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High Anxiety

There can be a wide variety in human experience. Modern human processing (schools, employment, and entertainment) can require a greater uniformity than is usually found. As a result, those who have a neurology that is more sensitive than typical can find being “processed” a little more difficult than it is for most others. The artistic, high IQ, and high strung people may experience greater apprehension, fear, and unease in a world where difference is not very welcome. It is interesting that a society that claims to value diversity is so little tolerant of it.

Modern life tends to amplify anxiety such as might be observed with a 50% divorce rate, getting laid off, or children abandoning their parents. The vicissitudes of life used to be buffered with large families. However, modern life has reduced the role of family to such an extent that an individual may have to choose between social isolation or conformance to some expected role. One effect of an increase in general anxiety is for people to attempt to create as comfortable and stress free environment as possible. This often includes the avoidance or exclusion of any controversial subject such as politics or religion.

Christians who have found it advantageous to order their lives to achieve the greatest degree of comfort may find that in doing so, they have cut themselves off from that which could help them grow and mature. It may be possible that they could build a comfortable life on a false assurance that they even are Christian (2Cor 13:5). One might think that the highest anxiety environment would be combat. However, many combat veterans describe a sort of freedom from anxiety that can be found in the resignation that one is likely to die. David who was on the run from the first king of Israel who wanted to kill him had this perspective;

In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. - Psalm 56:11

One can see a distinction between the peace of Christ and the peace of the world (John 14:27). The world offers “peace” to all who conform to it while in Christ there is a peace that transcends the world. One can even have peace in martyrdom. We are told that perfect (complete) love drives out fear (1 John 4:18). This is because love that is complete is love that transcends self.

Anxiety can be a good measure of that in which we truly trust. Many acknowledge that Jesus died for their sins. However, this may not be the same as trusting (faith) in what Jesus did for us. It used to be that a loss of employment was not so much feared because a large family “safety net” could be counted on. Today with smaller families one might expect social services like unemployment to be that from which one could draw assurance. However, how many who claim Christ could see their ultimate fate in the hands of their Savior with the confidence that whatever happens in this life is transitory and ultimately it is their life with Jesus that transcends anxiety.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7

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