Anxiety Is Rising—But There's a Spiritual Solution That Actually Works

At that moment, my child was at the sliding glass door, about to wander into the wilderness. My heart was racing. We didn't sleep that night. And I'll be honest—I had to fight the same temptations to fear, worry, and anxiety that you might be facing right now.
That wasn't even my worst week.

A few weeks later, my wife developed a persistent cough. One doctor visit turned into multiple visits. Then came the chest X-ray with something "concerning" on it. Then the CT scan. Then the waiting for results. And honestly? I did what most of us do—I Googled "what could this be," and let my mind spiral into worst-case scenarios for hours.

If you've ever experienced that tug-of-war between hope and fear, you're not alone. And if you've been searching for a Christian approach to managing anxiety that actually goes deeper than "just think positive thoughts," this is for you.

I'm not exaggerating when I say we're living in what researchers are calling an "increasingly anxious generation." The data backs it up. Anxiety is on the rise across every age group:

For students (6th-12th grade): Academic and performance pressure, uncertain futures, social media comparison culture, and test anxiety are the main culprits.

For college students: Academic competition, sleep disruption, homesickness, financial stress, and student debt, plus smartphone addiction, compound the pressure.

For young adults (18-25): Economic instability, career pressures, relationship uncertainties, and a newer concern—climate anxiety—keep them in a constant state of worry.

For mid-lifers: Existential questions, financial stress, health concerns, caregiving responsibilities, and significant life transitions create a different but equally real anxiety.

For seniors: Health crises, loss, grief, and existential questions about legacy add their own weight.

But here's what surprised me when I dug into the research: anxiety isn't a new problem. It's not something that started in 2020 during COVID (though that was definitely a turning point). Anxiety has been around for thousands of years.

What's changed is why we're anxious, and that's crucial to understanding the solution.

This one seems counterintuitive, right? We were promised that technology would simplify our lives. Instead, it's amplifying our anxiety.

There's a fascinating book called The Anxious Generation that tracks a troubling correlation: smartphone use among young people is skyrocketing while what researchers call "risky play"—kids actually getting outside and playing—is plummeting. And as screen time goes up, anxiety levels rise in tandem.

How many of you feel more anxious after an hour of doom-scrolling? You go down the rabbit hole thinking you'll catch up on news or stay connected, and you come out feeling worse than when you started.

Beyond screens, there's the paradox of comfort itself. We call them "first-world problems"—complaining about minor inconveniences while people around the world face genuine hardship. But here's the thing: when your basic needs are met, your brain doesn't stop worrying. It just finds new things to worry about. No diamond earrings? No iPhone upgrade? No perfect vacation? And suddenly you're anxious about things that don't actually threaten your survival.

Jesus told us we'd have trouble in this world. And we do.

We live in a broken world filled with broken people. Loss happens. Illness strikes. Relationships fracture. Jobs disappear. Dreams don't materialize. That's just reality. And when trouble comes—whether it's a health scare or financial pressure or relational conflict—it naturally triggers fear, worry, and anxiety.

Here's something most secular anxiety management strategies miss: at the root of so much anxiety is spiritual disconnection.

When people don't believe in God, they're left carrying their burdens alone. There's no one to turn to for help or guidance. It becomes "I got this. I'll handle it myself." That self-reliance, while sometimes useful, becomes exhausting when you're trying to navigate life's biggest challenges without any spiritual foundation.

Paul wrote about this nearly 2,000 years ago in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. He described a society dominated by self-love, misplaced affections, and broken relationships. He could have been describing our current time.

When we worship ourselves instead of God, when we prioritize pleasure and possessions over purpose and peace, when we fracture our relationships and communities—anxiety naturally follows. It's the spiritual consequence of disconnection.

Before we talk about solutions, we need to understand the problem.

Clinically speaking, anxiety is "a persistent state of excessive fear, worry, or apprehension that is disproportionate to the actual threat." In other words, your brain is responding to danger that isn't really there.

But practically? Anxiety feels like living in a constant state of "what if." What if it's serious? What if I can't handle it? What if everything falls apart? You anticipate worst-case scenarios and get paralyzed by uncertainty.

Here's what most anxiety resources miss, though: anxiety is fundamentally a spiritual problem.

Anxiety is a divided mind and a restless heart, weighed down by fear or worry instead of trusting God's care and provision. It's being torn apart internally, caught in a tug-of-war between hope and fear. It's often rooted in the attempt to carry your burdens alone—and sometimes carrying burdens that were never meant to be yours.

