Overcoming anxiety

Lately one of the biggest struggles I have been going through is letting go of my own image, and focusing instead on the image of God portrayed in me. Naturally we all think first of ourselves, and what others may think of us. This is human nature, and a hard fault to learn to overcome.

As I continue to learn through humbling experiences to take my eyes off myself, I ask myself these questions:

What causes such concern in me over my image?

A quote from A.W. Tozer’s book describes well the pride involved in anxiety;

"First, there is the burden of pride. The labor of self-love is a heavy one indeed. Think for yourself whether much of your sorrow has not arisen from someone speaking slightingly of you. As long as you set yourself up as a little god to which you must be loyal there will be those who will delight to offer affront to your idol. How then can you hope to have inward peace? The heart’s fierce effort to protect from every slight, to shield its touchy honor from the bad opinion of friend and enemy, will never let the mind have rest. Continue this fight through the years and the burden will become intolerable. "

In other words, it is our lofty pride that we feel we must uphold that causes us to be so concerned about what others will think of us. Without realizing it, every time we are worry about walking up to someone “better” than ourselves, or nervously wait to be put in the spotlight, we are showing clearly how pride has taken over our love for God, and filled us with a scary, nerve racking concern for ourselves. Before we can learn to move beyond our anxieties and fears of being found less then perfect, we must examine our pride and be willing to let go of it.

Why am I so anxious and nervous?

It is so easy to feel as though we know God’s word, and thus not spend the time and effort in filling our mind with it that we should. God speaks to us through the Bible, and without His words and this strong defense to whip out in times of trouble, we are in an even worse situation. When our minds are not filled with God’s words and commandments, it’s all too easy to think selfish and frustrating things. If I am overly concerned of my performance in life, I must not be filling my mind with enough of God’s word that I would remember His wishes in hard times, and not my own. Prayer and quiet time is also a wonderful way to stay focused and calm concerning the task ahead.

How can I learn to seek for God’s glory instead of my own?

As I mentioned before, the Bible is the primary source of God’s communicating with us, and will help to remind us of the unimportance of our own image. To remember that we are offered challenging opportunities solely because of God’s goodness to us, we realize also what little we can do to have power over the things that will happen, and thus we may be able to surrender the coming moments and days to Him.

It may also be helpful to stay busy serving others. Too much free time is such an invitation to perfect and think of ourselves, and yet when we are accountable to other people and have the opportunity to serve it may be easier to forget our little needs and focus on those of others.

Embarrassments and slipups are unavoidable in life. However, if we remain focused on the task ahead and the One who deserves all glory, we will have the ability to “glory in our imperfections.” In all situations, may we never fail to declare: all glory to God!

2 Corinthians 12:9

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.