It hits when you least expect it: driving, just trying to make it through a day, and then-BOOM-anxiety shows up.
I used to think that being Christian somehow meant I was going to avoid that whole mess, just because faith was kind of like some sort of magic shield. Too bad it's not.
Faith doesn't keep anxiety at bay.
I have felt overwhelmed numerous times in my life, whether it was because of some financial problem or in those instances when a person close to me would be in pain in the hospital. And just like most of us do, I asked that nagging question: "How am I supposed to cope?".
One thing that has helped me is to recognize even Jesus dealt with anxiety. Remember the night before his crucifixion? He was in such a state of distress that he was "sweating blood," if the Bible is to be taken literally. That is raw, human fear right there. But instead of bottling it up, he prayed.
There's something about that simple act of prayer, which brings you back down. It doesn't always fix everything at the moment, but it just shifts something inside. When my mind is racing with thoughts of "what if," pausing to pray feels like stepping back for a second to breathe.
Paul's words to the Philippians are one of those reminders I come back to time and again: Focus on whatever is good, lovely, and pure. That's not putting a fake smile on or pretending everything is okay. It's about recentering. On those anxious days, every time I take time out to focus on small things, like a kind word from a friend, pulls me out of that headspace.
It's not easy, and I by no means always get it right, but that helps.
Life is hard, and anxiety is real. These are not things that being a Christian exempts us from.
But I have found that if I lean into prayer and redirect my thoughts, that keeps me steady. That does not mean it is avoiding anxiety, that means navigating through anxiety.