• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet Our Team
  • Blog
    • Spiritual Growth
    • Bible Study
    • Christian Living
  • Resources
    • Bible Study Workbook
    • Easter Devotional
    • New Christian Guide: Start Here If You Are Looking For Resources to Help You Grow in Your Faith
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Daily She Pursues

Daily She Pursues

Pursuing the One who first pursued me

Home | Spiritual Growth | How to Overcome Anxiety through God’s Word

How to Overcome Anxiety through God’s Word

May 15, 2019 | by Shanté Grossett O'Neal Spiritual Growth

I woke up in the middle of the night gasping for air. It felt like all the breath in me was suddenly sucked away into a vacuum. I couldn’t understand what was happening. I didn’t have asthma and although it was the beginning of allergy season, I didn’t have allergies either. I later came to find out that this was just one of the symptoms of the anxiety I couldn’t seem to shake.

I had experienced anxiety before. Actually, I struggled with severe social anxiety since I was a child. But, until that year, I don’t think I experienced anxiety quite like this.

Image of woman with books with text overlay "How to Overcome Anxiety through God's Word"

All I know is, I felt trapped and helpless. Worry for the future and fear from my past constantly plagued my mind. I saw things that weren’t there, I overreacted to simple situations, and I was afraid of things I never should have feared.

Related: How to Find Beauty in Dark, Transitional Seasons

I pushed my symptoms out of my mind and refused to deal with them. I thought if I ignored them, they would eventually go away. But, they didn’t. Sometimes, even the thought of anxiety made me anxious. Honestly, sometimes it still does. I’d lay in bed for a few short minutes only to jump back up because my throat felt like it was closing in on me. I looked in the mirror to find random outbreaks of rashes on my skin.

My body’s aversion to caffeine became worse. I took a few sips and felt my heart racing, my hands shaking, and my vision going blurry. It would take entire days to wear off.

The girl who had faced Goliath and won seemed to be losing in a battle she didn’t think she had to fight. Truth is, I couldn’t win my battle by ignoring the enemy. I had to fight him face to face.

But who wants to fight when they feel crippled by fear? Who’s motivated to win when they already feel defeated? I know, it’s easier said than done.

Related: How to Trust God in the Middle of Uncertainty

But, there is a way to fight and win.

Recognize the root of anxiety

There is a root cause to every issue. Anxiety is the same. While many things including past experiences, sudden life changes, or extreme stress can trigger anxiety, one thing truly causes it. It’s fear. We’ve all experienced fear at some point in our lives and most times, that fear is completely rational. For example, if you fear snakes, there’s a pretty good reason for it.

But the root of anxiety is irrational fear. It tells us lies like…

  • We’re not good enough
  • We’ll never amount to anything
  • No one loves us
  • We’ll run out of provision
  • God has forgotten us
  • We’re unwanted

Anxiety magnifies these lies in us. Instead of living out of truth, we live from the point of view of our biggest fears. Yet, God did not design us to fear.

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

Since the root of anxiety is fear, if we want to conquer it, we must conquer fear.

Related: How to Take Your Thoughts Captive and Destroy Spiritual Strongholds

Expose irrational fear

To overcome your fear, you need to recognize what it is exactly. Think back to your childhood, or even early adolescence. Are there any patterns forming? What usually triggers your anxiety? Is it something that happened in your past? A negative emotion that someone made you feel a long time ago?

Related: This is Why You’re Constantly Overwhelmed (and How to Fix it)

In all honesty, mine is rejection. So, anxiety shows up at work when I make a little mistake. It shows up when a friend doesn’t respond to my text right away. It even shows up when meeting new people. It might take some time to recognize the fear fueling your anxiety, and you might need outside help to find it. But once you do find it, you can work on overcoming it.

Eliminate negative thoughts with God’s word

Did you know that fear starts in our minds and works its way into our actions?

2 Corinthians 10:5 says this:

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Let’s break this verse down. Two verses before, the author of Corinthians says that even though we live in the flesh (live in an earthly dimension), we don’t fight in the flesh. This means that our true battle is spiritual. We have to fight spiritual battles with spiritual weapons. So we overcome anxiety in the spirit, not in the flesh.

I’m sure you’re thinking, “Well, what does this have to do with arguments and lofty opinions?” Think about a house. You build a house brick by brick. You also build up thought patterns brick by brick, layer by layer. Experiencing rejection once did not build a house in my heart. It took many years and many layers of thoughts, opinions, and belief systems to form.

This means, it’ll probably take some work to completely cast down. But what I can do is begin dismantling it brick by brick. I do that through God’s word.

Related: 4 Practical Tips for Reducing Everyday Stress & Anxiety (ft. Zambeezi Soaps)

When I feel like a failure, I can choose to speak the truth that:

No, in all these things I AM more than a conqueror through him who loves me.

