What if my anxiety won't get better unless I'm a good Christian?

[Ryukil]

Hi all. I've been suffering from serious anxiety issues for many years. I was raised a Christian, but at this point I don't know what I believe. I'm confused about what the truth is. But anyway...

I don't know how many of you believe in prophecy, but one day at church an older girl told me God had a word for me and it was the verse about Paul's thorn in the flesh. The obvious implication here was that for me, my thorn in the flesh was the anxiety. And what I took from it was that the anxiety kept me humble, because I'm fairly talented and always talk about how if I didn't have anxiety, I'd be great at xyz (yeah, it really incapacitates me in a lot of areas).

I got another prophecy a while later, just about how I was like a windmill and I need the wind (God) so that I can function properly, i.e., so that my talents can come out. Thinking about it now, it sounds like maybe the anxiety would be removed if I were a good Christian.

I haven't been following God at all for a while, because I have a lot of doubts. I don't understand how I can put Christianity and evolution together, for instance, and the fact that there are so many beliefs in the world that people believe with all of their hearts definitely causes me to doubt. I mean if over a billion people can find joy in Islam, and we know it's all false, what does the joy of Christians prove? But all that's for another thread...

I just want my anxiety to finally leave me. But I feel like when I was younger I WAS a good Christian. But maybe not... Maybe I was just putting on an act to get the church girls to like me. But I definitely really used to believe in it all. Everything changed when I learned about evolution in high school...

I mean, I believe my anxiety is genetic, since both of my parents had it to some extent. But my OCD is making me wonder...what if the only way to get rid of it is to be the best Christian I possibly can be? But wouldn't that take away the sincerity, since I'd be trying to something?

 

[jacksknight]

Don't worry about being a good Christian. That's right i said it and so does the Bible.

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"

What you need to do is put all this stuff aside like evolution, and other worries. Let God worry about that stuff.

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

God is not looking for perfect people, that is an impossible task for everyone. But seek after God first even if you think it isn't sincere. It might take a while but i think you will find that it will become sincere. Pray, read your Bible and that's about it. Talk to God like you would a friend. He is an actual person who is willing to hear you.

"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."

Jesus loves you. You might feel like you are praying up against a concrete wall, but God hears your prayers. When you pray you build a memorial in heaven for God to notice.

"Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God."

God will notice you!

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."

Your anxiety will fade when you let it go and let God have it.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

God bless you! He will work these things out for you if you let him.

 

[Hoghead1]

Hi all. I've been suffering from serious anxiety issues for many years. I was raised a Christian, but at this point I don't know what I believe. I'm confused about what the truth is. But anyway...

I don't know how many of you believe in prophecy, but one day at church an older girl told me God had a word for me and it was the verse about Paul's thorn in the flesh. The obvious implication here was that for me, my thorn in the flesh was the anxiety. And what I took from it was that the anxiety kept me humble, because I'm fairly talented and always talk about how if I didn't have anxiety, I'd be great at xyz (yeah, it really incapacitates me in a lot of areas).

I got another prophecy a while later, just about how I was like a windmill and I need the wind (God) so that I can function properly, i.e., so that my talents can come out. Thinking about it now, it sounds like maybe the anxiety would be removed if I were a good Christian.

I haven't been following God at all for a while, because I have a lot of doubts. I don't understand how I can put Christianity and evolution together, for instance, and the fact that there are so many beliefs in the world that people believe with all of their hearts definitely causes me to doubt. I mean if over a billion people can find joy in Islam, and we know it's all false, what does the joy of Christians prove? But all that's for another thread...

I just want my anxiety to finally leave me. But I feel like when I was younger I WAS a good Christian. But maybe not... Maybe I was just putting on an act to get the church girls to like me. But I definitely really used to believe in it all. Everything changed when I learned about evolution in high school...

I mean, I believe my anxiety is genetic, since both of my parents had it to some extent. But my OCD is making me wonder...what if the only way to get rid of it is to be the best Christian I possibly can be? But wouldn't that take away the sincerity, since I'd be trying to something?

