Her Renewed Strength Podcast | Episode 45

Is anxiety a sin? This is an important question since many people experience anxiety.

I, for one, have spent a lot of time pondering this question. I even avoid discussing this topic because I too struggled with anxiety.

So, in this episode, I give you an introduction to a very loaded question and super sensitive topic. I’m going to talk about whether or not anxiety is a sin.

I pray this episode, which only scratches the surface on this topic, helps you to start considering the question from a biblical perspective and leads you into deeper fellowship with the Lord.

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Learn the biblical perspective on whether or not anxiety is a sin so that you can better appreciate how much you need God.

• Identify the sins of the flesh that trigger your anxiety so you can prevent yourself from falling into sin.

• Discover resources to deal with your anxiety and emotions so you can navigate your experiences in a manner that honors the Lord.

“We distort what is most important and God’s role in relation to what we are seeing as most important.”

Listen To The Episode

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Check out these episode highlights:

02.03 – The definition of anxiety based on Lexico.com

• a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.

• a desire to do something typically accompanied by unease.

• a mental condition characterized by excessive apprehensiveness about real or perceived threats, typically leading to avoidance behaviors and often to physical symptoms such as increased heart rate and muscle tension.

03.58 – The reason why I bring up the topic of anxiety.

08.03 – As a preparation for this episode, I get a broader sense of where some scholars are interpreting the application of Scripture in response to anxiety.

• Dr. Jeremy Pierre talks about this on Southern Seminary’s YouTube channel – he serves as the chair of the department of biblical counseling and the Lawrence and Charlotte Hoover Professor of Biblical Counseling at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He is also a pastor at Clifton Baptist Church and serves on the board of directors for the Biblical Counseling Coalition. He says, “The problem, or the sin that can be involved in worry, is we mix up what we most value for life, and we forget God’s role in relation to that value, what life is.”

• John Piper, an author, says when we experience anxiety about everyday things, it is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mskb0nlSjGQ

  • If anxiety is stemming from worry about circumstances; it is sin. It stems from trust issues. These rational worries are rooted in distrust and are sinful.

  • If anxiety stems from irrational fears and is a diagnosed dysfunction – is not.

13.51 – My position: worry itself – or anxiety – isn’t sinful on its own. It serves as feedback and uncovers what we value. It’s what we do with it that could be sinful.

15.24 – My question: does anxiety lead you to sin? Let’s look at Galatians 5 and get a sense of what sins of the flesh, stemming from anxiety might look like.

16.14 – Idolatry is a sin of flesh that triggers anxiety. I realized that some of the things I didn’t even consider to be idols in my heart are idols. These are:

• Security – trying to control circumstances because I am relying on myself, operating in my strength.

• Work – being perceived as not responsible or not delivering excellent work led me to work even more.

• Sorcery – I wasn’t rooted in the Word. I didn’t have anyone in my life who I was leaning on as a big sister or spiritual mother. My habits and things that I started to dabble in were very New Age rooted.

• Outbursts of Anger – my reaction to anxiety.

• Selfish Ambitions – putting myself first above those I am supposed to serve like my husband and kids.

20.42 – This episode is the introduction to the topic. I intend to better research this and to have experts come on and talk about this.

Key Takeaways:

• Having a clear understanding of your priorities will keep you from anxiety and sinning altogether.

• God cares about your anxiety, which is why He has given you the intellect to find other ways to cope.

• Being aware of your thoughts and considering them in light of the truth of the Bible prevents you from being defeated by them.

Resource:

• Join our private Bible study group, and access the studies I referenced.

• Know Dr. Jeremy Pierre’s answer to the questions, “Is anxiety a sin? Is worry a sin?”.

• Know John Piper’s thoughts on Anxiety: Sin, Disorder, or Both?

Connect with me!

• Instagram: @mrsdiazcastro

• Facebook: @emdiazcastro

• Website: Her Renewed Strength

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