Fear, Anxiety, and Panic (Part 8) - Anxiety (Part G)

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