Turn Your Eyes Up
Please note: In this post, I am addressing general anxiety as it relates to Christian life. We recognize that in some circumstances, including mental illness and chemical imbalances, medical help may also be necessary.
Several years ago, I was spinning out. I had recently experienced incredibly difficult changes in my family. The dependable framework of my childhood had crumbled beneath my feet. I constantly felt the instability of emotional vertigo.
I slid into a darker spiritual state than I have ever experienced. Anxiety shows up differently for each of us, and yet all of our minds are capable of chaos. Thoughts (mostly negative) endlessly flew through my mind at a breakneck pace. Think: accidentally setting your podcast to endlessly play at 2x speed.
This emotional vortex overwhelmed me. A way out seemed impossible. Maybe you’ve been there yourself, a place of blinding circumstances. I kept reading my Bible, kept trying to pray. But I had become so paralyzed by a general anxiety that I was unable to do much of anything on some days. It felt like the whole world had suddenly become an unstable, unpredictable, and unsafe place.
Thankfully, my husband strongly suggested that I get additional help. I started seeing a Christian counselor who greatly impacted my spiritual, emotional, and mental functionality. This, however, was only the start of God’s work on my heart, and his working together of all things for my good (Romans 8:28-30).
Turn your eyes up.
A couple of years later, I travelled 467 miles for a two-night retreat. Sometimes God likes to pluck us out of our usual environment to get our attention.
I don’t even remember most of the speakers’ messages. I can’t pinpoint an exact moment where God spoke. I do remember going home with one important, life-altering truth, and I have been continuing to learn it in new ways ever since—God is sovereign.
Sovereign means having supreme rank, power, and authority.
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16-17
If this seems like the all too easy Sunday school answer, I get it. In my experience, theological truths feel trite and hollow until they collide with life. It’s then that I begin to live as though I believe them.
A huge portion of my anxiety involved an inward focus, on my own turmoil, or an outward obsession, on the decisions and actions of others. I had yet to really shift my gaze upward, onto the God I served. Theology (the study of God) is not just for pastors. Theology is for every single believer (including you and me). The truth that began to take root in me surfaced: the greater our knowledge and fear of God, the less room in our minds for fear of anything (or anyone) else.
In an effort to bring our theology into real life, let’s look at some attributes of God.
1. God is omniscient—all-knowing.
Nothing escapes God’s notice or slips through his grasp. Absolutely nothing takes him by surprise.
“I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’” Isaiah 46:10
When compared to that of our Creator, our perspective remains severely limited. Our memories are unreliable at best, and we cannot accurately predict the future. Additionally, innumerable other storylines exist around us, about which we are oblivious.
2. God is omnipotent—all-powerful.
If you have attempted to assemble a piece of IKEA furniture or reason with your toddler, you are aware of your limitations.
Our God unceasingly stands in control of the situation. We find countless examples throughout the universe and history, but we need look no further than the gospel story itself (Ephesians 2:1-10).
Only God could do such a work.
3. God is omnipresent—in all places at all times.
Consider God’s incredible power to always be present. He listens attentively to your silent, perhaps distracted prayer while working out global-level issues between nations.
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:7-10
Omniscient. Omnipotent. Omnipresent. These three characteristics give us a picture of who God is as sovereign king, far beyond our human capacity. We are small.
I say this not to discourage, but to encourage you to turn your eyes up. We are finite, but we rest in the hands of an infinite God.
How does the sovereignty of God affect my anxiety?
“The very essence of anxiety is imagining that we are wiser than God.” Charles Spurgeon
This may sound harsh, especially if you are in the midst of a high-anxiety season and are longing for comfort. But bear with me. This reality, although humbling, provides immeasurable comfort.
I am not God.
Read that again. He is God, and we are not.
Turn to Scripture.
While personal testimony is powerful, any experiential aspects of our Christian life must align with Scripture. God reveals his character all throughout his Word. Consider these two examples.
Exodus 4 demonstrates the power and sovereignty of God. It’s the story of the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt.
God called Moses to be part of his plan to deliver the Jews from Pharaoh. Moses is painfully aware of his insufficiency and is afraid, but God doesn’t respond by reassuring him that he can handle it. Instead, God reminds Moses of who exactly he’s talking to:
“Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” Exodus 4:11-12
In the New Testament, 1 Peter is written to the early church, many of whom faced persecution for their faith. Peter gives direction for their response:
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
Early believers (and we) are called to humble ourselves in the midst of difficulty. We trust that at the right time the Lord will bring us through our current circumstances and ultimately home to him.
God is personal.
God is not a far-removed, aloof deity who separates himself from our troubles. Numerous Scriptures speak to the care and provision of the Lord.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
Our individual stories are part of his greater story—creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. God works all things, including the painful and unexpected, for his glory and our good.
When the situation hasn’t righted itself, when the future isn’t clear, when the relationship isn’t restored, when the sickness hasn’t been healed—we stand on truth. We hold fast to the Word of life (Philippians 2:16), especially when we don’t feel it.
We rest in God’s sovereignty. We go forward, not in a gloomy resignation to our fate, but in joyful knowledge that God loves us and that his way is best.
What now?
Turn our heads, hearts, and hands toward God.
Head: study and meditate on the character of God.
Get into your Bible. Read Scripture in context. Read through whole books of the Bible. Look for the character of God. For an example, look at Job 38-40 to see God’s character.
Listen to good music. Music embeds itself into our minds. If we are going to have a chorus playing in our heads on a loop all day, let’s be choosy. Is it glorifying to God? Is it edifying to my soul? (A few personal favorites are Sovereign Grace Music, City Alight, and Shane & Shane.)
Heart: Remind your heart of truth that stirs your affections for the Lord.
Make a written list of all the previous experiences where you have seen the faithfulness of God.
Pray. A great way to start is by praying Scripture. Recommendations: Psalm 5:11-12, Psalm 8, Psalm 36:5-10, Psalm 46, Psalm 91, Ephesians 1:15-23, 3:14-21.
Hands: Step out in obedience.
Sometimes we need to take small steps forward in faith, letting our emotions catch up to the truth we know. This next thing will look different for each of us. Whether you need to call your mom or vacuum your living room, take the next step of obedience.
Seek out people with a high view of God and who will point you back to him. I don’t need someone to tell me that everything will be just fine because “I’ve got this”. I don’t “got this”. At all. I need someone to remind me that God is good at being God. He’s got this.
More than anything, take your eyes off yourself and the circumstances around you and fix them on the Lord. Learn his attributes, meditate on them, and praise him for who he is. This is what we were created to do and where we truly find peace.
"The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else." Oswald Chambers