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Fear, Anxiety, and Panic (Part 8) – Anxiety (Part G)
- The best of men can suffer from anxiety and be mentally troubled and distressed.
- Solomon was one of the wisest (1Ki 4:29-31) and richest men to ever live (1Ki 10:27).
- He had all that heart could wish (Ecc 2:1-10).
- Yet, he was afflicted with vexation of spirit (Ecc 1:14, 17).
- Consider all the blessings and advantages that Solomon had which did not prevent him from being mentally troubled and distressed.
- He was king over Israel (Ecc 1:12).
- He gave his heart to the pursuit of wisdom (Ecc 1:13).
- He had seen all that the world had to offer (Ecc 1:14).
- He came to great estate (Ecc 1:16a).
- He had more wisdom than all that had gone before him (Ecc 1:16b).
- Nevertheless, he was still anxious and depressed in spirit.
- Years of hard work and great accomplishments did not stop Solomon from suffering with mental distress (Ecc 2:11).
- In fact, it may have contributed to it.
- In his anxious and depressed state, he hated life (Ecc 2:17).
- After suffering with a troubled mind due to trying to do everything and find happiness in things instead of God, Solomon finally began to learn the path toward peace of mind.
- He realized that it’s better to have little with inner peace than abundance with anxiety (Ecc 4:6).
- He found that constantly desiring to have more than one already has is a source of anxiety (Ecc 6:9).
- He concluded his quest for happiness and satisfaction with the realization that the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments (Ecc 12:13).
- This, and this alone, will bring a man a peaceful and satisfied mind.
- Other causes of vexation of spirit (being troubled in mind or anxious).
- Devil possession can cause a person to be vexed (Mat 15:22; Mat 17:15; Luk 6:18; Act 5:16).
- Remember, fear is one of Satan’s favorite tactics to afflict the saints with (1Pe 5:8).
- Whether it is outright devil possession, or devil oppression, God’s children can suffer vexation of mind from devilish influence.
- Never rule out the possibility that vexation of mind could be due to the influence of an unclean spirit.
- If this is the case, we must resist the devil with the word of God (1Pe 5:9 c/w Mat 4:1-11).
- Pray and ask God to rebuke the devil (Jud 1:9).
- Persecution can cause vexation of spirit (Act 12:1).
- Seeing and hearing the wickedness of the wicked around us can cause our souls to be vexed (2Pe 2:7-8).
- To mitigate this vexation, read much less “gloom and doom” news, and spend more time thinking on good things (Php 4:8), such as our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Do your best to avoid spending time with sinners who will vex your soul (1Co 15:33).
The Bible refers to anxiety as being disquieted.
- Definitions
- Disquiet v. – To deprive of quietness, peace, or rest, bodily or mental; to trouble, disturb, alarm; to make uneasy or restless.
- Disquiet n. – Absence of bodily or mental quietness; disturbance; uneasiness, anxiety, worry; restlessness, unrest.
- Disquieted adj. – Disturbed; rendered uneasy or restless.
- Anxiety n. – 1. The quality or state of being anxious; uneasiness or trouble of mind about some uncertain event; solicitude, concern.
- Anxious adj. – 1. a. Troubled or uneasy in mind about some uncertain event; being in painful or disturbing suspense; concerned, solicitous. 2. a. Fraught with trouble or solicitude, distressing, worrying.
- Disquietness in heart (anxiety, in other words) causes great turmoil within a person (Psa 38:8-9).
- Being disquieted (anxious, troubled, uneasy, restless) is often accompanied by depression (being cast down) (Psa 42:5, 11; Psa 43:5).
- We can learn a few things from these verses.
- The cause of anxiety and depression is often unknown to us (why art thou disquieted within me?).
- Help for anxiety is found in hoping in God (hope thou in God).
- Help for anxiety is found in praising God (I shall yet praise him).
- Even in the midst of suffering with anxiety, we must never forget to praise God (I shall yet praise him).
- Yet adv. – III. 9. a. as adv. or conj. (developed from I), introducing an additional fact or circumstance which is adverse to, or the contrary of what would naturally be expected from, that just mentioned: In spite of that, for all that, nevertheless, notwithstanding. Sometimes strengthened by nevertheless, etc. Often correlative to though, etc.
- When we make our requests known to God when in a state of carefulness, we must always do so with thanksgiving (Php 4:6).
- God is the health of our countenance.
- God is ultimately from where our healing comes.
- God is the one who can restore our joy and peace.
- Remember to always seek God’s help first when suffering with anxiety.
- Keep pleading with God for help until He helps you (Luk 18:1-8).
- God will avenge us when we cry day and night unto Him.
- He may bear long with us, but He will eventually give us the relief we are seeking.
- Pray to God for help with importunity (Luk 11:5-10).
- Importunity n. – Troublesome pertinacity in solicitation.