Romans 8:37 (emphasis mine)

When I feel unloved, I can hold onto this:

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

Jeremiah 31:3 (Emphasis mine)

When I don’t feel good enough, I can rest in this:

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

So layer by layer, the negative thoughts are replaced by truth. And little by little, a huge house begins falling down.

You are still an overcomer even in the middle of anxiety

I want to assure you, just because you still experience the symptoms of anxiety doesn’t mean you haven’t overcome. You have overcome when you recognize that your struggle does not define you. When you choose to believe God when its hard, instead of entertaining fear, you have overcome. Strength does not mean we don’t struggle. It means that we choose to turn to God and allow him to be our consolation.

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:19

Be mindful of your thoughts

They say, you are what you eat. Well, I’d say you are what you think. While it’s so important to meditate on truth, it’s equally necessary to make sure that you do not feed your mind with negative thoughts. This doesn’t mean that negative thoughts won’t come, it simply means that you refuse to dwell on them.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Consider these questions:

  • What is true?
  • What is noble?
  • What is right?
  • What is pure?
  • What is lovely?
  • What is admirable?

These are the thoughts you should entertain. Reject anything else.

I know overcoming anxiety is not easy but I hope that this article was helpful for you. I’m praying for you & please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.

DISCLAIMER

This article is not meant to replace medical advice from your doctor. Follow the treatment they prescribe in addition to what I share in this article. Remember that God also heals through doctors, medicine and treatment.

How to Overcome Anxiety through God's Word - Her Style of Tea | overcome anxiety, bible verses for anxiety, overcoming anxiety with God, anxiety and God healing
How to Overcome Anxiety through God's Word - Her Style of Tea | christian quotes, overcoming anxiety, bible verse quotes, iphone wallpaper, christian phone wallpaper, bible verses for anxiety, help for anxiety, bible verses about fear
How to Overcome Anxiety through God's Word - Her Style of Tea | christian quotes, overcoming anxiety, bible verse quotes, iphone wallpaper, christian phone wallpaper, bible verses for anxiety, help for anxiety, bible verses about fear
How to Overcome Anxiety through God's Word - Her Style of Tea | christian quotes, overcoming anxiety, bible verse quotes, iphone wallpaper, christian phone wallpaper, bible verses for anxiety, help for anxiety, bible verses about fear

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

May 15, 2019 · 3 Comments

Catch up on the latest posts

  • What Does it Mean to Use God’s Name in Vain?
  • What Is the Cost of Following Jesus?
  • The Road To Emmaus: The Need for Faith In Suffering
  • 47 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Christian Women In Your Life
  • Surrendering to the God of Hope When All Seems Lost

Loved the article? Sign up for the newsletter for more!

Previous Post: « How to Find Beauty in Transitional Seasons
Next Post: The “Grace is Enough” Eco-Friendly Orange Blossom Candle You Need to Try Right Away (featuring P.S. Made for More Candle Co) »

Reader Interactions

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Kristina says

    May 17, 2019 at 10:37 pm

    I love using god’s word to fight spiritual battles. Thank you for sharing these wonderful verses in context of your story. ❤️

    Reply
    • Shanté says

      May 19, 2019 at 11:47 am

      Amen, it’s our most important weapon! You’re welcome and thank you for reading!

      Reply
  2. Joetta Miller says

    October 17, 2020 at 6:05 pm

    This really helped me, this was the time I needed this. Thank you

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Hi there! I’m Shanté, the founder of Daily She Pursues. I am passionate about teaching women how to pursue the heart of God by studying his word, spending time in prayer, and committing to a daily walk with the Lord! I am currently working on a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies and some of my favorite things include tea, journaling, art museums, essential oils, and thrift shopping. Read More…

Cultivate A Deeper Relationship With Christ

Want to pursue God with us?

Products

  • The 12-Week Jesus Bible Study: Readings and Reflections for Women to Grow Closer to Christ $14.99 $14.00
  • Reflections From the Holy Land: Inspiring Devotions on the Life of Christ (Ebook) $5.00
  • Faithful: Recalling the Goodness of the Lord (Ebook) $10.00
  • A Study of Ephesians: Live Out Your Identity in Christ (Ebook)
    Rated 4.75 out of 5
    $10.00
  • When You Are Waiting on God: 7 Devotions to Encourage and Strengthen Your Faith in the Waiting (EBook) $5.00

Search by Category

Recent Posts

  • What Does it Mean to Use God’s Name in Vain?
  • What Is the Cost of Following Jesus?
  • The Road To Emmaus: The Need for Faith In Suffering
  • 47 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Christian Women In Your Life
  • Surrendering to the God of Hope When All Seems Lost

Footer

dailyshepursues

by Shanté Grossett O’Neal | Christian Blog
This Thursday 9/14 at 8 AM EST, I have the opportu This Thursday 9/14 at 8 AM EST, I have the opportunity to speak with Liv Dooley (@candidliv), Christian Author, Bible Teacher, and Podcaster, about the Imprecatory Psalms. We're going to be diving into what they are and what Christians should know about praying these psalms. 