Here's the simple (but not easy) answer to anxiety: fully surrender to Jesus Christ.

I know that might sound oversimplified if you're in the middle of a panic attack or facing a real crisis. But stay with me.

Jesus is called the Prince of Peace for a reason. He told his followers: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 14:27-28).

Notice what he didn't say. He didn't say, "If you follow me, you won't have problems." He acknowledged that trouble is inevitable. But he offered something deeper than the absence of problems—he offered peace in the midst of them.

And peace through Jesus operates on three levels:

Our deepest problem is separation from God because of sin. We're born into this world at odds with our Creator. That fundamental disconnection is often what's really driving our anxiety, even if we don't realize it.

But through Jesus's death and resurrection, he reconciled us to God. Paul wrote: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

When you make peace with God, you've solved your ultimate problem. Everything else flows from that.

Once you have peace with God, you can experience what Paul calls "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). This is supernatural peace—it doesn't make logical sense given your circumstances, but it guards your heart and mind.

I experienced this during the wait for my wife's CT scan results. The peace I found wasn't natural. Logically, I had every reason to be anxious. But I found a deep, settled confidence that God was with me and that whatever came, I could trust him.

When you're at peace with God and at peace within, you can finally make peace with others. Jesus breaks down the walls that separate us and brings reconciliation and unity that's impossible without him.

If you're ready to stop trying to manage anxiety on your own, here's how to take the first step:

Admit that you've sinned against God and ask for his forgiveness. This is called repentance—a genuine turning away from your own way and turning toward God's way.

It's hard because we carry arrogance and selfishness within us. It's difficult to admit we're wrong, especially to God. But repentance is both a turning from sin and a turning to God.

Believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again. Believe that he accepts you as you are—with all your sin, brokenness, problems, and anxieties. Believe that he's enough to forgive you and make you right with God.

Choose to accept his free gift of salvation. Choose to follow him. When you accept Jesus's gift, you're choosing to belong to him—to live according to his ways, guided by his leadership, walking in the peace he promises.

Here's what I want you to know: the anxiety didn't disappear immediately. My sleepwalking child still needed monitoring. My wife still needed that CT scan. But something fundamental shifted.

I had a source of peace that transcended my circumstances. I could lie awake at night not in panic, but in prayer. I could wait for medical results not in despair, but in trust. Not because my problems went away, but because I wasn't carrying them alone anymore.
That's the difference between managing anxiety and conquering it.

Maybe you came here searching for "Christian anxiety management" because you're exhausted. You're tired of the constant what-ifs. Tired of the worst-case scenarios. Tired of trying to handle everything on your own.

The peace you're looking for isn't found in a self-help book or a meditation app or even in therapy alone. It's found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you haven't surrendered to Jesus yet, today is the day to take that step. You can pray something as simple as:
"Dear Lord Jesus, I'm tired of doing this on my own. I admit I'm a sinner. I believe you died for me and rose again. Please forgive me. Come into my life and change me. Give me the peace I haven't been able to find anywhere else. I trust you as my Savior and commit to follow you as my Lord. Thank you for your grace."

If you've already surrendered to Jesus but you're still carrying anxiety, it might be time to give your burdens to him. You don't have to carry everything alone. Whatever burden you're holding—fear about the future, worry about a loved one, anxiety about money or health or relationships—you can lay it at his feet and ask for his help.

Here's something crucial: God didn't create us to figure out life solo. He made us for relationship—first with him, then with each other.

That's why we have groups. That's why community matters. That's why you need people around you who can encourage you, pray with you, and remind you of God's faithfulness when anxiety tries to lie to you.

If you're looking for a place to connect, to be known, and to grow in your faith journey, we'd love to have you join one of our Sunday services.

You don't have to keep battling anxiety alone. There's a better way.

Struggling with anxiety? You're not alone. And there's a spiritual solution that actually works.

The anxiety epidemic is real, but it's not a new problem. For thousands of years, people have found peace not by managing their circumstances, but by surrendering their burdens to Jesus—the Prince of Peace.

If you're exhausted from trying to handle everything on your own, it might be time to discover what millions have found: that peace which transcends all understanding.

Full surrender to Jesus isn't just for managing anxiety. It's for transforming your entire relationship with fear, worry, and trust.

Learn more about finding peace in the midst of life's troubles. Your peace is waiting.