Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:Anxiety, in a biblical context, refers to a state of unease, worry, or fear about future uncertainties. It is a condition that affects the heart and mind, often leading individuals to doubt or lose trust in God's provision and sovereignty. The Bible addresses anxiety as a common human experience and provides guidance on how to manage it through faith and reliance on God.
Biblical References:1.
Matthew 6:25-34 · In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses anxiety directly, urging His followers not to worry about their lives, what they will eat or drink, or about their bodies and what they will wear. He emphasizes God's care for creation, stating, "Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (
Matthew 6:26). Jesus concludes by encouraging believers to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" (
Matthew 6:33).
2.
Philippians 4:6-7 · The Apostle Paul provides practical advice for dealing with anxiety, instructing believers: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (
Philippians 4:6-7). This passage highlights the importance of prayer and thanksgiving as antidotes to anxiety.
3.
1 Peter 5:7 · Peter encourages believers to cast all their anxieties on God, "because He cares for you" (
1 Peter 5:7). This verse reassures Christians of God's personal concern and involvement in their lives, inviting them to trust Him with their worries.
4.
Psalm 55:22 · The psalmist echoes a similar sentiment, urging, "Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken" (
Psalm 55:22). This verse emphasizes God's sustaining power and faithfulness to those who rely on Him.
Theological Insights:·
Trust in God's Providence: Anxiety often stems from a lack of trust in God's control over the circumstances of life. The Bible consistently calls believers to trust in God's providence, recognizing that He is sovereign and works all things for the good of those who love Him (
Romans 8:28).
·
Prayer and Thanksgiving: The biblical response to anxiety involves turning to God in prayer, presenting one's concerns with a heart of gratitude. This practice not only shifts focus from the problem to the Provider but also cultivates a sense of peace that transcends understanding.
·
Community and Support: The early church modeled a community of believers who supported one another in times of need. Sharing burdens within the body of Christ can alleviate anxiety and provide encouragement and strength (
Galatians 6:2).
·
Renewal of the Mind: Scripture encourages believers to renew their minds and focus on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (
Philippians 4:8). This mental discipline helps combat anxious thoughts and aligns one's perspective with God's truth.
Practical Application:·
Daily Devotion: Regular time spent in God's Word and prayer can fortify believers against anxiety, reminding them of God's promises and faithfulness.
·
Mindfulness of God's Presence: Practicing awareness of God's constant presence can provide comfort and reduce feelings of isolation and fear.
·
Seeking Wise Counsel: Engaging with mature believers or seeking pastoral guidance can offer biblical wisdom and support in managing anxiety.
·
Faith in Action: Trusting God often requires taking steps of faith, even when circumstances seem uncertain. Acting in obedience to God's Word can reinforce trust and diminish anxiety.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Greatly concerned about something future or unknown; distressed; Solicitous; Full of anxiety or disquietude; being in painful suspense; -- applied to persons; as, anxious for the issue of a battle.
2. (a.) Accompanied with, or causing, anxiety; worrying; -- applied to things; as, anxious labor.
3. (a.) Earnestly desirous; as, anxious to please.
Greek
3309. merimnao -- to beanxious, to care for... to be
anxious, to care for. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: merimnao Phonetic
Spelling: (mer-im-nah'-o) Short Definition: I am
anxious, distracted
...4305. promerimnao -- to beanxious beforehand
... to beanxious beforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: promerimnao Phonetic
Spelling: (prom-er-im-nah'-o) Short Definition: I amanxious beforehand...
3349. meteorizo -- to raise on high, fig. to be in suspense
... to be in suspense. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: meteorizo Phonetic Spelling:
(met-eh-o-rid'-zo) Short Definition: I amanxious Definition: I am...
2125. eulabeomai -- to be cautious
... to be cautious. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eulabeomai Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-lab-eh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I fear, amanxious Definition: I fear...
275. amerimnos -- free from care
... without care, secure. From a (as a negative particle) and merimna; notanxious --
without care(-fulness), secure. see GREEK a. see GREEK merimna....
603. apokaradokia -- strained expectancy
... Word Origin from a comp. of apo, kara (the head) and dokeo Definition strained
expectancy NASB Word Usageanxious longing (1), earnest expectation (1)....
5431. phrontizo -- to give heed, take thought
... be careful. From a derivative of phren; to exercise thought, ie Beanxious -- be
careful. see GREEK phren. (phrontizosin) -- 1 Occurrence. 5430, 5431....
1960. epimelos -- carefully
... Word Origin adverb from epimeles (careful,anxious about); akin to epimeleomai
Definition carefully NASB Word Usage carefully (1). diligently....
Strong's Hebrew
1672. daag -- to beanxious or concerned, to fear... 1671, 1672. daag. 1673 . to be
anxious or concerned, to fear. Transliteration:
daag Phonetic Spelling: (daw-ag') Short Definition:
anxious. Word Origin a prim
...1674. deagah -- anxiety,anxious care
... 1673, 1674. deagah. 1675 . anxiety,anxious care. Transliteration: deagah
Phonetic Spelling: (deh-aw-gaw') Short Definition: anxiety....
