Deep Dive In Faith
Journey with us as we explore the multifaceted world of Christianity through engaging discussions on contemporary news, powerful sermon insights, and compelling stories of faith. From breaking down biblical teachings to examining how Christianity intersects with modern life, Deep Dive in Faith offers thoughtful conversations that both challenge and inspire believers seeking a deeper understanding of their spiritual walk. We are proud supporters of destiny rescue, A organisation saving children lives from sex trafficking. Donate and help rescue more children > https://www.destinyrescue.org.au/donate/
Deep Dive In Faith
Finding Peace: Navigating Faith and Anxiety
Can faith truly bring peace in the midst of anxiety? Explore this compelling question as we unpack the intricate relationship between faith and mental health. Through the stories of influential figures like Charles Spurgeon and insights from Gretchen Saffles, we shine a light on the often unspoken struggles within Christian communities. This episode challenges the notion of anxiety as merely a reflection of weak faith, highlighting it instead as a complex mental health issue that requires both spiritual and professional approaches. By offering practical advice such as surrendering your worries to God and practicing gratitude, we aim to provide you with tools to manage anxiety and foster a deeper connection with your faith.
As we journey through these discussions, remember that your identity isn’t defined by anxiety, but by your values and beliefs. By embracing our imperfections, we find true worth in Christ and not in societal achievements. We emphasize the importance of nurturing environments where individuals can express themselves without judgment and seek the help they need. Additionally, we spotlight the powerful work of Destiny Rescue, an organization dedicated to liberating children from the horrors of sex trafficking, and encourage you to support their mission. Join us for insights that promise not only to challenge your perspective on anxiety but also to strengthen your hope and resilience.
Destiny Rescue 👉🏽❤️//www.destinyrescue.org.au/donate/
Welcome to a deep dive exploring something I think a lot of us deal with.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:The whole like intersection of faith and anxiety. We've got some interesting stuff to look at today.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we've got blog posts, articles. They're all written from like a Christian perspective, right, but they all kind of grapple with the same question, and what I'm kind of hoping we can figure out together is how faith is both like a challenge and a comfort when you're dealing with anxiety. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, that's such a good question and it's something that comes up a lot, I feel like, within Christian communities, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:There's this tension between the peace that you're supposed to get from faith and the fact that so many Christians, I think, struggle with anxiety.
Speaker 1:Totally and it's like almost like an internal conflict. Christians, I think, struggle with anxiety. Totally, and it's like almost like an internal conflict.
Speaker 2:This one article, a Letter to the Christian, with Anxiety.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, that one really nails the feeling. The author, gretchen Saffles. She even talks about how, like she's a Christian leader and how she was originally afraid to share her struggles because she was worried about being judged.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think that fear of judgment is so common. Oh yeah, it's like this idea that if you had enough faith, then you just wouldn't be anxious, right? But there are so many people who you know struggle with anxiety and have strong faith, like Charles Spurgeon, like the Prince of Preachers Wow, he struggled with depression and anxiety his entire life, and I mean his story just shows anxiety doesn't discriminate. It can impact anyone, even if they seem like these pillars of faith.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, for sure. Spurgeon's story is such a powerful example too. It's almost like by him being so public with his struggles, it gives other people permission to kind of acknowledge their own.
Speaker 2:For sure.
Speaker 1:And that's kind of what I think is so cool about Saffel's message, you know. Yeah, it's like, by being open about her anxiety, she's not just sharing her story, but she's also creating space for other people to be open.
Speaker 2:Totally, and I think that when we create that space for honest conversation, you know it starts to break down the stigma that often surrounds mental health, especially in faith communities. Another piece we're looking at today how to deal with anxiety as a. Christian. It dives into the stigma too Okay. It makes this distinction between the sin of anxiety and anxiety as a mental health disorder. It's super interesting.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow, okay, I'm definitely curious about that distinction. Can you explain that a little more, because I know I've heard a lot that anxiety is a sin, but I haven't really thought about it like in terms of mental health.
Speaker 2:Right. So the source says that the sin of anxiety it's all about, like a lack of trust in God, and when worry controls you, you know, like your thoughts and actions instead of you choosing to have faith.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:But it's super important to remember that anxiety can also be like a medical thing, right? Oh, right it can be influenced by brain chemistry, life experiences, stuff. You can't just pray away, you know.
Speaker 1:That makes a lot of sense. Our brains are so complex, and I think this is where you know what the source says about getting professional help is so important.
Speaker 2:It's true Prayer is so important, but it might not be the only thing you need right. It's like you see a doctor for a broken leg.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:It's just as valid to seek help from a therapist or counselor for anxiety. Yeah, this source really highlights how both spiritual and professional help can be a part of healing.
Speaker 1:Okay, so it's not about like choosing one or the other.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's about understanding. They can both be helpful. That actually reminds me of something for this other article how anxiety has grown my faith. Okay me of something for this other article how anxiety has grown my faith. Okay, it talks about how, even though it's hard, anxiety can actually make your faith stronger. It seems counterintuitive, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. It is a bit paradoxical, huh yeah, but think about it like this when you're struggling with anxiety and you turn to your faith for support, that reliance on God can make your faith stronger, right? It's in those vulnerable moments when we see the most spiritual growth.
Speaker 1:So it's not about pretending the anxiety isn't there or being ashamed of it.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:It's about leaning into your faith even more when things are difficult.
