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025 How We Fight Against Worry, Fear, and Anxiety

Your Hope-Filled Perspective with Dr. Michelle Bengtson podcast

Release Date: 10/03/2019

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Episode Summary:

If you have ever experienced worry, fear, or anxiety, then this is the perfect episode for you! We’ve spent the last couple of weeks discussing worry, fear, and anxiety in part to celebrate the release of my new book, “Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises” which is now available at retailers near you and online. If you didn’t get to listen to either of the two previous week’s episode, I would encourage you to go back and listen to Episode 23 and Episode 24 because we had a great discussion about what exactly is worry, fear, and anxiety, where do they come from, what role trust in God plays, and how we increase our trust in Him.

Today we really want to focus on what we can do about anxiety. Too many books tell you not to worry or not to be anxious, but they don’t tell you how. Today I want to talk about how we fight against worry, fear, and anxiety.

Perfectionism is rooted in anxiety.

Stress is mostly a self-inflicted wound. We put unrealistic expectations on ourselves that even God doesn’t put on ourselves. We worry, stress, and try to problem solve about every possible eventuality, which robs us of our peace and joy in the moment, and we can never get that moment back. Now it’s not always a self-inflicted wound. But our response to difficult situations inflicts the greatest stress.

Even in the most unfortunate situations, we can choose to trust God through it. It’s a matter of taking every thought captive.

We have to overcome worry, fear, and anxiety by seeing it as the battle it is. John 10:10 says that “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy…” That thief comes to steal our joy and kill our peace.

2 Timothy 1:7 tells us “For God hath not given you the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of sound mind.” So, God is showing us that worry, fear, and anxiety are rooted in the spirit of fear. Our enemy brings that on us. But He’s also showing us that He has given us the weapons of power (the same power that raised Christ from the dead), Love (perfect love that casts out fear), and a sound mind (the mind of Christ) to fight the battle against worry, fear, and anxiety.

We are given power through the Name of Jesus, through the Word of God, through the Cross, through Jesus’s blood, and so much more.

God’s love is another powerful weapon. The enemy doesn’t have access to God’s love. God’s love is good and trustworthy.

As Christ-followers, we have been given a sound mind because we have been given the mind of Christ. The same mind that fought the enemy in the wilderness. We have access to the Holy Spirit whose job it is to remind us of all truth.

If you’ve accepted Christ as your savior, you have a new bloodline.

Peace is not a thing; peace is a person.

We long for peace, but peace can always be with us because God is peace and He is always with us.

  • Recognize that worry, fear, and anxiety exist. We cannot battle what we don’t know exists.
  • Recognize that those negative thoughts aren’t yours.
  • Keep in mind that our emotions are the outward manifestation of the thoughts we believe.
  • There are no more powerful prayers than scripture prayers.

Quotables from the episode:

  • Stress is mostly a self-inflicted wound.
  • Peace is not a thing; Peace is a person.
  • Recognize that worry, fear, and anxiety exist. We cannot battle what we don’t know exists
  • Recognize that those negative thoughts aren’t yours
  • Keep in mind that our emotions are the outward manifestation of the thoughts we believe
  • There are no more powerful prayers than scripture prayers.
  • If you’ve accepted Christ as your savior, you have a new bloodline
  • Our feelings are the outward manifestations of the thoughts we believe.

Scripture References:

  • John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
  • John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; but I have come that they might have life and have it to the full.”
  • 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given you the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of sound mind.”
  • John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Recommended Resources:

  • “Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises” by Dr. Michelle Bengtson https://amzn.to/2ZSTP4N
  • “Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression” by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award https://amzn.to/2zB0e7J
  • “Hope Prevails Bible Study” by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award https://amzn.to/2yMdN46

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About Dr. Michelle Bengtson:

Dr. Bengtson studied neuroscience and is board certified in clinical neuropsychology. She established her own clinical practice in the Dallas area. From her professional and personal life, she recognized a deep lack of understanding of the call to “renew our minds” and the transformational effects a robust understanding of this has on our physical and mental health and outlook.

Dr. Bengtson lives to foster regeneration and renew life in her listeners. She recognizes brokenness in her life and others’ and offers steps we can take as we walk with Christ through the thin places.

Dr. Bengtson authored the award-winning “Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression” and its award-winning companion “Hope Prevails Bible Study.”  Her third book, “Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises” will be available in September 2019 (Revell). She blogs at DrMichelleB.com and maintains a Monday morning radio show and podcast at GraceandTruthRadio.world.