Biblical Answer

Anxiety is a complex issue, and the Bible has much to say about it. Biblically, the root cause of anxiety can be understood as a combination of several factors. Firstly, our tendency to trust in ourselves and our own abilities rather than in God can lead to anxiety. This is evident in the way Jesus taught his disciples to prioritize their trust in God over their own efforts to build security (Matthew 6:25-34). When we try to manage our lives and circumstances on our own, we can become overwhelmed and anxious.

Another root cause of anxiety is our fear of God's judgment. The Bible teaches that our guilt and shame can lead to feelings of anxiety and insecurity (Psalm 38:18). This fear can cause us to become preoccupied with our own worthiness and try to earn God's favor through our own efforts, rather than trusting in His love and forgiveness. The psalmist in Psalm 38 describes the internal effects of guilt and anxiety, highlighting the destructive nature of trying to manage our lives and circumstances on our own.

The good news is that the gospel offers a solution to these root causes of anxiety. The freeness of God's love attacks pride and fear, allowing us to experience a genuinely human existence (Romans 5:8). As we learn to trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, we can begin to experience peace and unshakable trust in Him. This is not a matter of trying to overcome anxiety through our own efforts, but rather a process of training and transformation that comes from cultivating trust in God (Matthew 6:33). By prioritizing our trust in God and recognizing our finiteness, we can begin to experience the peace and freedom that comes from living in His presence.