Anxiety vs. the Presence of God

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Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! (2 Thessalonians 3:16, NASB)

In 2016, my anxiety hit critical mass. 

I was (and still am) intense, too often introspective, and worry too much. But the anxiety that started in 2016, which I now believe was an attack of the devil, was caused by one event, and had the potential to debilitate my faith.

It’s been 10 years, and I’ve learned a lot. 

Many men in their 40s, 50s, and 60s have a crisis event that precipitates piercing anxiety. In response, some get drunk, others find new wives, and many respond in differing destructive ways, which only exacerbates their anxiety to a lasting depression.

I sought the Lord’s presence, often crying, “Where are you, God?” He didn’t yell back, but slowly, over the past 10 years (and continuing to today), revealed Himself through His presence. This “presence” isn’t a physical appearance (no burning bushes yet) but an awareness of something beyond my mind, will, and emotions, and yet more real than what I could see, touch, or hear. And it gives me peace.

Paul describes this peace in Philippians 4:7…

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

I believe that Paul knew grace and the resulting peace more deeply after his own “2016” (year of my attack) experience with his thorn-in-the-flesh torment, as He describes in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. In verses 8 to 9, Paul describes a conversation with Jesus in which he found help…

Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 

Paul’s torment, a found presence of Jesus, grace and power released, and though the thorn is still present, we note Paul praising God! He found peace. And Paul, from this experience, could write years later from his own testimony to Timothy, his disciple… 

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).

With me, this presence, often released through praise, enables God to grow larger than my anxiety. The anxiety doesn’t go away, but shrinks by the power of the glory of God to the inconsequential. One of my favorite victory passages has been 1 Peter 5:6-11: 

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

I do not often list lengthy passages of Scripture in Interruptions. But I memorized and have repeated this passage regularly since 2016, and can say to anyone dealing with anxiety, fear, and depression — these verses have given me peace through His presence many times in the past 10 years.

To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen!