Where does my anxiety come from?

Psalm 51:1-3Have mercy on me [David], O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.

Luke 22:56-57, 60-62A servant girl noticed him [Peter] in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!” . . . while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

Philippians 3:13-14I [Paul] focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

1 Timothy 1:15-16This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I [Paul] am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

Anxiety is often rooted in past regrets. Even the great heroes of our faith—David, Peter, and Paul—committed sins they would deeply regret. Yet each was restored to a healthy, even joyful, relationship with God (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51; John 21:15-19). Though repentance was a painful process for them, each was forgiven, and each set his eyes on God’s salvation ahead of him rather than on his sins behind him. The apostle Paul realized that God’s mercy on him, the worst of sinners, proved that God can use anyone for his glory and for his work—and that includes all of us!

Judges 6:11Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites.

Before Gideon became a judge in Israel, he had lived in constant fear of Midianite oppressors. He even used the pit of a winepress to thresh wheat for food so the Midianites wouldn’t see him and steal his grain. Seven years of fear and oppression had created a sense of persistent and overwhelming anxiety in Gideon (Judges 6:15-17, 27, 36-40). In the same way, circumstances we have experienced can trigger persistent worry in us, which, if left unchecked, can grow into debilitating anxiety.

Matthew 6:25-27, 31-34“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? . . . So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Philippians 4:11-13Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

It’s easy to be worried about food and shelter, especially when we have family members to provide for. But building a habit of fear and worry is a recipe for anxiety—which is not what God desires for us. Just as an earthly father cares for his family, our heavenly Father cares for us, and we can trust him to provide for our needs. Even in times of hardship, God is faithful.

2 Kings 21:21He [Amon] followed the example of his father [Manasseh], worshiping the same idols his father had worshiped.

2 Chronicles 20:32Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight.

Children often follow in the footsteps of their parents—and not only in matters of faith. Patterns of anxiety often pass from generation to generation.

Numbers 13:31-32; 14:1The other men who had explored the land with him [Caleb] disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge.” . . . So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.

One person’s fears and anxieties can influence the anxieties of others, leading to a debilitating anxiety for an entire community.

Proverbs 29:25Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.

Ecclesiastes 4:4Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Galatians 1:10Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

It is good to desire a godly reputation, and it’s good to try to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18; 1 Timothy 3:1-12). However, constant worrying about what people think of us—and fears of how we may have fallen short—can cause social anxiety. The Bible warns us not to put too much weight on the opinions of others. In the end, only one opinion really matters—God’s opinion.

Matthew 10:28-31“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

John 3:16-17“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

Romans 8:15So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

Romans 11:6Since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.

1 John 4:15-18All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

It is good to fear God in the sense that we should respect him. It is not good to fear God in the sense that we don’t trust his love. Many Christians are anxious about God’s judgment. This fear may come from a “fire and brimstone” church background, or simply from reading Scriptures that give genuine warnings about eternity and the fear of God (such as Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 13:50; 2 Corinthians 5:9-10). While we should live with eternity in mind, some Christians grow anxious about these warnings, feeling unworthy and fearful that they have lost their salvation.

But here is the truth: We are all unworthy of God’s love and forgiveness. None of us deserve salvation, but God offers it anyway. And yes, he knows that our salvation hasn’t wiped away our old sin habits entirely—that’s why he sent the Holy Spirit to walk alongside us, to help us grow (2 Corinthians 3:18). Scripture makes it clear that repentance isn’t a one-time act, and learning to trust God’s love and live it out is a growth process (James 5:15; 1 John 4:17). If you have not yet experienced God’s perfect love, that’s okay. Your heavenly Father loves you, and his work in you isn’t done (Philippians 1:6).

Matthew 5:43-44, 46-48“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! . . . If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

If Jesus calls us to be “perfect,” then isn’t he calling us to perfectionism? Perfectionism fills us with a fear of falling short—a constant source of anxiety to many. But such perfection is not what Jesus is talking about here. Jesus calls us to love perfectly, not to achieve perfectly. Our GPA, our job performance review, or our church attendance record is not in review here. Becoming perfect means becoming more complete in our love for God and others, a love that will naturally overflow into our actions. Fear of messing up has nothing to do with that sort of love.

2 Corinthians 12:9Each time he [the Lord] said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Philippians 1:6I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 3:13-14I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Hebrews 10:14By that one offering he [Christ] forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

James 3:2Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

Everyone has failed at something. Anxiety often grows in light of our failures and limitations, replaying them before our eyes—and there is no way to avoid failure completely. Even if we were somehow able to resist sin’s temptation entirely, we would still be human. We are limited in our knowledge, wisdom, and ability. But God is not surprised by our weaknesses—and in fact, he often works through them. The success of God’s mission in our world doesn’t depend on our strength and ability, and we don’t need to prove our worth to him in order to deserve his love. God saves us because he already loves us, and he sanctifies us because he wants us to be free from sin’s tormenting power. In time, we will become more like him, and one day, we will be made perfect—not through constant fear of punishment, but through God’s prevailing power and love.

Matthew 6:19-21“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

1 Timothy 6:17Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.

Romans 8:6So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Anxiety can come from placing too much value on material things. When the property we own is what we value most, then we are in constant danger of losing it through crime, natural disasters, and shifting economies. The Bible repeatedly warns us of the anxiety and heartbreak that comes from loving our wealth. When we treasure God above all else, we can live at peace, secure in our eternal future with him.

Matthew 6:19“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.”

Luke 4:5-7The devil took him [Jesus] up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”

1 John 2:15-16Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he showed Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.” As John reminds us, we can become fascinated and drawn to all that the world has to offer, developing a “craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.” But earthly treasures of wealth, health, and human praise come and go, and when we build our lives around them, we are always in danger of losing our foundation. Attempting to “gain the whole world” can make us very anxious.

Matthew 24:6-8“And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.”

John 16:1-3“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me.”

John 16:33“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Today through social media and online news outlets, we are more aware than at any time in history of what is going on in the world. In addition to being drawn to what the world offers, we can become anxious as we see all the reports of natural disasters, terrorism, societal ills, and other potentially terrifying issues and feel as though the world is out of control and closing in on us. We can take comfort that none of this is surprising to God, and in fact, God warns us of these things so we can have peace, knowing he will have the victory.