How Can I Control Anxiety?

November 9th, 2026
by Pastor Stu

Real Answers to Tough Questions

Class 9: How Can I Control Anxiety?

Redemption Hills Church - Adult Sunday School

Pastor Stu • November 8, 2026

The goal isn't to never feel anxious. It's to bring anxiety under God's care and authority.

Anxiety is a real human struggle. It may be real danger, worry about the future, or fear out of proportion. It affects body, mind, and sleep. David cried in Psalm 13:1-2, "How long, O LORD?" But he brought it to God. God invites us to bring our genuine struggles into His presence. In Mark 9:24, a father cries, "I believe; help my unbelief!" Don't wait to feel strong. Pray, "Lord, I believe Your promises, but I'm afraid. Help me trust You." We should neither excuse every response to anxiety nor condemn everyone who experiences it. Bring your struggles before God and seek His wisdom.

Anxiety often grows when we try to control what belongs to God. We want certainty we can't have. Can worry add a single hour to your life? Jesus says no (Matthew 6:25-27). Romans 8:28 promises God works all things for good for those who love Him. We're called to exercise faithful responsibility without assuming God's role as the sovereign ruler of our lives. So ask: What am I afraid will happen? What can I responsibly do today? What must I entrust to God?

We should bring our anxiety to God through prayer. "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:4-7). Prayer does more than present requests. Prayer is not a technique for controlling the future. It's a means of entrusting ourselves and our concerns to our faithful heavenly Father.

We should learn to challenge anxious thoughts through God's Word. Imagining the worst? That's "stinking thinking." Philippians 4:8 calls us to think about what is true: "Fear not, for I am with you" (Isaiah 41:10). God is "a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

Stop carrying tomorrow's burdens today. "Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). We rehearse conversations that haven't happened. We worry about money, health, and family troubles that haven't arrived. Jesus invites us to receive today's responsibilities and leave tomorrow in God's hands. Planning asks, "What should I do to prepare?" Worry asks, "What if everything goes wrong?" Aging parents? Kids? Demands at work? God calls us to faithful living today, not to the impossible task of controlling every circumstance that might arise tomorrow.

God often uses other people to help us carry our burdens. Galatians 6:2 tells us to bear one another's burdens. Anxiety isolates us. We hide, afraid others will judge our faith. A trusted Christian friend can see what our anxiety hides, and God's care often comes through His people. Paul calls the church to encourage the fainthearted (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Pastors can help you see when you need more. Counseling helps, but never replaces your need for Christ and His church. God has not designed us to carry every burden alone. Receive the encouragement of His people, and seek help when your struggles exceed what you can manage.

Our ultimate security is found in Christ, not in our circumstances! If our peace depends on circumstances, it will stay fragile. The gospel offers something greater: peace with God through Jesus Christ! Romans 5:1 says we have peace with God through faith. That's the foundation. Our deepest problem isn't anxiety. It's sin. We've trusted created things instead of our Creator. But Jesus died and rose for sinners. Your Father knows what you need (Matthew 6:32). And this is deeply significant: one day He'll wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). So we can acknowledge anxiety without despair, and grieve without losing hope. Lasting Christian peace rests in reconciliation with God through Christ and the certainty of His final victory, not in our ability to eliminate every anxious feeling.

Anxiety may not vanish overnight. Friends, we don't trust God because we can predict what He'll do. We trust Him because we know who He is. "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). May God grant you wisdom for today's responsibilities, grace for today's difficulties, and confidence in the hope that belongs to all who are in Christ Jesus!

To the Glory of God, Pastor Stu. Please remember to come to next week's class if you are not volunteering.