Anxious Thoughts or a Heart at Peace

If you’re anything like me this last week, then your screen time report was through the roof! I couldn’t believe how much time I spent on my phone during week one of our self-imposed isolation. But what I realized at the end of the week was the things I was reading on social media were actually causing me quite a bit of anxiety. I found myself waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares of searching empty grocery store aisles trying to find food for my family. Then not being able to go back to sleep because I was so worried about my loved ones staying safe during this pandemic.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being informed–in fact, I think it’s vital that we know what’s going on in our world. So, please don’t hear me advocating for us to stick our heads in the sand. However, I do think it’s important for us to be mindful of what we’re filling our thoughts with. Furthermore, it’s essential that we are cognizant of what we’re feeding our souls with.

Scary statistics, horrifying articles that are all essentially saying the same thing, and the general fear and uncertainty that is all over my news feed does not bring me peace and comfort. The one thing that does is God’s word. In fact, the psalmist said, “When my anxious thoughts multiplied within me, your consolations delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19

If we are believers then our minds are to be controlled by the Spirit just as much as our actions are. Romans 8:5-9 says, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.” I would much rather my mind be filled with life and peace instead of death.

Solomon said that the thoughts we think directly effect who we become. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7. The thoughts that we think determine who we are. Are you dwelling on things that make you anxious or fearful? Then it’s no surprise that you feel anxious and fearful. But if you fill your mind with God’s promises and meditate on His truth, then you will be full of peace that has nothing to do with your circumstances and everything to do with God’s goodness and ability.

Moreover, we are called to demolish every argument that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5). Thinking is not passive but an active choice and we must choose to fix our minds on what is true and reject those thoughts that do not line up with God’s word. Philippians 4:8, supports this point by reminding us that “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

God’s word is the truth that we tightly cling to always, but especially now when what is normal has been shattered. Is it wrong to be informed or to know what the government is urging us to do? Absolutely not. But I believe it’s detrimental to our mental health and spiritual health/faith if we put more weight in what the world is saying about this virus than what God has said about Himself and about us. This week I hope you’ll join me in actively ingesting truth and God’s promises rather than fear.

And if you need some promises to hold on to then here’s a few I’ve been returning to this week: Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:4-8, Psalm 91, Psalm 121, Psalm 112:7-8, Psalm 138:7.