Quick question. Don’t think too long before you answer this. If you wanted help with a particular problem, where would you first go?

I’ll admit: for me, it’s Google. (Yeah, I know, the right answer is “God” but I am working on that. Or, more specifically, He’s working on me on that!)

Back in the day, if you wanted a solution to a specific issue, like stress or anxiety, you would probably head to a library and make a beeline for the self-help section.

There is nothing wrong with most books in that genre. They can serve as helpful resources that prompt us think through our problems. But in turning to the internet or to books as our first and primary source of help are we conditioning ourselves to be self-reliant? Have we bought into the idea that “self-help is the best help”? And, if we have, isn’t self-reliance a form of pride?

You may think to yourself, “I’m not a proud person. I don’t brag about my achievements or my bank account or that promo I got at work.” But doesn’t pride tend to be much more nuanced and subtle than that?

There’s a reason why the enemy is known as the “deceiver.” He has hoodwinked us into believing that we have a self-esteem problem when we have much more of a self-obsession problem. The enemy has tricked this generation into constantly grappling with the question, “Am I enough?” when we should be asking, “Do I trust that God is enough?”

Pride keeps us from going to God when challenges hit because we want to be in control.

When the storms hit, we grow anxious because we are sure that the ‘umbrellas’ of power, money, position, and connections can protect us from the downpours of disappointments, detours, and delays. Pride keeps us in a tizzy looking for those ‘umbrellas’ when in fact we should be running to take cover under the wings of the Almighty.

When storms come, we essentially tell God, “I think I can handle this better than You.” We say, “God, I have a feeling You may forget this problem.” We suggest to the Creator, “God, I’m sure I can find a more convenient, smarter, quicker way out of this than You can.” And He patiently waits for us to come back to Him.

I saw this cool observation about the words “anxiety” and “pride.” At the center of both those words is the letter “I.” Sure, it could be a coincidence but I believe it still speaks truth.

Friend, I’d like to suggest that the way out of anxiety is to get rid of the “I”

Please hear me: I’m not saying there is no need for introspection. Of course, there is. God has given us minds and hearts and discernment and wisdom and we need to take time to figure out why we are tossing and turning at night. Even the Psalmist asks in Psalm 42: Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?

But he doesn’t continue to wallow in the why’s. Instead, he says: “Put your hope in God. For I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Let’s go back to our central verse which we referred to in Part 1 of this series: Humble yourself therefore under God’s mighty hand. (1 Peter: 5: 6)

We ought to posture our hearts in the right way before God. We ought to understand our position before the Almighty. We ought to grasp that it’s completely okay to be weak apart from God.

We are definitely not talking about self-condemnation, but more about self-forgetfulness. I love, love, love the CS Lewis quote that says, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”

Today, can we ask ourselves these questions: What areas of my life am I holding too tightly to? Do I need to repent of my need to be in control? Do I need to repent of the ‘me, myself, and I’ narrative that is constantly playing in my head?

The way out of anxiety is to get rid of the “I.”

 

---

Stay tuned for the next two parts of this four-part series on overcoming anxiety. Meanwhile, you can also download my YouVersion devotional  “Do Not Worry…” But How???  and dive into some practical Biblical ways to overcome anxiety.

If this blog resonated with you, SUBSCRIBE to my weekly newsletter for FREE so you get my posts delivered to your inbox. Would also love it if you follow my Facebook or Instagram pages for more encouraging content. Thanks for stopping by!