CONQUERING ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

1 Peter 5:7 (AMP)

 “Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].”

Anxiety and depression are some of the core mental conditions or vices that are increasingly eating up this generation. They are part of the new deadly weapons that the devil is using to sidetrack Christians. While the two conditions are different, their symptoms and causes often overlap. This is because many people with anxiety often slip into depression and vice versa.

Anxiety is the intense, excessive, persistent worry and fear about everyday life. It is often characterized by an unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, hopelessness, nervousness, apprehension and concern about some uncertain event. Depression on the other hand is a mental health disorder; it is characterized by a state of the mind producing serious, long-term lowering of enjoyment of life, inability to visualize a happy future, feeling severe discouragement, despair, loss of interest in activities and hopelessness. 

When we worry, it leads to a state of anxiety or depression. In the bible days, people used to worry about food, drinks and clothing, but in this era, people often worry about; - basic needs, family and career - all summed up by social status and way of livelihood, and this opens a door to anxiety and depression.

Root Cause of Anxiety

In Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV), Jesus urges us not to be anxious:

“Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look 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?27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?............”

What is the root cause of anxiety? To answer that we go to our scripture in Matthew 6 above. Four times Jesus urges us that we should not be anxious.

Matthew 6:25 (ESV) “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life.”

Matthew 6:27 (ESV) “And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?”

Matthew 6:31 (ESV) “Therefore do not be anxious saying, ‘What shall we eat?”

Matthew 6:34 (ESV) “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”

The verse that tells us about the root cause of anxiety is Mathew 6:30 – “O you of little faith”. In other words, Jesus says that the root of anxiety is lack of faith in our heavenly Father. When unbelief gets the upper hand in our hearts and minds, the outcome is anxiety.

So, when Hebrews 3:12 (KJV) says; “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” This can be translated: 'Take heed lest there be in you an anxious heart of unbelief.' Anxiety is one of the evil conditions of the heart that comes from unbelief. Anxiety comes from lack faith - the root cause of anxiety is unbelief in the living God and His word.

There are number of sinful actions and attitudes that are born by anxiety. For example, anxiety about finances can give rise to greed and thieving; anxiety about succeeding at some task can make you irritable and corrupt; anxiety about relationships can make you withdrawn, indifferent and uncaring about other people; anxiety about seeking people's approval can make you cover the truth and lie about things. When you conquer anxiety, you overcome a lot of sins as well.

God however commands us not to worry about anything. The birds of the air have no bank accounts (barns) or savings set aside for unpredictable circumstances yet our heavenly Father feeds them. Jesus says in Matthew 10:29-31 (NIV) that;

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

You are of more great value than the birds; God will not permit you to see shame and lack, (Psalm 34:10), so worry not because God who started a good work in you will see it to completion

Spirit and Truth

Psalm 56:3 (AMP) says, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust and faith in you.”

The Psalmist does not say, ‘I never struggle with fear or anxiety.’ Anxiety, depression and fear will seldom strike, so the bible does not say that believers will have no anxieties, but instead it teaches us how to fight when they raid.

1 Peter 5:7 above does not say, you will never feel any anxieties. It says when you have them, cast them upon the Lord. For example, when a running vehicle passes you by on a rainy murram road like our current Kasangati-Matugga road and splashes dirty muddy water on your windscreen, you momentarily lose visual sight ahead. This brings about anxiety and you even slowdown, however, you don’t stop but you turn on the wipers and clean your windscreen till you gain clear sight ahead. The same happens with anxiety, it blinds the eyes of your understanding, chokes your faith and prevents you from remembering God’s word, promises and good plans He has for you ahead

So, the response to a Christian who is dealing with anxiety or depression is that, don’t give up but fight a good fight (2 Tim 4:7). How? We fight anxieties by fighting against unbelief and fighting for faith in Grace and promises (1 Tim 6:12); and the way you fight this good fight is by meditating on God’s Word - assurances and promises, and asking for guidance of the Holy Spirit. The windscreen wipers are the promises of God (Rhema Word) that clear away the blinding dirt of anxiety and unbelief and; the windscreen washing liquid is the revelation and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The fight to be freed from anxiety and depression is fought by dwelling in the presence of Holy Spirit and having faith in the truth - Word of God: For the word of God is the truth (John 17:17) and when you know it and cling onto it, it sets you free from the prison of anxiety (John 8:32). 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) says;

“God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”

The work of the Holy Spirit and faith in the truth are fundamental in conquering anxiety. And without the revelation and guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26, John 16:13), the wipers – promises of God will just rub over the blinding dirt of fear and anxiety on the windscreen.

Both the Spirit and the word are necessary in the quest to overcome anxiety; and as we read or meditate on the word of God, we also pray for the guidance of the Spirit; and as the windscreen clears, only then can we see the good plans that God has for us (Jeremiah29:11), and as a result, our faith grows stronger and the blinding dirt of anxiety is washed away.

Why is the Spirit essential? The bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV) that: “For the letter kills but the Spirit gives life.” For you need revelation behind the truth or word of God. There is a difference between information, memorizing and revelation. Revelation is from the Holy Spirit and comes with deeper understanding of the word of God. 

And assuredly anxiety is conquered by the truth - word of God because when you know the truth (John 8:32), it sets you free from the bondage of anxiety and depression. Additionally, if the Holy Spirit dwells within, there is no room for anxiety because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17)

How to Deal with Anxiety and Depression

- Attend Church regularly. Every time you attend church or fellowship, you are serviced. The word of God shared comforts and counsels you. The miracles that happen and testimonies that we hear in church lift us and propel us to the next level without fainting (Isaiah40:3)

- Have hope and maintain a positive attitude. Your tomorrow will be better than today. There is a solution to every problem. No problem or condition is permanent, so no matter what you are facing today, it will come to an end tomorrow. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones - count your blessings not your problems

- Develop your hobbies: Visit new places, take a holiday trip with your favorite people.

- Seek help and counsel from your pastors, family, friends and medical personnel. Talk to them about your worries and things that have overwhelmed you. Don't isolate, lest you will be consumed by worry

- Get involved. Volunteer or find another way to be active in your community or church which creates a support network and gives you a break from everyday stress.

- Exercise daily to help you clear your mind and maintain your health. For example, take long walks, jog or workout. Depression takes a toll on your body but exercise helps to relieve a lot of it

- Accept that you can’t control everything but rather cast your burden on the Lord (Psalms 55:22). Don't try to fix the unfixable or do the undoable. Let go and let God take charge

- Lastly but most importantly, pray and pray. If you call upon the Lord in prayer (Romans 10:13, Lamentations3:58), He will rescue you from the pits of anxiety and depression. Prayer is the key to escaping the snare of sinful anxiety. Don’t listen to your anxieties, and don’t talk back to them, but direct your talk to God and cast all your anxieties and worries unto Him because only he can take care of them. Philippians 4:6-7 (AMP) says;

"Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. 7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]."

Jesus stepped into this troubled world, where man’s utmost efforts to ensure safety are decidedly defeated by death but with His authority, He commands everyone who believes in him that; "do not be anxious about your life” - Luke 12:22 (ESV). 
In Jesus we are assured of victory and establishment because; - “For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory” - 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT); and this assurance is the antidote to all the looming anxiety.

What Jesus accomplished for us and promises us is the ultimate triumph over all anxiety, depression and concerns. Remember God does not promise us escape from anxiety in this world, but He promises that He will redeem every bit of it (Romans 8:28), and that in Him we will overcome the tribulations of the world (John 16:33; Romans 8:35–39).