinful responses to God’s providential care

• How are you prone to not trust in God’s perfect pl …

• Stop anticipation from manifesting into anxiety.

  • 1. Consider what should I be relying on God for ri …

  • 2. Consider the good fruit that Christ wants to gr …

  • 2a. Flip worry on its head by living out your Grea …

• You are seen as bright lights in the world

Clarifying the 4 types of anxiety

Thanks, Google!

But let’s clarify what some say.

Pastor and friend Joe Carter breaks anxiety down into four areas:

1. a God-given emotional response for our benefit

Anxiety, similar to fear, ‘is an emotional response to a real or perceived future threat..a warning system of impending danger’¹ . Just as fear is triggered from an immediate threat, this pulse of anxiety is a biological mechanism that we oftentimes can’t avoid.

2. a disordered physiological response

We don’t want to be the type of Christians lobbing Matt 6:34 or Phil 4:6 ‘Do not be anxious about anything’ to someone who struggles with a chronic disorder or debilitating condition like clinical anxiety. We can lovingly dig deeper to understand the symptoms, history, professional treatment options, or potential sources.

In this situation, a ‘Bible band-aid’ verse may not be the solution.

3. a natural consequence of sin

Consider this example of the ‘someone cheating on their spouse may become anxious about their marriage falling apart, and someone who gambles away all their money may become anxious about how they’re going to pay their bills.’²

We can’t dismiss the gripping effects that sin produces in our fallen world.

4. sinful responses to God’s providential care

As our AI friend was alluding to, by not trusting in God, we are falling into sin. This is because God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. We know if God is for us, who can be against us? We are esteemed in his sight; fearfully and wonderfully made:

26Look 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? _{Matt 6:26 ESV}

These are the promises we rest in, because God is our good Father, our keeper. The command of Jesus in Matt 6 points to the natural order- birds and lilies- demonstrating that the Creator God who breathed a perfectly fine-tuned universe into existence will unequivocally care for you, His most priced possession.

How are you prone to not trust in God’s perfect plan for you and slip into anxiety?

Let’s focus in on #4 some more- what decisions (and their future impact) are worrying you?

When it comes to making plans, we all know what it feels like to dwell on a decision.

We ponder.

We hypothesize.

We play out the scenario (..far too many times).

It can seem subtle or benign, but this type of rumination is anything but.

In the past 6 months when we kept telling family/friends we didn’t know where we were going to live and were simply ‘waiting on the Lord’, it did feel liberating.

I felt like I was really trusting God.

I didn’t have to worry, my God is faithful.

But then, something changed, just in the past couple weeks.

Our offer was accepted at a miraculous price (especially for Fairfield County, CT).

But, I began to ‘live out the future’ worst-case scenarios of owning the home under increased debt.

So what changed? Did God?

Or did my orientation to Him change?

Sure, financial due diligence isn’t a bad thing.

But when we pray to God and He acts, let’s move forward trusting in His timing, His character, and His provision.

Stop anticipation from manifesting into anxiety.

Today is a day everyone has been anticipating. But to put a fine point on the object(s) of our anxiety- is it [the election] worthy of your worry?

Or, fill in the blank.

It could be a job. Or economic uncertainty.

In the anticipation, here are three things to consider to keep worry at bay:

1. Consider what should I be relying on God for right now?

To finish out Matt 6, we see Jesus clearly call us to seek God in the moment.

31Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. _{Matt 6:31-33 ESV [emphasis added]}

Intuitively we know that operating 10 steps ahead reduces our daily dependence on God. He’s our daily bread, and provides just what we need for today. That’s not to discount his future plans for us (Jer 29:11), but to emphasize our reliance on his present comfort.

2. Consider the good fruit that Christ wants to grow in you

In Phil 4 we actually see the anecdote to anxiety before Paul tells us to not be anxious:

2a. Flip worry on its head by living out your Great Commission

Seeking the kingdom means a total pursuit of the will of God. If you notice, ‘Jesus didn’t just tell them to stop worrying; He told them to replace worry with a concern for the kingdom of God. A habit or a passion can only be given up for a greater habit or passion.’³

How are you dedicating your time to loving your neighbor and making disciples?

In the wake of the election this may sound more abstract, but I as I thought about it more, there is ample opportunity to meet those struggling with election anxiety.

One practical way is to 8 have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. This would apply specifically for those in Christ who may sit across the aisle from you politically.

Then perhaps for coworkers, clients, strangers who don’t share the love of Christ:

15 in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect _{1 Peter 3:8;15 ESV}

Do you remain hopeful in the victory we have in Christ, regardless of the election outcome? Does that hope shine through to those around you?

You are seen as bright lights in the world

In my nightly dog walking routine around our development, it’s hard not to spot the politically charged lights in the condos next to us:

There will be plenty of red and blue hues shortly flooding the headlines- how is your light shining in the midst?

15 ..prove yourselves to be..children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness], 16 holding out and offering to everyone the word of life _{Phil 2:15-16a AMP [emphasis added]}

May the favor of the Lord our God be upon you, to establish the work of your hands,

Trent

^1,2 Joe Carter - https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/ask-tgc-anxiety-sin/

³ Blue Letter Bible, David Guzik (I’ll get a real citation once I get some more time 😅)