“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” Matthew 6:34 NIV.
“Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,” Jesus said to His followers. “Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:28-29)
Anxiety is nothing new. Jesus addressed it by pointing to flowers, urging his disciples to be more in touch with the Father’s faithful provision, even to the point of disregard. But the one word that still best describes our world, and thereby us, is anxious. We’ve grown accustomed to a constant, nagging sense of fear, like the hum of an air conditioner, we hardly notice it until it stops. But it wasn’t Jesus’ desire that we be afraid or anxious for any reason.
Anxiety flows mostly from fear of lack, not lack itself. Actual lack forces us to deal with our situation, or to remain passive while blaming others for our troubles. Anxiety is the anticipation of scarcity that projects lack that isn’t even there yet, if it ever comes at all.
Anxiety is a byproduct of our thoughts. Dwell on the possibility of scarcity, of not having enough money, not enough clients, or not enough food, and the anxiety skyrockets. God built the fight-or-flight mechanism into our brains and bodies. Like cavemen fleeing the saber-toothed tiger, our brains are designed for self-preservation. If the tiger chases us, we run. The problem comes when the signal to flee never turns off.
Over 90% of doctor’s visits are stress related. Anxiety triggers stress, keeping us in constant panic mode, overtaxing our adrenal glands. We need medication to calm down. We live in a state of upset and inner irritability over what may not happen, somehow addicted to stress as if it fuels us. We infect our families and friends with our anxiousness. Pay attention to your anxiety and stress today. They’re sending a message.