The Bible and Anxiety: How God Delights in the Underdog
Inside: When suffering from anxiety, it’s hard to focus on anything else. Do you feel bound by our anxiety? Check out these Bible verses about anxiety.
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I used to think I was the only one who suffered from anxiety. The thoughts would swirl in my head, and I was led to believe I was alone. My healing began to happen when I started to let go, surrender and trust in God. It was also helpful to read the accounts of God’s followers in the Bible and anxiety that plagued them.
Because fear and anxiety are so intertwined, it’s hard to know which one was overcoming me. I lived in a constant state of fight or flight.
The Unexpected One
In the Bible in Judges 6, the Israelites are living in fear. Enemy nations are attacking them because they have fallen away from the Lord. These enemy nations were relentless and were taking the crops, livestock and any possessions from the people of Israel.
The people left their homes and found refuge in the mountains, caves, and strongholds for fear of being overtaken.
Can you put yourself there? Do you feel the fear, anxiousness, and frustration?
We meet Gideon threshing wheat deep within a wine cellar to keep his actions in secret from the intruders. An angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and says to him, “Strong soldier, the Lord is right here with you.”
13 “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”
14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
15 “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family” (Judges 6:13-15, NLT).
How did Gideon trust God during these anxious times?
The Underdog
Doesn’t this sound familiar? We, many times, view ourselves as insignificant, small and as the underdog. Failures, past mistakes, and our current weakness can keep us from God’s purpose.
16 The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”
17 Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. 18 Don’t go away until I come back and bring my offering to you” (Judges 6:16-17, NLT).
Gideon goes and gets his offering, returns and places the sacrifice on a rock as directed by the angel of the Lord. Then the angel touches the gift with the tip of his staff and fire reaches up from the rock and burns up the offering.
Finally, Gideon realizes it’s an angel of the Lord and cries out “I’m going to die, I saw an angel of God’s face to face.”
23 “It is all right,” the Lord replied. “Do not be afraid. You will not die.” 24 And Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the Lord is peace”). The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day (Judges 6:23-24, NLT).
The Bible and Anxiety
Is it just me or does it seem contradictory that Gideon calls the altar “The Lord is peace?” Everything about this current moment is less than peaceful.
It’s important to realize what Gideon’s story teaches us:
- Concern made him lose confidence in God.
- God encouraged and inspired him, God does this most often through His word, others, and sermons.
- Anxiety caused him to forget God’s goodness in the past.
- Gideon was enough when God was behind him.
- Fear generates frustration at God.
- When we focus on our circumstance, we lose view of God.
- God is continually and forever with us.
Anxiety Isn’t a Match for God
In the exchange between God and Gideon, we see anxiety replaced with peace. God’s presence ended his doubt and a bridge of relationship formed between God and Gideon.
Gideon was ultra-focused on his situation; however, God focused on his heart and what he would accomplish with Him.
Gideon becomes a mighty warrior going confidently into battle and growing into the brave soldier God knew He would be.
We see, Gideon throws off his fear and puts on faith. Here’s the point to realize, God can be trusted. He will guide you through your fear and replace it with faith.
The Lord gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction. ~Charles Spurgeon
God’s presence and peace made the difference for Gideon.
We too can find peace and God’s presence in the midst of our fearful times. Share on X6 Biblical Ways to Calm Anxiety
- God is with us, and we can conquer enemies with God’s help.
- We are who God says we are if He says we win, we will.
- God exalts those who are small in the world’s eyes.
- If we give God our weakness, He can give us His strength.
- God deserves our thankfulness, gratitude, and praise.
- We have the hope of peace in this life and the promise of an eternal home.
With God, terror turns into a trust which leads to tranquility.
The truth is, we can find peace in the most trying of circumstances if we just trust, surrender and wait on His timing. He will use everything to grow our faith from sissy to soldier.
28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.
If you’re looking for more resources on anxiety, check out “Do Not Be Anxious: The Best Biblical Resources for Anxiety” page.
The Anxious Christian: Can God Use Your Anxiety for Good?Finding Peace: God’s Promise of a Life Free from Regret, Anxiety, and Fear
Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World
Fierce Faith: A Woman’s Guide to Fighting Fear, Wrestling Worry, and Overcoming Anxiety
It Will be Okay: Trusting God Through Fear and Change (Little Seed & Little Fox)
Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety: Becoming a Woman of Faith and Confidence
I think one of the biggest lies anxiety tries to cripple us with is the one telling us we are alone, no one else struggles with this, no one else understands. Isolation is the enemy’s chief strategy! So happy to know you’v got a game plan. God is bigger than all our fears, but we’ve got to look to Him, find strength in Him, trust Him with our wellbeing.
Thanks Sarah for your wisdom!
It all boils down to trust, doesn’t it? All those icky feelings of stress, overwhelm, fear, and so many more come when I’ve forgotten Who I belong to and Who is really in charge. Thanks for sharing, Julie. I really like the Bible study format you got here.
Kelli- Yes remembering those 2 points is important! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing these insights. I used to struggle a lot with anxiety and still do a bit at times. The story of Gideon has always reassured me- that God chose to use him despite his fears and doubts and anxiety and that God was able to transform him into someone strong and brave.