If you've ever wondered about these psalms, please join us on Instagram Live on Thursday. 

All you'll need to do is log into the app on Thursday at 8 AM and go to @dailyshepursues. There will be a notification that we are Live and you'll be able to click and join.

Looking forward to having this conversation with Liv!
Prayer is one of the ways in which we connect with Prayer is one of the ways in which we connect with and hear from God. Yet, approaching God in prayer can feel daunting. 

The good news is that Jesus taught us how to pray. 

Consider applying the Lord’s Prayer as you structure your prayer time. 

Swipe to see how! ➡️
Some thoughts on why we struggle to cultivate a re Some thoughts on why we struggle to cultivate a relationship with God, and God’s response to us when we do. ♥️

#christianblog #christianwomen #christianwriters #devotionalforwomen #christianwomencommunity #womenwholovejesus #womenoffaith #womenofGod #lampandlight #christiancommunity #biblestudy #shereadstruth #jesusfollower❤️ #dailydevotional #dailydevotionsforwomen #christianwriting #christianministries #christianministry #womensministries #womenintheology #readingthegospels #readingscripture #womenreadingscripture
Thomas often gets a bad rap in church history. He’s forever known as “doubting Thomas.” I find that humorous because Thomas did what most of us would have done in the situation. He wanted to see for himself that Jesus had truly resurrected from the grave.

Jesus was kind to Thomas. He paid a visit to the house Thomas and the other disciples were in, and he showed Thomas the scars in his hands and in his side. 

In John 20:27, Jesus says, “Stop doubting and believe.” 

I imagine that his voice was kind and tender. After showing Thomas the evidence, he invited him to believe.

Doubting doesn’t make you a bad Christian. Doubting is human, and like Thomas, God meets us in our doubt. He does not scoff at us or turn us away, he simply reminds us of the truth. 

Isn’t that such a beautiful thing?

—— 

On another note, I’m now offering copies of The 12 Week Jesus Bible Study via dailyshepursues.com. I just got 20 new copies this week, if you want one, they’re available at the link in my bio! 

#christianblog #christianwomen #christianwriters #devotionalforwomen #christianwomencommunity #womenwholovejesus #womenoffaith #womenofGod #lampandlight #christiancommunity #biblestudy #shereadstruth #jesusfollower❤️ #dailydevotional #dailydevotionsforwomen #christianwriting #christianministries #christianministry #womensministries #womenintheology #readingthegospels #readingscripture #womenreadingscripture
I’m still figuring out how to keep plants alive. I’m still figuring out how to keep plants alive. I love them but they don’t always love me. 😅

The other day, my mom advised me to prune away the dead and wilted flowers of my Kalanchoe plant. It had been doing okay for a while but lately, it began to not look so great. 

Of course, this reminded me of how God is with us as Christians. Pruning is an important part of our sanctification process. 

Jesus tells us that God prunes us so that we can bear more fruit. Ultimately, without pruning, our spiritual lives wither and eventually die. If this happens, how can we abide in Christ?

Pruning can be painful, but God doesn’t prune us to harm us — he does it for our growth. He loves us. And the pruning won’t last forever, this is only a season. 
 

#christianwriter #dailyshepursues #christianwritingcommunity #christianwritersofinstagram #christianwomen #christianwalk #biblestudynotes #biblestudy #shewritestruth #christianreels #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus #womenofgrace #womensministries #faithblogger #faithquotes
Some thoughts on unmet needs and desires because I Some thoughts on unmet needs and desires because I know what it feels like, and I know so many people are dealing with this right now. ♥️

Swipe to read.

P.S. — one of the weeks in my 12 week devotional is devoted to this topic so if you struggle in this area, I’d recommend checking it out. The link is in my bio. 

P.P.S — when I say unmet needs, I am referring to things that are really important and feel like ultimate needs. I believe that God does supply all of our needs (but not necessarily the things we feel are needs). 

#christianblog #biblestudy #dailydevotional #christianliving #bibleverse #christianwomen #womenwholovejesus #womenoffaith #womenintheword #lampandlight #hertrueworth #christianquotes #christianwriters #dailydevotional #devotionsforwomen #womeninthebible #biblescripture
Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • About
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • What We Believe
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Daily She Pursues