There is no doubt that anxiety has taken over our culture. According to “The Anxious Generation,” anxiety is not relegated to America alone, but to every culture where the pocketed smartphone is the norm. Though not written from a Christian worldview, the author’s research highlights the increasing levels of depression and anxiety in the generation who grew up with social media reels and thumbs-up emojis. The blame does not rest only on smartphones, however. Given the constant access to 24-hour news cycles, parents also became more anxious. This anxiety lessened children’s exploration and experiences in the outside world without parental supervision. With fear of what might happen to children not fully supervised, parents turned to video games and smartphones to occupy children safely within their homes. Sadly, the online world contains even more danger with even less adult supervision in place.
Culturally, the Christian world is just as anxious as the secular world. Christian anxiety may be spiritualized as protecting children from the world or keeping up appearances within the church. Christian memes often highlight offenses by other Christians who judge or gossip about a family’s decisions. The sad result is that Christians rarely have the means to help the world with anxiety because they too are struggling.
What is the common denominator of this struggle? Anxiety cannot be blamed on smartphones, social media, or 24-hour news cycles. Anxiety may be a response to these things, but the root of the issue is that the fear of man has replaced the fear of God.
Social media places the focus on self. How am I perceived? What do people think about me? Smartphones have replaced real communication even within families. People rarely look away from their devices to say a kind word or look for an opportunity to help others. The 24-hour news cycle makes people fearful of getting to know their neighbors or even going outside.
As a parent and social media user, I too have fallen into the fear of man trap. Each of my children has experienced my “helicopter hover,” as I tried to prevent every bad thing from happening. They missed out on many experiences as I imagined every worst-case scenario that could leave them dead or kidnapped. However, I have also inexplicably handed them cell phones with little instruction on how to handle social media, mostly because I did not understand it either. The fear of man has driven me to walk away from social media many times anxiously wondering why only a few people “liked” my post. How much more has it molded the way my children perceive their value?
Fear of man has made me require my children to wear certain clothes so that we might be more acceptable in our Christian circles. It has made me ashamed to ask for help with struggles in my home because of what people might say. It is only in the last few years that I have learned the remedy to this low and constant hum of anxiety.
In his book “When People Are Big and God is Small,” Edward Welch writes, “Liberation from the fear of man has three components: we must have a biblically informed knowledge of God, other people, and ourselves.”
First, we must know God. However, according to James 2:19, even the devils believe and tremble. Knowing about God is not enough. We must know Him in relationship. A relationship is intimate. It is personal. It is submitted and committed. Just as in a human relationship, it takes time and intention to build.
How does one build a relationship with this God? Salvation is the initial step in this relationship. Jesus makes this possible by His death, burial, and resurrection. In John 14:6, Jesus told His disciples,
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:14-16,
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Salvation is just the beginning of this relationship. Prayer, Bible reading, and faithful church attendance aid in deepening this relationship.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 1 Timothy 2:15
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
Once we learn to know God for who He is, we learn to fear Him above any other fear. This fear of God recognizes His control over everything in our lives. It understands His holiness that orders all His attributes. Everything God does is right and good. We learn to trust that absolutely nothing can happen outside of His approval and that He can redeem even the worst of circumstances. (Isaiah 26:3-4, Romans 8:28-29)
Second, when it comes to other people and ourselves, we are all sinners in need of a Savior. There is none righteous. We will each stand before the throne of God and answer for ourselves with no excuses and no one else to blame.
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way. Romans 14:10-13
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 2 Corinthians 5:8-11
Finally, when the low hum of anxiety begins its captivating song, we must intentionally replace its lies with truth.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:5
The fear of man bringeth a snare:
but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25
Anxiety is like the warning light on the instrument panel of our cars. Its flashing presence reminds us to look to the One who made us for inspection and instruction. He is truly the only One who can give us the peace we so desperately need. He will be enough.
I pray that this might be a help to someone today. I am praying for you. As always, please drop a message with any thoughts or comments. Have a blessed weekend!
Erica B.
His Song in the Night 