When Struggling With Anxiety

Hope

How do you find peace in the midst of anxiety and fear? Here is a personal testimony by Karol:

I know anxiety. For the first 36 years of my life I was filled with all kinds of anxiety and fear. As a child of the Cold War, I lived in an almost-constant fear of the atomic bomb.

I was also so fearful of waking up in the middle of the night to a fire burning our house down that some nights I would stay awake all night just to watch for early signs of smoke so I could warn my family and we could escape. I was afraid of many other things, too, that affected my ability to have a happy and fulfilling life.

But something happened to me in the late 1980s that began to change all of that. And now I can testify that I live today free from the fears and anxieties that crippled me in the first half of my life.

It started with a personal encounter with G-d. And since then I began growing in my understanding of truths that replaced that lies I believed that kept me in fear. So I am here today to tell you that you are not alone but there is hope. And I would love to share more with you about this.

Fear and anxiety

Fear is a G-d given emotion meant to alert us to danger.

G-d gave it to us, to get our attention, so we can quickly decide whether to flee the threat or stand and fight. Physically it produces a rush of adrenaline, to give us the extra strength and energy burst needed to deal with whatever is threatening us. 

Anxiety on the other hand is an experience of fear when no danger is present to flee or fight. The problem is that our bodies aren’t meant to be in a constant state of fear. The added adrenaline, constantly being pumped in our bodies, begins to wear us out. Not just emotionally but also physically and even spiritually.

Karol continues:

I personally lived in that state for way to many years. Finally and thankfully, I came to the end of myself. I recognized I had no other choice than to cry out to G-d for help.

I was surprised to discover that He not only heard my cry, but responded by giving me the help I needed in times of struggle. And over time, I began to trust Him more. I gradually started to feel safer and safer, knowing that there really was a G-d who was more powerful than I. That He cared for me and that He was always there when I needed Him.

Though things might not always be the way I wanted them to be, and at times even bad things might happen, I learned to rest in G-d in the midst of whatever was going on.

King David’s experience

King David spoke of this experience in his life in Psalm 27. He wrote:

The L-RD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The L-RD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
…
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
…
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:1-4)

Karol continues:

I personally can relate to the experience King David writes about in the Psalm, because I was in New York City on 9/11 when terrorists attacked our country and the World Trade Towers came down. Many if not most were understandably fearful that at any time there could be another attack. And many of my friends outside of New York were encouraging me to leave, to run away to a safer place.

Yet somehow G-d gave me peace to stay. I kept thinking to myself, Safety is not the absence of danger but the presence of the L-RD.

I believed that G-d wanted me to stay in New York to bring whatever sense of shalom I could to others who were in need.  So I stayed and I am thankful I did.

A secret

In the New Covenant writings (The New Testament) the Apostle Paul wrote:

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
I know how to brought low, and I know how to abound,
in any and every circumstance,
I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Karol’s parting thoughts to you are these:

I know the truth of Paul’s words. I too have learned the secret and my hope is that you will allow yourself to learn that secret, as well. I hope you get in touch and we can continue the conversation.