Three Great Ways to Relieve Anxiety

It’s been said that you grow the most through the difficult times. I believe this to be a fact in life in general and also in our spiritual lives. It is always through trials we are made stronger in our faith. I have found this to be true over and over again, and by sharing what God is teaching me in the dark, I hope that it can be a help to someone else. Today, I’m sharing three great ways to relieve anxiety straight from God’s Word.

One Caveat

Let me just start off by saying that if your anxiety is severe or has turned to severe depression, there is ZERO shame in reaching out for professional help. In fact, I would encourage you to do so! Through the years, some people have shamed those with mental health issues and made them to feel as though their faith was too weak or they could just “pull themselves out of it.” This is damaging and so detrimental to so many, not to mention FALSE! Don’t be bound by that lie! Reach out for help!

You can have a strong Christian faith and still fight anxiety and depression. Please, in addition to growing your spiritual health, reach out for the sake of your mental health if your needs are too severe! Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and as such, we need to care for all aspects of them! That includes our mental health!

My Story

Now that I have that little disclaimer out of the way, let me give you a little back story. I do not struggle with anxiety and depression on a normal basis, but during times when my hormones are all over the place, I do. Traditional morning sickness is not something that has ever been a large part of my pregnancies, but anxiety is. Some of my pregnancies have been worse than others, but it is quite common for me. As I write this, I’m currently nearly 22 weeks pregnant and the anxiety that I have so often experienced has crept in once again.

It’s a slow fade, and I don’t typically realize how anxious I’ve become at first. As the realization dawned on me this week, I began to turn to God’s Word for relief and like a faithful Father, He showed me a beautiful formula that has brought me some relief. I hope it will be a helpful tool to you too!

God Wants to Relieve Anxiety

By way of introduction, let’s just discuss the fact that God doesn’t want us to have to live in anxiety. In fact, His word says this:

Now, as already mentioned, that does not mean we will never be anxious, but that we should always be actively turning our worries and anxieties over to God. If His word tells us not to be anxious, I believe His Word will also give us tools for coping and getting some relief. Let’s dive into what God is teaching us!

The Formula to Relieve Anxiety

You might be wondering how God’s Word could possibly outline a clear formula to bring relief to your anxiety, but I assure you that it does. Let’s take a look at the passage that the Holy Spirit breathed into my heart this week!

It really is all right there, but let’s break down HOW to apply this formula to our life.

First Way to Relieve Anxiety: Rejoice

The first thing we are instructed to do is to rejoice evermore. Now, I don’t know about you, but if I’m feeling anxious or depressed, that is the thing I’m LEAST likely to do. So we have to make a choice, don’t we? A choice to rejoice.

In the moment when you’re feeling that terrible weight and tightening in your chest, stop! Look around you and breathe! Find one thing that brings joy or makes you smile! Focus on that one thing and rejoice in that moment! Maybe it’s the way that your child’s eyes sparkle or their laugh. Perhaps it’s the feeling of the sun on your face or the beauty of nature around you. Maybe you simply savor the warmth and flavor of your favorite warm beverage.

Don’t make this overwhelming. It’s the simplicity of this moment that will begin to quiet your mind and soul. Just one thing- one thing to rejoice in!

Second Way to Relieve Anxiety: Pray

The second part of this formula is to pray without ceasing. This has the connotation of a continuous, unending conversation with the Father. Now, there is not one among us who can remain on our knees in prayer all day, but our whole day should be a flow of prayer. We should be continually bringing everything to God all day long. Sometimes we forget to do this, and when we do, we try to carry the weight of our anxiety and begin to crack under a pressure we weren’t ever meant to carry.

An old hymn puts it like this:

In the moment when anxiety has you in its grip, begin to pray unceasingly. If there is a specific situation that is bringing you anxiety, lay that out before the Lord. Tell Him ALL about it- even though He already knows. Perhaps the anxious feeling has no rhyme or reason- no particular source. I have felt this so many times! Life is good, things are going well, and yet, I can barely breathe for the anxiety sweeping over my spirit. Bring that to the Lord, pray, and pour out your heart to Him. I promise that you will be amazed how much better you feel once you are not carrying that weight alone!

Third Way to Relieve Anxiety: Give Thanks

The final piece of this formula is to give thanks! Begin to count your blessings! Perhaps you can begin by giving thanks for the thing that brought you joy a few moments ago. Move on to other things that you are grateful for. Some ideas would be your family and friends, your job, your home. The list could go on and on, but this need not be overwhelming. Just spend a few moments giving thanks and thank the Lord for hearing your prayer.

Concluding Thoughts

It is an amazing thing what putting together this formula straight from God’s Word can do in your heart. I make no promises that this will eliminate anxiety, but I can tell you that there is relief here. You can repeat this sequence as often as necessary through difficult moments. The next time that familiar pressure squeezes in your chest, focus on one thing around you that brings you joy, begin to pray, and give thanks for your blessings. I think the reason this method works is also found in God’s Word. It tells us in 1 Peter:

It works because Jesus cares for you, friend! He cares when you’re facing dark days and by implementing this formula to relieve anxiety, it shifts your focus onto the positive and ultimately onto Him because every good thing comes from the Father. He wants to walk with you in the darkness because HE CARES FOR YOU!

Remember, the sun will shine again, but until then, just keep rolling it all onto Jesus the 1 Thessalonians 5 way and breathe! What a friend we have in Jesus!

Leave a Comment

If you give this formula a try, let me know! Leave a comment below, even if you just need prayer! I would love to pray for you, friend!

More Resources:

Here are some additional resources from me as well as a friend who writes great inspirational content.

How to Cope When Life Is All Too Much – Life on Broomsage Hill

Let’s Fix Our Eyes On the Changeless One – Life on Broomsage Hill

How To Choose Joy When You Don’t Feel It – Mamas Front Porch Swing

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