How can I grow in my faith and maturity amidst my anxiety?

Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Jeremiah 9:23-24This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Luke 12:19-21“‘And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Nobody enjoys lacking control over their feelings and anxious responses. Anxiety can be a humbling experience, a constant reminder that our own strengths, abilities, and resources cannot give us security. That reminder of our insufficiency can paralyze us with fear (which is what Satan wants), or it can remind us of God’s sovereignty over our lives. We cannot control all the details of our lives, but we can make a conscious choice to entrust them to God each day.

Isaiah 41:10“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Worrying or feeling anxious can inspire us to turn to God, reminding us that God is with us, that he loves us, and that he is always victorious.

1 Peter 5:6-7So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

When we sense fear, worry, or anxiety growing, we can humbly give them to God, knowing that he cares for us.

Luke 10:38-42As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Martha was worried about the details of the meal, while Mary focused on listening to Jesus, the “only thing worth being concerned about.” Times of anxiety can inspire us to analyze our values and rearrange our priorities.

Philippians 4:6Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Becoming anxious about something can be a prompt for prayer. When we pray, we should confess all our worries and concerns to our loving Father and thank him specifically for all he has done for us.

James 1:2-4Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

When faced with trouble—situations that usually would heighten our anxiety or worry—we can thank God for the opportunity to grow in our faith and ask him to guide us through.