Worry and anxiety are the world’s biggest mental health issues today. According to recent reports, one in every 8 people the world over is living with some form of mental disorder, especially anxiety. 60% of university students in the US experience various kinds of mental health issues and around 44% of them are depressed. The situation in India is not different, if not worse, especially post covid-19 pandemic.
       Remember, since 1992 every year 10th October is observed as the world mental health day for awareness and support. Yet, the mental health of people everywhere is deteriorating as the days go by. Experts might have their own reasons and remedies. But praise be to God, for a born-again Christian there is lasting solution found in the word of God.
       God wants His people to lead a worry-free, satisfied and peaceful life. Our Lord prohibits His followers from worrying over even basic daily needs like food and clothing that anybody would consider reasonable.

Concern versus Anxiety

Definitely, there is a place for normal care and concern about one’s life and its obligations (2 Cor. 11:28; 12:14; Phil. 2:20; 1 Timothy 5:8). Such concern is natural and is needed to make life more disciplined and productive. For example, for writing an exam or delivering a public speech, etc., carelessness becomes detrimental.
       However, if that concern makes one tense and scared to the extent that they are unable to concentrate on the work in hand, that is not a healthy concern, but harmful anxiety. Such people are obsessed with the past or future but fail to make the best use of the present. Their concern becomes worry which then slowly leads to anxiety disorder. This unrealistic concern and persistent apprehension are what our Lord forbids in this passage. Apostles Paul and Peter also exhorted saints to be free from anxiety.
   “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…” (Phil. 4:6)
   “Cast every worry you have upon Him, because He cares for you.” (1Pe. 5:7 Williams)

Costly

Worrying, in spite of the scriptural injunctions and promises, we make God untrustworthy. That’s a great dishonour and disservice to Him. This means that worry for a Christian is sin and costly indeed. Let us consider five realities that should make us free of anxiety...... >>>More

NTK

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Out line:-

Depression: Reasons and Remedy, Psalm 142: 5, 11; 43:5

General Reasons:

1. Physical ailments.
2. Chemical imbalance.
3. Side effect of Medicine.
4. Guilt due to unconfessed sins.
5. Adverse circumstances like failure, loss etc.
6. Satanic fiery darts against our faith. Eph. 6:16

Most common cause among Christians:

1. Ignorance: not knowing God’s ways to deal it.
2. Disobedience – Not yielding to God’s way.
3. Unbelief – Not believing God’s way.
4. Impatience – Not waiting for God’s way.

Psalmist’s Reasons:

1. Living in the past. (V. 4) – remembering good old days.
2. Listening to people. (V. 3b, 10) – instead of God.
3. Living in future. (V. 2b) ‘When shall I come’?

Psalmist’s Remedy:

1. Talk to self. (V. 5a, 10a; 43:5a) – instead of listening to self. (cf. Psa 103:1)
2. Talk to God. (v. 9) – instead of telling man.
3. Hope in God. (v. 5, 11; 43:5) – best yet to come.
4. Praise God. (v. 5, 11; 43:5) – medicine for discouragement.  (Act 16:25)

Conclusion:
Anybody could face it. Examine the reasons. Try psalmist’s remedies. Smile at God, He will smile at us that can change our countenance. We may not be able to change the circumstances, but definitely we can change our reaction – sing and praise.   (NTK)

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Anecdote: -

Leave Trouble in God’s Hands

George Muller Massena, one of Napoleon's generals, suddenly appeared with 18,000 soldiers before an Austrian town which had no means of defending itself. The town council met together. They were certain that surrender was the only answer.
    The old dean of the church reminded the council that it was Easter, and begged them to hold services as usual and to leave the trouble in God's hands. They followed his advice.
    The dean went to the church and rang the bells to announce the service. The French soldiers heard the church bells ring and concluded that the Austrian army had come to rescue the town. They broke camp, and before the bells had ceased ringing, vanished.
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.

— Source: Unknown

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Exhortation: -

FREEDOM FROM ANXIETY

By Tom Johns, Dallas, TX

When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought Joy to my soul. [Ps. 94:18-19 NIV]

Anxieties, fear, worry and, stress are familiar words in our day. Extreme levels of these lead to disruption of normal individual lives, create havoc in family situations, generate struggles at workplaces, etc. Christians are not immune to these. They also live in the real world, challenged by the effects of Gen 3: 16-19 when God cursed the earth.
    Jesus knew this when He taught the disciples to pray ‘Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ The only permanent solution for the troubles of this life is to have the kingdom of God come to this earth. Our Lord promised that He would do it and our prayer is that “Amen. Come Lord Jesus.”

The Reality

Although we live in the anticipation and eager expectation of it, we now live in a world riddled with trials. We deal with the loss of a job, economic hardships, health challenges, premature or accidental death, mental health issues, genetic disorders, and disabilities and the list can go on.
    In addition to all these, we create anxious moments and scenarios created by our own poor or misguided choices. We enter marriages with romance and lofty goals, but the reality turns out to be far from it. Once we face the mundane realities of life, we soon realize that the promised land we expected is nothing but the barren desert. Soon anxiety, frustration, and fear set in.

The Remedy

But there is an escape from these. This brief article will not sufficiently explain the pathway to escape but you may see a glimpse of a road map….. More
{Related topic: When Trials Come! }

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