We know the battle of our mind all too well. As if we are constantly playing a game of tug-of-war. One moment our grip is firm on the Word of God and our feet are planted in the truth of who God is. Then, in the next moment—in almost a blink of an eye—our anxious thoughts knock loose that grip.
For some of us, this is a reality we face day after day.
This may lead us to ask: Is anxiety a sin?
After all, we often read in the Bible, “Do not fear,” “Do not worry,” and “Do not be anxious.”
Even Jesus says these words. So does this mean that anxiety is a sin?
Well, to put it simply, no—anxiety isn’t inherently sinful.
Diving Deeper: Is Anxiety a Sin?
Anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry about something that is happening or might happen in the future.
When faced with uncertainty, our default response is often to worry. And sometimes it is good and right to be concerned. If there is risk for severe weather, it would be unwise to ignore the warnings. In this case, our worry would motivate us to take the necessary precautions to stay safe in the storm—trusting God is in control. However, we must be careful. Because without warning, our concerns can lead us to ungodly worry, leaving us stuck in a cycle of unhealthy thoughts—making us believe we’re the ones in charge.
This is what we mean when we say that anxiety isn’t inherently sinful—there is anxiety that can lead to greater faith and anxiety that can lead to faithlessness and lack of trust in God.
Anxiety can lead us to faithlessness when we let our worries overtake us. This may happen when we obsessively dwell on or rehearse all the possible future scenarios for a certain situation. Or it may happen when we let our concern for safety get to the point where it interferes with how we live.
When we give in to ungodly worry, we forget that God is in control. We think, instead, that somehow it’s on us to control the unknown. Therefore, we begin to live as if we need to take care of ourselves. We stop trusting God to provide for us and not trusting in God is sinful.
However, our worry doesn’t have to permeate our thoughts and lead us away from God. We can actually take our thoughts captive before they spiral out of control—which is why we should be aware of situations that may cause our anxious thoughts to arise. Not so we can avoid those situations completely, but so we can explore what truth about God we need reminding of and as a result lead us to faithfulness.
Think of worry as a “check engine” light on your car. It’s a signal telling you that you may need to check your thoughts against the Word of God—because you may be believing the wrong thing.
The Remedy for Anxiety
If you’re uncertain about the future, remind yourself that God is good and He will not lead you in the wrong direction. If you’re concerned for your safety, lean on the truth that God is your Protector who is stronger than anyone and anything. If you’re worried about a social situation, trust that God is with you as your closest Friend.
You were never meant to carry the heavy burden of anxiety alone. (And the solution isn’t just to simply stop worrying all together.) Rather, you should quickly and honestly take your concerns to the Lord, trusting Him to provide what you need in times of trouble. Let your worries bring you to God in prayer, humbly acknowledging Him as sovereign and good.
In the mental game of tug-of-war, your view of life can often become so crowded with anxious thoughts that you are unable to lift your eyes to see the glorious realities of God’s provision for you. Yet when you submit yourself to God and tighten your grip on His Word, you come to understand that God has provided for you—not just for right now, but for all of eternity through His Son, Jesus. In Jesus, you can cling to the truth that God cares for you. He sees you, knows you, and loves you.
Rather than losing your trust in God, you can allow your anxiety to lead you to faithfulness as you trust Him to know your circumstances and provide all that you need.