Speaker 2:That's it. It's about strength and comfort from God, even when you're struggling. It's recognizing that faith isn't always easy, but it's in those tough moments that we grow and change the most. And that leads to another point, right, how do we actually find peace when we're feeling anxious? How to deal with anxiety, as a Christian talks about a couple practical things we can try.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was just thinking about that.
Speaker 2:It says we should balance, like spiritual practices with professional help.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think that's where a lot of people get stuck.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:We know we should pray, but sometimes it feels like it's not enough. What else does the source say, like, what are some of those practical things we can try?
Speaker 2:Well, it really emphasizes surrender, you know, not just like telling God what you're worried about, but really giving those worries to him in prayer and like trusting that he cares and can help you through it.
Speaker 1:So it's like acknowledging that you don't have to deal with the anxiety all alone.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Like there's a sense of release in that.
Speaker 2:Totally, and it's not like a one time thing. It's about choosing to give your anxiety to God over and over, especially when those anxious thoughts get really bad.
Speaker 1:That makes me think about something else. The source talked about what's that Gratitude? Oh yeah, how does that work? Yeah, like, how can you be grateful when you're anxious?
Speaker 2:Being grateful doesn't make the anxiety go away, but it does help you to see things differently. Ok, anxiety go away, but it does help you to see things differently. Even when things feel overwhelming, you can still find things to be thankful for, right, like maybe it's a nice sunny day or a really good cup of coffee. But when you focus on those good things it can help, like, balance out all the negative stuff that comes with anxiety.
Speaker 1:So you're basically training your mind to look for the good even when things are hard.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and when you change your perspective like that and practice being grateful you actually start to feel more joy and peace, even when things are tough.
Speaker 1:You know what this reminds me of, Something that comes up in a lot of these sources not just how to deal with anxiety, but also a letter to the Christian with anxiety. They talk about how you are not defined by your anxiety.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's such an important message.
Speaker 1:It's so easy to just let anxiety take over your whole life.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Especially if you've been dealing with it for a while.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you start to think that's just who you are.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:But anxiety is something you experience, not who you are as a person right, Right Like it's something you go through, not your core identity.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You have value, no matter what. That has nothing to do with your mental health.
Speaker 1:And that's where God's love comes in, right.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:He loves us, no matter what. It doesn't matter if we're anxious or struggling.
Speaker 2:Exactly. His love isn't based on us being perfect or never feeling anxious. He loves us completely, even our imperfections, and that's where real freedom is. It's accepting yourself, your anxiety and all, and trusting that God can work through it all to create something beautiful.
Speaker 1:And it might not always look like no anxiety at all. It might look like you're able to deal with the anxiety and knowing that God is there with you every step of the way.
Speaker 2:That's it Like. It's not about the storm going away. It's about God being with you in the storm.
Speaker 1:Yeah, finding that hope and strength even when it's tough.
Speaker 2:Exactly, you know, it's funny. I was just thinking about Saffles and how she didn't want to talk about her struggles because she was afraid of judgment, right, but then she realized that hiding it wasn't actually helpful. It just made the anxiety worse.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And when she was honest and vulnerable about what she was going through, that helped to break down the stigma Right. It made it okay for other people to talk about their experiences too.
Speaker 1:It's like the idea of wounded healers.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:Sometimes our struggles can be our greatest strengths.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and when we share our own stories about anxiety, it can give other people hope and encouragement.
Speaker 1:Totally.
Speaker 2:And we need to create a culture where people feel safe to talk about this stuff Right, without being judged.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:That would be so powerful for individuals and for whole communities.
Speaker 1:When we're open with each other, even when it's scary, it allows us to connect and heal.
Speaker 2:And that connection, that sense of community that can be so important when you're dealing with anxiety.
Speaker 1:For sure.
Speaker 2:It reminds you that you're not alone.
Speaker 1:So like, if anxiety doesn't define us, then what does? What does it even mean to you? Know, embrace being imperfect in your faith.
Speaker 2:That's a really good question. It makes you think about what's really important, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Your values, what you believe in. It's like we don't have to pretend our faith is perfect, right, we can just accept ourselves and find freedom in that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like realizing that your worth doesn't come from what you achieve or from having everything figured out. It's something way deeper.
Speaker 2:It's about finding your identity in Christ.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Knowing that you're loved no matter what, no matter your struggles.
Speaker 1:And that's a message of hope that we can all share.
Speaker 2:Definitely Not just for ourselves, but for other people who are struggling too.
Speaker 1:Right. It's about creating those spaces where people can be honest and ask for help without being judged.
Speaker 2:Exactly. You know, speaking of helping others, there's this organization that I think is just amazing Destiny Rescue. They rescue children from sex trafficking, and they're doing incredible work, giving these kids hope and a chance at a better life.
Speaker 1:That's a cause that's really important to us here at the Deep Dive.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:We really believe that even a small donation can make a difference.
Speaker 2:For sure. I really believe that even a small donation can make a difference For sure. So, as we wrap up our deep dive into faith and anxiety, we want to encourage you to check out Destiny Rescue. You can find the link to their website in the show notes.
Speaker 1:And as you keep thinking about your own journey with faith and anxiety, just remember this what's that? You're not alone, you are loved and you are capable of so much more than you think. Thanks for joining us on this deep dive, and we