Releasing the Shame of Anxiety

GOD'S TRUTH COUNTERS THE SHAME OF ANXIETY

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, your consolations delight my soul. (Psalm 94:19)

Anxiety is an awful alarm clock. Worry wakes me from a sound sleep, uninvited and relentless: what if, what if, what if?!

In talking with family and friends, I know I’m not alone in this struggle. I find great relief in the psalmist’s honest confession in Psalm 94:19: not if, but when. We need not feel shame for the thoughts that enter our minds, but rather can find hope through the help offered in Scripture. 

In human terms, the gap between anxiety and delight seems impossible to span. Yet God’s Word has the power to bring peace beyond what seems logical, not as the world gives (as Jesus states in John 14:27). 

At first glance, delight in Psalm 94:19 seems to imply simply bringing joy. While that can be true, there is another aspect that adds important insight. In the original Hebrew, delight is also translated as to smear eyes shut or to be blinded. 

As I focus on the Lord’s consolations (those comforting truths from His Word), my gaze shifts away from my concerns. By His power, my attention is transfixed on Him rather than on my troubling thoughts. 

Choosing to dwell on Scripture is vital, even speaking it aloud if possible. When anxious thoughts arise, day or night, I must immediately and specifically counter them with God’s truth. 

RECOGNIZING AND RELEASING THE SHAME OF ANXIETY

For me, travel consistently triggers anxiety. Hours spent in a car or plane, along with being away from the comforts of home, exacerbate my chronic jaw and neck pain. The cumulative impact, which at times reaches a debilitating level, now manifests itself weeks before departure. Shame tags along as an unwelcome companion, making me feel like a failure because I can’t seem to get past this challenge, no matter how hard I try.

In preparing for a recent trip, I recognized the familiar scenario—overthinking endless details and being overwhelmed by simple tasks. Why was I still struggling, even after having extended counseling to deal with this issue? After several days of attempting to ignore my discomfort, I poured it out to God in honest prayer. Simply admitting it began to dispel the swirl of emotions I had been experiencing. 

Later that week, the Holy Spirit comforted me with insight from Jennifer Tucker’s book Breath as Prayer: 

Anxiety is as much a physical condition we experience, with symptoms in our bodies, as it is a spiritual battle, with struggles we experience in our minds and souls… We need to be aware of the evil one who would love nothing more than to take us down and keep our spirit bound by fear and shame… We turn to Christ for protection and care through prayer and time in God’s Word.

I needed that reminder to apply Scripture to my situation. Rather than trying to subdue anxious thoughts by my own willpower, I could recognize them as prompts to recall and recite relevant Bible verses. What threatened to bring harm could fortify my heart and mind in Christ! 

NOT A QUICK FIX

Friends had prayed that my trip would be different from those in recent years, with little to no pain, but that is not how it unfolded. By the end of each day, I needed an ice pack, a heat pack, and medication to soothe my aching muscles and help me fall asleep. What did change was my response. Instead of obsessing or panicking over the hard parts of travel, I could rejoice in the amazing experiences my husband and I shared during our time away. 

I found freedom in discovering that exchanging the shame of anxiety for God’s truth was not a quick fix. Realizing it was an ongoing practice released me to trust Him one day at a time, relying on His strength and not my own. 

Chronic Joy’s printables, 25 Verses to Comfort and Encourage, and Prayers for Anxiety, offer tangible help and hope. I pray you will explore and benefit from them.

PRAYER

Lord, You understand how our chronic pain, chronic illness, and mental illness cause anxiety. You desire to release us from any accompanying shame by the power of Your Word. Thank You for inviting us to bring every aspect of our concerns to You. We receive Your peace and strength, one day at a time. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen!

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• When are you most prone to anxiety?
• What does anxiety feel like to you?
• How do you respond when shame begins to arise?
• What is one step you can take toward releasing that shame?