If you really are diagnosed with OCD, then you will also need meds and therapy as well.

 

[jacksknight]

If you really are diagnosed with OCD, then you will also need meds and therapy as well.

Not necessarily. Not everyone needs medication and therapy for the same things. I would leave the medical recommendations to an actual doctor.

 

[Goodbook]

Do not be worried or anxious about anything, cast all your cares upon God for he cares for you.

GOd is the only one who can take your worries away, so you need to be close to Him so that he can do it. To close to him, all you need to do is put your trust in Him and believe that He is who He is.

An anxiety or worry is just a lie the devil puts in your mind, a 'what if' or 'worst case scenario' to get you off track with God. its basically fear, but Jesus and the angels always say 'dont be afraid'. So dont. Perfect love casts out fear, and you have nothing to be afraid of.

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

Hi all. I've been suffering from serious anxiety issues for many years. I was raised a Christian, but at this point I don't know what I believe. I'm confused about what the truth is. But anyway...

I don't know how many of you believe in prophecy, but one day at church an older girl told me God had a word for me and it was the verse about Paul's thorn in the flesh. The obvious implication here was that for me, my thorn in the flesh was the anxiety. And what I took from it was that the anxiety kept me humble, because I'm fairly talented and always talk about how if I didn't have anxiety, I'd be great at xyz (yeah, it really incapacitates me in a lot of areas).

I got another prophecy a while later, just about how I was like a windmill and I need the wind (God) so that I can function properly, i.e., so that my talents can come out. Thinking about it now, it sounds like maybe the anxiety would be removed if I were a good Christian.

I haven't been following God at all for a while, because I have a lot of doubts. I don't understand how I can put Christianity and evolution together, for instance, and the fact that there are so many beliefs in the world that people believe with all of their hearts definitely causes me to doubt. I mean if over a billion people can find joy in Islam, and we know it's all false, what does the joy of Christians prove? But all that's for another thread...

I just want my anxiety to finally leave me. But I feel like when I was younger I WAS a good Christian. But maybe not... Maybe I was just putting on an act to get the church girls to like me. But I definitely really used to believe in it all. Everything changed when I learned about evolution in high school...

I mean, I believe my anxiety is genetic, since both of my parents had it to some extent. But my OCD is making me wonder...what if the only way to get rid of it is to be the best Christian I possibly can be? But wouldn't that take away the sincerity, since I'd be trying to something?

2Co 12:6-10 KJV
(6) For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
(7) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
(8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
(9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

the reason Paul gives for the 'thorn in his flesh' is not pride, but abundance of revelations - God doesn't punish people for the abundance of revelation He gives them, and He doesn't send messengers of satan to beat people up ('buffet' - look up the definition of this word). Paul's 'thorn' was persecution, and it was from satan, not God, to discourage others from following Paul's example, not keep Paul humble. the term hearkens back to the OT:

Num 33:55-56 KJV
(55) But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
(56) Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.

Jos 23:13 KJV
(13) Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

1Jn 4:18 KJV
(18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1Jn 4:15-16 KJV
(15) Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
(16) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

fear (anxiety) comes from focusing on something besides God; His love for you casts out your fear, but only if you focus on Him (Love).

Psa 91:1-16 KJV
(1) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
(2) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
(3) Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
(4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
(5) Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
(6) Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
(7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
(8) Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
(9) Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
(10) There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
(11) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
(12) They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
(13) Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
(14) Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
(15) He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
(16) With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

watch your words - when fear comes, follow the instruction in verse 2 above, and do not speak fear or act on it

this will help:

http://moorelife.org/listseries.php?xml=rss/PerfectProtection.xml
http://moorelife.org/listseries.php?xml=rss/AnActOfFear.xml

 

[insurchoftruth]

Isaiah 61:1-3, Psalm 68:19, 2Corinthians 1:3-11, Psalm 115:3-8, Psalm 107:41, Psalm 116:6-
9, Psalm 22:24, Psalm 94:17-19, Psalm119:92,93, Psalm 142:2,3, Romans 15:13, Psalm
121:1,3,7, Psalm 50:15, Psalm 34:6,17,18,19, Psalm 69, Psalm 37:24,39, Psalm 46:1, Psalm
30:11, 31:6-10, Psalm 62, Psalm 6, Psalm 147:3, 4:16-18, 7:6, 12:8,9,10, Lamentations 3:1-
66


Throughout all the centuries, there have been always true believers, who kept the Word of God
in its originality, because they appreciated it, and also feared God.