6973. quts -- to feel a loathing, abhorrence, or sickening dread
... A primitive root (identical with quwts through the idea of severing oneself from
(compare quwt)); to be (causatively, make) disgusted oranxious -- abhor, be...
954. bosh -- to be ashamed
... root Definition to be ashamed NASB Word Usage acted shamefully (1), acts shamefully
(3), ashamed (60), ashamed at all (1), becameanxious (1), become dry (1...
1673. Doeg -- an Edomite
... Doeg. Or (fully) Dowoeg {do-ayg'}; active participle of da'ag;anxious; Doeg, an
Edomite -- Doeg. see HEBREW da'ag. 1672, 1673. Doeg or Doeg. 1674 ....
6470. paam -- to thrust, impel
... troubled. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to thrust, impel NASB Word
Usageanxious (1), stir (1), troubled (3). move, trouble....
4116. mahar -- to hasten
... root Definition to hasten NASB Word Usage act quickly (1),anxious (1), bring quickly
(2), bring...quickly (1), do quickly (1), haste (2), hasten (3), hastened...
8312. sarappim -- disquieting thoughts
... Word Origin from the same as seippim Definition disquieting thoughts NASB Word Usage
anxious thoughts (2). thought. For ca'iph; cogitation -- thought....
Library
Anxious for Nothing.
... (Psalm xxxvii:1-11; Matthew vi:19-34, Philippians iv:6-7. American Revision.)
Anxious for Nothing.... The first rule is this,anxious for nothing....
Anxious Care
... ST. MATTHEW Chaps. I to VIIIANXIOUS CARE. 'Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.25.
Therefore I say unto you. Take no thought for your life.'"Matthew 6:24-25....
Anxious About Earth, or Earnest About the Kingdom
... VOLUME I: ST. LUKE Chaps. I to XIIANXIOUS ABOUT EARTH, OR EARNEST ABOUT
THE KINGDOM. 'And He said unto His disciples, Therefore...
With a Heart Full ofAnxious Request,
... With a heart full ofanxious request,. 8,8,8,8a... With a heart full ofanxious request,.
Which my Father in heaven bestowed,. I wandered alone, and distressed,....
To Olympias. Do not beAnxious on My Behalf, nor Rack Yourself...
... to olympias. Do not beanxious on my behalf, nor rack yourself with solicitude?
Do not beanxious on my behalf, nor rack yourself...
Lord, Soothe MyAnxious, Troubled Soul,
... ASPIRATIONS Lord, soothe myanxious, troubled soul,. tr., John Brownlie 8,6,8,6
D. I. Lord, soothe myanxious, troubled soul,. And bid its doubting cease,....
We Ought to beAnxious to Secure the Baptism of Infants.
... Book III. Chapter 22 [XIII.]"We Ought to BeAnxious to Secure the Baptism of
Infants. For this is the point aimed at by the controversy...
Loving Advice forAnxious Seekers
... Loving Advice forAnxious Seekers. A Sermon (No.735). Delivered on
Lord's-day Morning, February 17th, 1866, by. CH SPURGEON,. At the...
Wherefore, Even if Heretics Should be TrulyAnxious to Correct...
... Book V. Chapter 5. " 5. Wherefore, even if heretics should be truly
anxious to correct their error and? "5. Wherefore, even...
That the Friendship of Good Men Cannot be Securely Rested In, So...
... Book XIX. Chapter 8."That the Friendship of Good Men Cannot Be Securely Rested
In, So Long as the Dangers of This Life Force Us to BeAnxious....
Thesaurus
Anxious (40 Occurrences)... something future or unknown; distressed; Solicitous; Full of anxiety or disquietude;
being in painful suspense; -- applied to persons; as,
anxious for the
...Over-anxious (6 Occurrences)
Over-anxious. Overall, Over-anxious. Overbearing . Multi-Version
Concordance Over-anxious (6 Occurrences). Matthew 6...
Worry (14 Occurrences)
... Matthew 6:31 "Therefore don't beanxious, saying,'What will we eat?','What will
we drink?' or,'With what will we be clothed?' (See NAS NIV)....
Worried (6 Occurrences)
... Matthew 6:25 Therefore, I tell you, don't beanxious for your life: what you will
eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear....
Careful (130 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Full of care;anxious; solicitous. 2.
(a.) Filling with care or solicitude; exposing to concern...
Wear (56 Occurrences)
... Matthew 6:25 Therefore, I tell you, don't beanxious for your life: what you will
eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear....
Worrying (3 Occurrences)
... Luke 12:25 Which of you by beinganxious can add a cubit to his height?... Luke 12:29
Don't seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither beanxious....
Worldly (25 Occurrences)
... Lord; (WEY). 1 Corinthians 7:33 and the married isanxious for the things
of the world, how he shall please the wife. (See RSV). 1...
Carefulness (6 Occurrences)
... set their heart upon us" King James Version, margin, 2 Samuel 18:3). In the New
Testament (memrinao), "Thou art careful and troubled" ("anxious" the Revised...
Anxiously (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In ananxious manner; with painful uncertainty;
solicitously. Multi-Version Concordance Anxiously (8 Occurrences)....
Resources
What does the Bible say about anxiety? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of Philippians 4:6? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about stress? | GotQuestions.orgAnxious: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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