The Antidote to Anxiety

"Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." (Proverb 12:25)

This verse made me think about anxiety and depression, some of which is related to physical problems and I know that some has demonic origins. However, most is related to lifestyle issues and beliefs that harm the human soul.

I’ve been around a long time now. I’ve NEVER seen so much anxiety and depression in the world.

I’m sorry to say that I believe it will get worse and worse….unless something significant changes.

I believe this because so many God-given boundaries are being challenged and abandoned.

God designed and BUILT people.

In every creation there are limitations. There are ways they are designed to function in order to work properly and last a long time.

These are boundaries….design parameters.

God’s boundaries for foundational things like gender, sexuality…for what is to be considered to be “alive” (the abortion business)…for the very idea of TRUTH and REALITY – these are ALL under attack.

Practicing these boundaries helps people to be what GOD considers to be healthy.

When boundaries are violated there are some results that can be expected – ALL unhealthy.

"Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression…" (Proverb 12:25a)

I stood once at the edge of a rock outcrop next to a 750 foot plus waterfall in Guyana (South America.) There was no railing or rope around the perimeter.

The lurking uncertainty I felt was a kind of fear and it was the direct result of there being no boundaries.

There is happening in the world right now the greatest tsunami of ANXIETY I think the world has ever seen.

On its heels is another emotional tsunami: depression. Some people are experiencing both.

The writer of this Proverb says something interesting about a contrasting condition:

“but a good word makes it glad." (Proverb 12:25b)

A good word can cheer up an anxious and depressed heart.

It seems, then, that what we LISTEN to can affect us and cause us to be anxious, depressed, angry, glad, happy…..

What voices do you suppose people are listening to when they decide to rob a bank, or kill someone, or terrorize fellow citizens or believe and practice things that violate God’s designs for their lives?

If it brings harm, you can know the voices are from the enemy of God and all humankind: the devil.

A “good word”, though, makes a heart glad….cheerful.

Brothers and sisters, let’s think before we speak and make a choice to ABANDON “Christianese”, that foreign language of Churchiness.

It doesn’t make sense to the lost or to Christians gone astray.

It causes people to think that God and His ways aren’t pertinent and do not apply to their lives.

It helps them remain anxious and depressed.

Let’s speak only GOOD WORDS to them, either directly from the Bible (“logos” words) as directed by God to speak to them….or fresh words from God (“rhema” words) that He releases to address the need of the moment.

Let’s be part of God’s intentions to bring health back into the hearts of people.

Let’s communicate the reality of Godly boundaries in ways that make sense to people with ever shrinking attention spans.

Let’s be ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) to them!

The world needs the boundaries of this new nation to which we belong in Christ.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Pastor Mike McInerney

Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.

Decatur, TX

© October 12, 2018

For use with permission