5 Tips for Battling Anxiety from Max Lucado and Other Experts

In our anxiety-ridden world, finding a sense of freedom and wholeness can be challenging. It is easy to slip into old patterns and thought processes that lead to increased fear and anxiety. Maybe you've recognized this. You listen to a sermon and it really impacts you. And then by Wednesday, you can't even remember what you heard. Well, experts say that within one hour, we tend to forget 50% of what we hear. And within 24 hours, we forget 70%. Within a week, we forget 90%. So what does that mean? 

Well, for me, it means I need to take the time to remember. I need to remember what God has taught me. I need to journal about the places in my life where he's brought revelation and where a certain truth has really hit deeply. That's why I started the podcast Faith Over Fear, so that each week I could practice attacking my most pervasive fears with truth. If you struggle with chronic fear and anxiety, my show is for you. To give you a taste, let’s explore some powerful truths and insights shared by experts on anxiety and the role of the Holy Spirit can play in our lives toward freedom.

1. To Battle Anxiety You Must First Understand Fear and Its Components

Fear is a prevalent emotion, affecting mental health, leading to anxiety disorders and panic attacks. However, Dr. Neal T. Anderson, founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries, sheds light on fear's roots and how it can be dismantled. He emphasizes that fear, as the first emotion expressed by fallen humanity, often arises from the absence of life, a primordial fear that plagues people worldwide.

Fear needs an object to be legitimate, something eminent or potent in the mind. For instance, a rattlesnake can be feared if it is present, but not when it is absent. Dr. Anderson suggests examining the big three daddies of fear: fear of people, fear of death, and fear of Satan. He explains that understanding the attributes and power of these fears allows us to remove their potency and embrace freedom.

Want more? Listen to Dr. Anderson’s interview on understanding fear:

2. To Battle Anxiety You Must Fight Fear with Truth

Dr. Anderson also emphasizes that almost all fears are learned, and ignorance can create irrational fears or phobias. However, truth acts as a liberating agent, helping us unlearn false fears and find security in the fear of God. By knowing God's attributes - his omnipresence, and omnipotence - we can recognize that fear diminishes when we acknowledge the truth that God is always with us and in control.

"The only way to overcome the lies of this world and deception is truth," says Dr. Anderson. "That's why Jesus prays in the High Priestly Prayer: I ask not that you take them out of this world, but you keep them from the evil one. How? Sanctify them in thy word. Thy word is truth. So truth is a liberating agent. Truth is never an enemy. Jesus is the truth, and he says I'm a child of God. There's my point of security. The way you overcome fear is to allow God to reign supreme in your life. All other fear objects will just slowly disappear."

3. To Battle Anxiety You Must Understand the Impact of Trauma on the Body

Dr. Dan Allender and Cathy Loerzel from the Allender Center shed light on how trauma affects anxiety levels, relationships, and our ability to experience rest and delight. They explain that trauma is stored in our bodies and that our bodies cannot differentiate between big and small trauma. As a result, anxiety can manifest as gut issues, racing heart, and adrenal fatigue. Recognizing these bodily responses helps individuals understand the root of their anxiety and begin the healing process. By addressing past traumas and seeking truth, one can experience increased freedom and healing.

Want to know more about how to deal with the physical symptoms of your anxiety? Listen to Dr. Allender and Cathy explain how trauma affects your anxiety and what you can do about it:

4. To Battle Anxiety You Must Harness the Power of Scripture (Know Your Emergency Verses)

In her book "The Extraordinary Power of Praise," author Becky Harling discusses the importance of memorizing scripture to counter anxiety and fear. She emphasizes the need for emergency verses, i.e., key scriptures readily available to calm anxiety during unexpected moments. Scriptures like Psalm 23 and Psalm 46 serve as powerful tools to combat anxiety, reminding individuals of God's love, protection, and presence.

 Listen to Becky Harling explain how scripture memory counters anxiety and her favorite emergency verses:

5. To Battle Anxiety You Must Become Sensitive to the Holy Spirit

We know God is always pointing us to transformation, freedom, and healing, which means it is in our best interest to hear and heed His voice always. But that leads us to a question, right? How do we know when He is speaking? How can we become more sensitive and alert to the Holy Spirit? 

For Max Lucado, listening to and being led by the Holy Spirit starts with understanding the character of God. "If we perceive God as hard, cruel, harsh and distant, then we're stuck. But if we can embrace the fact that our Heavenly Father loves us, that he said his mercy is abundant - then we're on the path to freedom." Lucado encourages individuals to embrace the Holy Spirit as a guide, leading them through life. “The Holy Spirit is presented in different metaphors. And one of those is a guide. He will lead us. He doesn't just save us and then abandon us, but he leads us... I had never noticed how in the Old Testament, the image of the cloud by day and the fire by night is also described as a working of the Holy Spirit. So the Holy Spirit was active in leading the children of Israel through the wilderness.”

Lucado also advises immersing oneself in the gospel of John, chapters 14-16. These are "the greatest sermon on the Holy Spirit" and are there to help us deepen our relationship with God.

Want more? Listen to Max Lucado explain how the Holy Spirit helps us fight our fears:

In a world filled with anxiety and fear, finding freedom and wholeness requires active pursuit and understanding of one's emotions, traumas, and the Holy Spirit's guidance. When you begin to hard but necessary work of speaking truth to fears, addressing past traumas, and embracing the wisdom of scripture, that is when victory in your anxiety battle can be found. By following these insights and being open to the Holy Spirit's leading, individuals can experience increased freedom, rest, and healing, ultimately living as those who have been set free.

Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/lightspeedshutter

Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com.

She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.