Letter to an Anxious Heart

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on
your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
​Him, and He will direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

I receive letters from people who come from all walks of life who write to me for different reasons...

Thankfully, a majority of them have a good motive for doing so, and I welcome their correspondence, although it may take time for me to reply.

One such letter was from a young man who's been battling anxiety and depression. This is nothing new. Much of humanity struggles with these issues, especially in the stressful times we're now living in.

While I am humbled that people seek me out for advice, especially considering the fact that I am a convicted felon and lack professional credentials, I do try my best to rely on God for wisdom on how to reply to them. My hope is to say something beneficial. I like to keep things simple, as well. 

Therefore, here is my slightly edited response to this man's questions:

"Thank you for your letter. I am sorry to learn of your struggles with anxiety and depression. I have my challenges with these very same things too. Being a Christian and believing in God does not exempt me from never again having to deal with the issues that have plagued me since childhood.  

"Although I now have a relationship with Jesus Christ, the fact is I am still human. And like everyone else, I am prone to all the imperfections and frailties that others may have too.

"But as my faith continues to develop and mature, the negative forces such as anxiety and depression became less intense. They don't come upon me as often as they once did. And this, I believe, is because I have become more skillful at using God's words against them.

"I have learned how to challenge anxiety and depression by keeping God's words in my heart, and even speaking to these demonic emotions out loud when it's appropriate. For example, I will openly declare Scriptures such as, 'No weapon that is formed against me shall prosper' (Isaiah 54:17), or, 'You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is fixed on Thee' (Isaiah 26:3).

"While some other popular Scriptures that I often use to rid myself of anxiety and depression are, 'Casting all your care upon the Lord, because He cares for you' (1 Peter 5:7), and 'Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need' (Hebrews 4:16).

"These are just several of the many verses in both the Old and New Testaments where you could find strength, encouragement, and hope to help you withstand those rocky times when anxiety and stress and depression try to gain an inroad into your mind and heart."
​

I also reminded this young man not to get down on himself when these negative feelings appear. He'd been viewing himself as a "bad" Christian who has failed the Lord. I assured him this was not the case at all. 

I affirmed Christ's love for him and reminded him that we are still growing in our faith as well as learning more about our heavenly Father as we grow. I ended by saying that I've been a Christian for more than thirty years, and I am still learning more about our great God, and about His ways. 

I believe and know that as long he continues to walk with the Lord, he will come to understand all that he has at his disposal to live a godly life. He will know without any doubt that he is being kept by the Lord's power, and not his own (1 Peter 1:5). 

He will also come to the awareness that God has already provided everything he needs to live a good and spiritually healthy life (2 Peter 1:3-11).

D.B.