“Cause I got anxiety and it's holding me hostage

Yeah it's holding me down again

I've done nothing, why you think I deserve this

Yeah it's pulling me round again

And these feelings take all control

Never really comfortable

No matter what I do

It's all very frightening, I got anxiety.”

These are the lyrics to a song called “Anxiety” by Sophie Pecora that is apparently popular with the middle school crowd these days. In fact, it seems like anxiety is the anthem of our whole culture right now! So, it did not surprise me when a friend asked me if, when Paul says, “don’t be anxious” in Philippians 4:6, he is talking about “having anxiety” as a mental health struggle. This verse says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Ironically, this verse might cause some anxiety! A person might wonder, “If I feel anxious, does that mean that I do not trust God enough?” Does it mean that anxiety is a sin? Even more than that, does it mean that anxiety as a mental health issue is a spiritual problem? I wanted to see if the original languages and Bible translation principles could give us any insight into these verses. 

The New Testament the word for anxiety is “merimnao”, which literally means to be pulled apart. It is easy to understand how anxiety can be described by being pulled apart! Worry and anxiety definitely make us feel like we are “not whole”. Of course, the New Testament does not have different words for “worry” in a general sense and “anxiety” in a mental health sense. We just have this word to show us what God is saying. 

In the New Testament the word “merinmao” is used nineteen times, and it is used in two different ways. In the majority of places, it is used to mean “worry” or “anxiety” the way that we would naturally think of it – feeling troubled by real or potential problems. Nine of those references are in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6 and Luke 10, where Jesus tells his listeners not to worry about daily life and daily needs, because the heavenly Father provides those things. Jesus touched on this in the Sermon on the Mount because it is such a common problem. Throughout history, people have worried about having their daily needs met. In fact, at the time that Jesus spoke, this was an even bigger issue than it is now. There was less certainty of having provision for daily life, and people’s view of God was less personal as well. The idea that God would provide for daily needs as a loving Father was revolutionary. “Merinmao” is used this way in Matthew 10:19 and Luke 12:11 where Jesus says a Christian does not have to worry about what to say in persecution, because the Holy Spirit will give them the words. It is also used in Luke 10:41 when Jesus tells Martha that she is worried about many things, but Mary has chosen the better path, which is to sit at his feet. And, of course, it is used in this way in Philippians 4:6, which is where my friend’s question started. 

The second way that “merinmao” is used is found in 1 Corinthians 7:32-35, 12:25 and Philippians 2:20. In these verses, Paul actually tells us that we should worry! 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 is a teaching of Paul about marriage and singleness where he says that he prefers singleness, because married people are “worried about” things of this world, whereas single people are “worried about” things of the Lord. In 1 Corinthians 12:25 he says to “worry about” other believers. In Philippians 2:20 he says that no one “worries about” the Philippians the way he does. Another way to translated “merinmao” in these verses might be “care for” or “be concerned about”. In other words, we should care about the things of the Lord and care for each other as believers. These verses show us that worry itself is not sinful. Instead, there appropriate worry or care, and there is a time when worry or anxiety is not healthy. 

Worry or anxiety are natural human emotions which can be either positive (leading to taking appropriate care of things we need to care for) or negative (leading to excessive concern about something we do not have control over). I think we can interpret these verses based on how the Bible deals with a few other emotions. Fear is a good example. The Bible often tells us not to fear. Every time it is said, the implication is not that fear itself is a sin, but that it is a normal human emotion that God understands and shows us how to confront (a few examples – Deut. 31:6, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 23:4, John 14:27, Heb. 13:6). The same is true of anger. The Bible does not say, “Anger is a sin”, but instead it says, “In your anger, do not sin” (Eph. 4:26). Anger is a normal human emotion which God recognizes and teaches us how to address in an appropriate way. In the same way, anxiety and worry are normal human emotions that God recognizes. Not only that, but God gives us some practical steps to deal with anxious emotions. Interestingly, the things that are suggested are actually parallel to things that mental health care professionals often suggest for dealing with anxiety. 

Mental Health Care: Mindfulness

The Bible: “Think on these things” – Phil. 4:8

Mindfulness is often promoted within the mental health community as a way to regain a sense of calm. This can include anything from deep breathing, to meditation, to yoga. The Bible, on the other hand, tells us to meditate on God’s Word (eg. Josh. 1:8, Psalm 48:9, Eph. 1:18), on God Himself (eg. Isaiah 26:3), and on the good things He has done (eg. Psalm 77:12, Psalm 145:5, Romans 15:4, Phil. 4:8-9). Talking the time to sit quietly before God, to read and ponder His word, to remember the things He has done and His promises help us to regain a sense of calm. 

Mental Health Care: Gratitude or positive thinking

The Bible: “With thanksgiving” – Phil. 4:6

I looked on a variety of mental health care sites, and most recommend some form of gratitude, positive thinking, or reframing negative thoughts. The more we think negatively, the more anxiety levels rise. On the other hand, the more we focus on things we are grateful for, the more we can recognize the good things in life. Philippians 4:6 says to present your requests to God with thanksgiving. This is a Biblical reminder to focus on gratitude even when life is challenging. There are many other verses as well which tell us to be thankful (eg. Psalm 100:4, Psalm 106:1, Eph. 5:20, 1 Thess. 5:18). 

Mental Health Care: Journal

The Bible: “With prayer and petition” – Phil. 4:6

Writing out anxieties can make them feel more concrete and less abstract and frightening, so often keeping a journal is a way to deal with anxiety. As Christians, we can express our anxious emotions to God through prayer. In this way, we not only have the benefit of making those emotions more concrete by talking them through and perhaps writing them down, but we have the benefit of expressing them to someone who loves us deeply and can provide solutions to the things that make us anxious. 

Mental Health Care: Community Support

The Bible: “Present your requests to God” – Phil. 4:6

Many of the resources I looked at also suggested having a community of support that you can go to when you feel anxious. Of course, it is important to have people to talk to, but believers have the ultimate support person because we have God – and He can actually do something about our problems! This is why the Sermon on the Mount tells us that we do not have to worry because our heavenly Father knows what we need and will provide those things. Philippians tells us to present our requests to God. It is very comforting and encouraging to know that the God of the universe cares for us and is taking care of the issues that cause us anxiety. 

Now, saying that we are giving our problems to God means that we must trust God. It has sometimes been said that anxiety is the opposite of trust, so if we feel anxious, it reveals that we lack trust in God. This is what leads to the idea that anxiety is a sin. However, I disagree with this. I do not think that trust is the opposite of anxiety, and I do not think that having anxiety means that we lack trust in God. Instead, anxiety is a reminder that we must turn to God in trust. Anxiety is a normal human emotion, and it is actually a force that pushes us toward trust! It is a strong emotion, so it may take a lot of work to submit those anxious feelings to God. Doing that work reveals that we do trust God. In fact, part of that work may be other mental health care, such as medication and therapy. If those things put a person in a place where they are able to pray, meditate, be thankful, and trust God, then it is in line with Biblical principles to do them. 

To summarize, it seems like the Bible treats anxiety as a normal human emotion that God teaches us to manage. There is an appropriate time to “worry” or care for things or people, and also a time when we need to manage our anxiety. The Bible gives us suggestions for managing anxiety, including meditating on God’s Word, thanking God for what He has done in the past, and asking for His help in the present. All of these things reflect our trust in Him and in His care for us. Whether our anxiety is “normal” worry, or at the level of a mental health struggle, it in itself is not sinful. Instead, it leads us to God and leads us to trust.