Why do I have anxiety?

By William Pelrine Jr.

"Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down. But a good word makes it glad." (Proverbs 12:25)
"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken." (Proverbs 15:13)

The title of this essay’s frequently asked question (FAQ) is one probably asked by everyone at some point in his or her life. Life has its ups and downs. I believe, no matter how good you feel today, it’s possible, that old devil is going to put a bad thought in your mind tomorrow, and if you are not prepared, it will very possibly bring you down.
Solomon, the man who wrote Proverbs in The Holy Bible, was said to be not only the richest, but also the wisest king who ever lived. He had his moments of weakness like everybody else. He seemed to have been very familiar with anxiety. After all, he was the ruler of Israel: a people not that easy to rule. He also wrote, "In the multitude of my anxieties within me, your comforts delight my soul." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

It was the Lord he sought to take away his fears, his worries, and his cares. And who could have more anxieties than the ruler of a nation. When Solomon didn’t know what to do he prayed. After he was first proclaimed king he prayed, "O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee." (1 Kings 3:7-12)

Jesus counsels, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?" or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:25-34)

May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version and from the New American Standard Bible © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture taken from New Revised Standard Version Bible © 1989. Used by permission.