Anxiety’s Lie: God’s Truth

Beverly Ward
May 6
5 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

I can still remember the moment.

It was a simple invitation—a friend asking me to speak at a small gathering. Nothing big. Nothing flashy, Just women coming together to talk about faith and life.

And yet, the moment I said yes, I felt it—the quiet, creeping grip of anxiety.

What if I freeze up mid-sentence? What if my words don’t make sense? What if I disappoint everyone?

That’s the thing about anxiety. It doesn’t need a reason. It just needs an opening —one small space to slide into the mind and start spinning scenarios that feel so real, so final, so terrifying.

And what did I want to do in that moment? Pretend I was too busy. Hide. Avoid. Anything to escape the discomfort. And for a while, that’s exactly what I did.

The Subtle, Slippery Slope of Avoidance

Anxiety doesn’t always show up shouting. Sometimes it whispers. And one of its most deceptive whispers is this: “Just don’t deal with it right now. Just avoid it.” That whisper feels like relief. It feels like control. But it’s not. It’s the start of a trap.

As therapists, we often walk clients through something called the Cycle of Avoidance. It’s the pattern anxiety loves to reinforce. And chances are, you’ve seen it in your own life:

A Trigger Appears - Something sets off anxious thoughts—a social event, a conversation you’re dreading, a new opportunity that feels risky.
Anxiety Takes Over - Your heart races. Your thoughts spiral. You play out worst-case scenarios. Your whole body braces for disaster.
Avoidance Feels Like the Answer - You cancel the plans. Numb out with food, TV, or social media. Procrastinate. Postpone. Pull away.
Temporary Relief - For a moment, the pressure lifts. You breathe easier. It feels like you’ve dodged a bullet.
Reinforced Fear - But the next time something similar comes up? The anxiety is stronger. The avoidance feels more necessary. And the cycle tightens.

This isn’t weakness. It’s wiring. Our brains are trying to protect us from pain. But in the process, we start to avoid life itself.

And friend, that’s not what God wants for you.

When Avoiding Becomes a Way of Living

Here’s what’s hard: avoidance doesn’t always look harmful. Sometimes, it hides behind words like “I’m just tired,” or “I’ll deal with it later,” or “It’s just not the right time.”

But beneath those justifications is often a quiet fear that sounds more like:

I don’t think I can handle this. I’m afraid I’ll fail. What if I’m not enough?

And those fears? They come from somewhere. Often they’ve been reinforced by past trauma, rejection, or pain we’ve never fully processed.

But here’s the good news: God never asks us to handle life alone.

God’s Invitation in the Middle of the Spiral

If avoidance is anxiety’s favorite tool, abiding is God’s gentle response.

“Abide in me, and I in you.”— John 15:4. That word—abide—is one I come back to often. It doesn’t mean “fix everything.” It doesn’t mean “never feel fear.” It means stay with Me. Trust Me. Let Me hold you through the hard. Anxiety tells us to escape. God tells us to lean in.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”— Philippians 4:6 . This verse isn’t a command to feel shame when we’re anxious. It’s an invitation to relationship. When we bring our fears to God, we create space for His presence in our pain.

What It Looks Like to Abide in Real Life

Abiding doesn’t mean you suddenly feel brave or confident. It means you stay connected to the One who is. It’s choosing presence in the midst of panic. Here’s how that might look:

Instead of procrastinating, you take one small step. You write the first sentence. Make the first call. Trust that God meets you in motion, not perfection.
Instead of canceling plans, you pause and pray, and then you show up, even if it’s imperfect.
Instead of numbing out, you get curious. What am I avoiding right now? What would it look like to feel this instead of escape it?

Each small step is a declaration: Anxiety doesn’t get the final say.

Scripture for the Anxious Soul

If anxiety is something you wrestle with daily, here are three verses that have become anchors for many of the clients we serve—and for my own anxious heart:

1. Isaiah 41:10“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

This is not just comfort—it’s a promise. God will uphold you. Even when you feel shaky. Especially then.

2. 1 Peter 5:7“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” There’s no fear too small, no worry too repetitive for God’s attention. If it matters to you, it matters to Him.

3. Psalm 56:3“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Not if, but when. The Bible assumes we’ll feel fear—but it also shows us how to walk through it: forward, holding His hand, not in retreat.

Healing Isn’t About Feeling Less—It’s About Facing More

Sometimes we believe the lie that healing means never feeling anxious again. But healing, especially in Christian counseling, often looks like this:

Recognizing your patterns.
Naming your fears without shame.
Taking steps forward, not because you feel fearless, but because you're walking with Jesus.

As therapists, we walk with clients through the process of breaking the anxiety cycle. We use tools like thought reframing, mindfulness, and exposure therapy. But above all, we root everything in the truth of God’s Word. Because healing isn’t just a mental process. It’s a spiritual journey too.

A Final Word for the One Who’s Tired

If you’re reading this and thinking, “That’s me. I’ve been stuck in this cycle for too long.”—can I whisper something to your soul?

You are not "not enough",

You are not "the only one",

And, You are never "alone".

You are a beloved child of a God who sees your fear and stays with you in it.

And this cycle? It can be broken. Not all at once. Not without intentional effort. But it can be broken. One honest conversation at a time. One prayer at a time. One brave choice at a time.

You don’t have to do it alone. And you were never meant to. God is with you and for you.

We Can Walk This Together

If anxiety has been making your world smaller, good therapy can help you make it wide again. At Still Waters Counseling and Education Center, we offer Christ-centered counseling that honors your story, equips you with tools for healing, and reminds you that you are never alone. You don’t have to avoid your way through life. You can abide your way into purpose.

Healing is possible. Hope is real. And you are worth the journey.