Anxiety

When Worry Won’t Let Go: A Faith-Filled Look at Anxiety

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

 

Worry starts small—just a whisper in the back of your mind. What if I mess this up? What if something bad happens? What if I’m not enough? But before you know it, that whisper becomes a roar, and suddenly you’re bracing for danger even when you’re sitting safely in your own home.

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Anxiety doesn’t always make sense. It doesn’t ask for permission. And it often overstays its welcome.

But here's what I need you to hear today: you are not weak for feeling anxious. You are human. And more than that—you are deeply loved by a God who never turns away from trembling hands or tear-streaked prayers.

Let’s walk through what anxiety can look like—and more importantly, how God invites us to live free even when fear comes knocking.

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What Is Anxiety, Really?

Anxiety is more than everyday stress. It’s that tight-chested, heart-racing, can’t-catch-your-breath kind of fear that refuses to let your soul rest. While it can look different from person to person, anxiety often feels like:

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• Restlessness or feeling on edge

• A racing heart or fast breathing

• Trouble concentrating

• Muscle tension or stomach aches

• Sleep that just won’t come

• An ongoing sense of dread or panic

 

Sometimes anxiety leads to panic attacks—sudden, overwhelming waves of fear that feel like they’ll drown you in the moment.

 

But here’s the thing: God doesn’t dismiss those waves. He walks on them.

 

A Heart That Hides, a God Who Sees

Anxiety can cause us to avoid situations, people, or places—anything that might trigger more panic. But in doing so, we often shrink our world. We isolate. We hide.

 

And yet, Psalm 139:7-10 reminds us:

“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence... Your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.”

 

You are not alone in the struggle. You are not forgotten in the fear.

 

The Many Faces of Anxiety

Anxiety doesn’t wear just one mask. It may look like:

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• Generalized anxiety — constant, excessive worry over everyday matters

• Social anxiety — fear of being judged, watched, or rejected

• Panic disorder — recurring panic attacks and fear of having more

• Specific phobias — intense fear of particular things or situations

• Separation anxiety — distress when apart from loved ones

• Anxiety from trauma, medical conditions, or substance use​

 

No matter what form it takes, anxiety can be exhausting. And yet, the Lord never asks us to muscle through it alone.

 

When to Reach Out

If your anxiety is:

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• Affecting your work or relationships

• Making it hard to function day-to-day

• Linked to depression or substance use

• Accompanied by dark or hopeless thoughts

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Please know this: you don’t have to wait until it gets worse to get help. God gives us the gift of counselors, doctors, and support systems for times just like this.

 

Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

 

A Gentle Invitation to Begin

At Still Waters, we don’t expect you to show up perfect—we just invite you to show up honest. You bring your fear, your racing thoughts, your questions. We’ll bring biblical truth, clinical wisdom, and a quiet reminder that healing is still possible.

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Together, we’ll seek the One who calms storms, not just on the sea—but in our souls.

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“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” — Psalm 94:19 (NIV)