I don’t think the Bible would tell us it is a sin to be anxious; I think it would treat it like anger; it says, “Be angry and do not sin.” More than 31% of U.S. people will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Anxiety disorders are more common in females than males. Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common anxiety disorders, affecting around 12% of U.S. adults at some point in their lives. Today, we will examine a time when Jesus carried the weight of all humanity on His shoulders and how he handled it. Handling Anxiety God’s Way Matthew 26:36-38 1. God Did Not Design You For Isolation In 2023, the US Surgeon General wrote a paper warning about Our Epidemic of Loneliness that our nation is facing. Link In the paper, he said, “Belonging: A fundamental human need—the feeling of deep connection with social groups, physical places, and individual and collective experiences.” Often, when things are good, we think we do not need the church and create distance, but that distance becomes unmanageable when we face a crisis. Stay plugged in when you are on the mountain top, because you will face another valley. Matthew 26:39-41 2. Cry Out To God For What You Need The anguish in Gethsemane is not lightly to be passed over: three times Jesus prayed in deep emotional distress. When we are distressed and feel like our world is falling apart, we have to pray to God. When we forget to pray, our flesh becomes weak and falls apart. God is there for you in times of trouble; often, we have to acknowledge his presence. We often turn inward and rely on ourselves when times get hard. Matthew 26:42-46 3. Trust God’s Plan The Whole Way Under incredible amounts of stress, we must learn to lean on God and be in his word because it’s in those moments we find peace. We can begin to control our anxious thoughts that are spiraling out of control. You have to build a strong foundation so that you have something to hold you down when the storms come. Our foundation is built in our time with the Lord. The world around us is an anxious mess; we need to look at the spiritual disciplines that God calls us all to, to ground us in Him! Where do you go from here? Find what works for you journaling, meditation/mindfulness (app Abide: reads scripture/listen and rest), exercise, self-care (long baths, pedicure, take a walk), get out in nature, do something fun with your family, counseling. Sometimes what you want the least is what you need the most. Ex. Going out takes effort, but it is necessary. Get involved in church! Do not alienate God, because He will not alienate. Do not take “the good” for granted You are alive today You have healthy children, you have a job A roof over your head You have a car that works You have family/friends who love you