God cares enough for his Word, to make sure that it is kept in its originality.

The moral law, the ten commandments, are coded on the heart of every man, his conscience.
They must be created, from somebody who is moral.

In all of creation, we see expressed a thought, wisdom and purpose, which shows, that there is
somebody who thinks – God.

The Bible is a historical book, with recorded historical events.

If Jesus is the Word, how can the Bible not be true?

John 1:1-3, Jeremiah 1:12, Isaiah 55:10,11, Acts – 5:38, 39, 1 Peter 1:23-25, 1 Corinthians
15:5, 6, 30, 31, Matthew 5:18, 24:35, Psalm 119:89, Psalm 138:2, Romans 1:19, 20, 2:14,
15, Luke 1:1-4, 2:1-3, 16:17, Revelation 22:18,19, Psalm 9:9,12,18, Matthew 2:6, 4:24,25,
7:16-20, 9:26,35, 11:20-23, 12:33, 12:40-42, 19:4-6, Luke 6:43, 44, Ezra 1:4, Hebrews
2:3,4, Acts 2:22, 14:3, 16:26-30, Mark 16:17, 20, John 2:11,23, 3:2, 4:48, 6:2, 10:25, 38,
11:45, 14:11, 20:30,31, Luke 10:13, 11:30-32,51, 12:1, Deuteronomy 28:64, Ezekiel 36:24,
Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, 53:1-12, John 7:38, 39, Romans 8:16, John 3:5-8, Romans 5:5,
9:15,17,25,27, 1 John 2:27, 3:9, 24, 4:13, 1 Corinthians 2:4,5, James 5:17,18, 2 Corinthians
12:12

 

[aiki]

Hi all. I've been suffering from serious anxiety issues for many years. I was raised a Christian, but at this point I don't know what I believe. I'm confused about what the truth is. But anyway...

I don't know how many of you believe in prophecy, but one day at church an older girl told me God had a word for me and it was the verse about Paul's thorn in the flesh. The obvious implication here was that for me, my thorn in the flesh was the anxiety. And what I took from it was that the anxiety kept me humble, because I'm fairly talented and always talk about how if I didn't have anxiety, I'd be great at xyz (yeah, it really incapacitates me in a lot of areas).

Well, you've got it wrong if you think God is using anxiety to keep you humble. There are many commands to believers in Scripture not to worry or be anxious. Here's a good one:

Philippians 4:6-7
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

"Be anxious for nothing" is not a suggestion, it's a command. And when you allow yourself to become anxious you are being disobedient to this command. If God has your back, if He is "working all things together for your good" (Ro. 8:28) what have you to fear? Nothing. Nothing at all. When you really believe this, when Christ is firmly at the center of your thinking and you are relying constantly and fully on him, the peace which passes all understanding will guard your heart and mind. Anxiety, then, reveals a fundamental problem in your walk with the Lord; for when you are walking rightly with Him, peace reigns in your heart, not anxiety.

I got another prophecy a while later, just about how I was like a windmill and I need the wind (God) so that I can function properly, i.e., so that my talents can come out. Thinking about it now, it sounds like maybe the anxiety would be removed if I were a good Christian.

Peace is the pleasant consequence of fellowship with God. You see, God is peace. So the better your walk with Him, the greater peace you have.