Lesley- It’s my favorite story. Wimp to Warrior and it could be me too.
Thank you for sharing this great look at Scriptures. I’ve read this story more times than I can count, but wow! I had not noticed this before: “Is it just me or does it seem contradictory that Gideon calls the altar “The Lord is peace?” Everything about this current moment is less than peaceful.” What an amazing gift from God, to bring peace to Gideon in the midst of His most anxious time! I am so blessed to be your neighbor over at #TeaAndWord today; I needed to hear these thoughts today!
Bettie- It’s reassuring that God can bring comfort to us in our most trying times. I’m so glad they inspired you:)
Yes! Everything about this is so encouraging! Thanks for breaking this down the way you did!
Karissa- nice to meet you! So glad it was encouraging!
Terror -> Trust -> Tranquility! YES!! So much truth!
Liz- thank you!
Loooove that sissy to soldier bit ? Wonderful stuff sister!
Elli- nice to meet you:) Thank you!
Such edifying encouargement from His word today, Julie! Gideon’s story is so inspiring. Have a blessed week!
June- thank you! You have a blessed rest of the week too!
I’m right there with Gideon sometimes…asking God for a sign. Love your emphasis on God seeing what Gideon would do, and could do once He surrendered to the peace of His presence. Nothing can take the place of that kind of peace. Thank you for sharing this, Julie. ((xoxo))
Brenda- me too about the sign! I have asked multiple times for a sign regarding writing and blogging. Trust in Him and what we can’t see and then surrender to it is what we have to do:)
Isn’t it wonderful to be reminded that God doesn’t go for flashy, but puts his finger on the one who will obey — and God gets the glory! I’m encouraged by this heartfelt post, Julie. Thanks for sharing your story in context with Gideon’s
Michele- What a great thought! The finger on the one who will obey..love that!
I’m so glad you were encouraged:)
Thank you for sharing a bit of your struggle, Julie. I know you know that God is for you, therefore, nothing can stand against. He’s given you His armor and His Word. You, my dear, are a Conqueror because He is a Conqueror. Love in Jesus.
Sally- nice to meet you and I love the encouragement:) Thank you for reminding me what I am in Him!
Yes! anxiety can overwhelm on occasion, even though I know where my hope lies.
Loretta- so nice to meet you! Yes, anxiety can tangle us up! Thanks for stopping!
Like Sarah said above, isolation is one of the enemy’s greatest weapons against us. I appreciate your thoughts on anxiety and how to find peace, applications from Gideon. I love this story, and had never noticed that the Lord revealed Himself as our Peace right in that situation.
Thank you, Betsy! God is peace in the midst of trying situations:)
Such wisdom, Julie. I love this..” with God terror turns to trust and then tranquility”. We all need a heaping dose of trusted tranquility, don’t we? Grateful to have been reminded to release those concerns again into the capable hands of the Father and let faith rise in our hearts.
Thanks for sharing with the #GraceMoments Community.
Blessings,
Dawn
Thank you, Dawn! Yes release and refresh in faith!
Thank you for writing about this! So many of us deal with anxiety, and a Biblical perspective is so refreshing and encouraging to read.
Merry- thank you so much for your kind words!
Such good tips. I think it is crucial to be willing to confront what you are really afraid of, if you know what is causing the underlying anxiety. I lost a child several years ago and still have some anxiety, but it lessens in time. Some of the triggers I couldn’t avoid (Saturdays, thunderstorms, sudden loud noises) but I tried not to develop a habit of avoiding things that were stressful, instead choosing to take a deep breath, pray and know that what I was afraid of had already happened, it wasn’t about to happen all over again.
Dana- thank you for sharing your story! I pray God is soothing your grieving heart!
Thank you so much for sharing! I also have anxiety, so I understand the struggle. Your tips are on point!
Keisha- thank you!
Philippians 4:6-7 are favorite verses of mine. I use the King James and it says “Be careful for nothing”…or as my Pastor says…to not be full of care. Memorizing scripture and prayer are my best ways for dealing with anxiety.
Tracy- thank you for sharing what helps you! I do know that what helps one person might not help another so sharing tips is important!
I think failure and past mistakes are my biggest triggers for being anxious about something, if it’s a situation that I am going into that is similar to that in the past. These are good reminders!
Rebekah- yes, both of those can cause anxiety!
I struggled for years with anxiety and it felt like a prison cell that grew smaller and smaller. I’m thankful that God broke the chains that held me so tight. This was a very insightful post – love looking at others in the Bible and their experiences.
Sasha- I’m so glad the chains have been broken! I love looking at how others dealt in the Bible with situations too.
Terror does turn into trust when we lean into God and trust Him.
Kristi- yes, it does!
I like what you said about how God exalts those who are small in the world’s eyes. It’s a repeated pattern in Scripture–and an encouragement for me when I feel too small or not enough for the task before me. Thanks for the reminder!
Leigh- I think it’s a great encouragement for us all. I think we all feel this way from time to time!