I would be very skeptical of people speaking prophecies to you. Unless they can prove that their prophecy is truly from God, refuse to hear it. Anyone can claim to have had a "word from God." And many charlatans and deceivers have used this claim to lure many into falsehood and ruin. Be very skeptical, then, of those who say "God told me." God has already said all He needs to say in His word, the Bible. Get your "word from God" from it.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I haven't been following God at all for a while, because I have a lot of doubts. I don't understand how I can put Christianity and evolution together, for instance, and the fact that there are so many beliefs in the world that people believe with all of their hearts definitely causes me to doubt. I mean if over a billion people can find joy in Islam, and we know it's all false, what does the joy of Christians prove? But all that's for another thread...

Doubt and anxiety go together. That was my experience many years ago. I, too, suffered very powerfully with anxiety. And the only way I got free of it was to trust God as He deserves to be trusted.

Even if you conceded that everything the Theory of Evolution claimed was true, it would not prove God does not exist. Evolution is not concerned with proving or disproving God's existence. It only offers an explanation of how the various species inhabiting the planet developed over time. That's it. Evolution does not prove God does not exist.

People very sincerely believe false things all the time. So what? Does the strength of their wrong belief somehow weaken or dissolve the truth? No.

I would challenge your claim that over a billion people find joy in Islam. There may be a billion adherents to Islam but very few actually take joy in it. Most Muslims are Muslim because not to be means death! Violence and oppression are the norm for Islamic countries. Just ask any Christian or homosexual in these countries! And the female half of the Muslim population lives under the domination and often brutal control of the male half.

Does the joy a drug addict takes in getting loaded negate or make illegitimate the joy of a person who is not addicted to drugs? I don't see how. It is possible to take joy in empty and destructive things. But this doesn't mean that there isn't real joy in things that are wholesome and constructive.

I just want my anxiety to finally leave me. But I feel like when I was younger I WAS a good Christian. But maybe not... Maybe I was just putting on an act to get the church girls to like me. But I definitely really used to believe in it all. Everything changed when I learned about evolution in high school...

If all it took was the science propaganda of high school to derail your faith in God, I would suggest to you your relationship with God was illusory. When the Spirit of the God of the Universe comes to live within you, as the Bible says He does when a person is saved, you know it beyond any shadow of doubt. And your life changes profoundly. There is no mistaking when God has come to dwell with you. He actually relates with you personally and transforms you and it is this personal experience of God that makes it impossible to walk away from Him or to doubt He exists.

I mean, I believe my anxiety is genetic, since both of my parents had it to some extent. But my OCD is making me wonder...what if the only way to get rid of it is to be the best Christian I possibly can be? But wouldn't that take away the sincerity, since I'd be trying to something?

I think it is more likely you learned to be anxious from your parents than that there is some anxiety gene making you anxious. That's a bit of a cop-out, really. It's the popular "I can't help myself" strategy. I will tell you, though, that denying responsibility for your state of mind is a sure way to have a messed up mind. You can and you must take responsibility for your thought life. If you don't, the devil is going to have a field day with you.

Instead of trying to be the "best Christian I can be," why not just try loving and being loved by God? That's what being a Christian is at bottom all about. When you love something, it is easy to sacrifice, and labour, and even hurt for it. This is true for the Christian life, too. When you love God (because you have understood the incredible love He has for you) doing things His way, walking rightly with Him, is not a burden, but a joy! This is how the Christian life is supposed to be, not some endless straining to be the best you can be for God. If the Christian life is a strain and a burden, something is fundamentally wrong with it.

Philippians 1:21
21 For to me, to live is Christ...

John 10:9-10
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Ephesians 3:14-21
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Selah.

 

[Boogeyman07]

Great post @aiki

If the Christian life is a strain and a burden, something is fundamentally wrong with it.

Although here I might disagree, just to a certain extent because I believe you are right but I just want to add something. Being a Christian in this world will cause one to suffer greatly, but we rejoice in the suffering. He keeps us strong and gets us through the tough times but there will definitely be many tough times... what sets us apart is how we handle it. We know that He is with us.
@Ryukil - It sounds like you know the answers to your own questions. He is the truth. Make Him number one in your life. Btw-- when you do make Him number one and run to Him, I wouldn't be surprised if your anxiety does not go away for a while. So don't let that discourage you. Just remember, faith and fear in their fullness cannot coexist.