Overcoming Anxiety Through Faith and Daily Encounters
Summary
God invites us to see beyond our current circumstances and to remember every victory He has already given us. When we recall how He has moved in our lives before, our faith is stirred to believe for the next breakthrough. But to see what God is doing, we must intentionally position ourselves—daily—to encounter His presence, not just during a Sunday service, but in our homes, workplaces, and every part of our lives. Just as a child needs to be lifted up to see a parade, we need to lift our spiritual eyes above the obstacles and distractions that block our view of God’s movement.
Life is full of “potholes”—moments of pain, discouragement, and especially anxiety or worry. These potholes are depressions in the road of life that can cause us to stumble or get stuck. Worry and anxiety, in particular, are like deep ruts that divide our focus and pull our attention away from God’s promises. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6 not to be anxious about our needs, but to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. When we do this, everything else falls into place. Worry, at its core, is a distraction—a divided focus that causes our faith to waver, just as Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the storm.
The antidote to anxiety is simple, though not always easy: seek God, listen to Him, and obey what He says. This is not about following someone else’s formula, but about cultivating a personal relationship with God where we hear His voice for ourselves. When we do this, the peace of God—which surpasses all understanding—guards our hearts and minds. Peace and anxiety cannot coexist; as we cast our cares on Him, He exchanges our worry for His peace.
Pride can keep us stuck in these potholes, but humility opens the way for God’s grace to lift us up. We are called to cast all our anxieties on Him because He cares for us. Each day, as we position ourselves to seek, listen, and obey, we are invited to walk in the fullness of God’s peace, no matter what storms or potholes we encounter.
Key Takeaways
- Remembering God’s past victories fuels faith for future challenges. When we intentionally recall how God has come through before, it stirs up anticipation and trust for what He will do next. This practice shifts our focus from fear of the unknown to confidence in God’s faithfulness. Our memory of victory becomes a weapon against present anxiety. [04:37]
- Positioning ourselves daily to encounter God is essential for spiritual vitality. Just as we can miss a parade by standing in the wrong place, we can miss God’s movement if we are not intentional about seeking Him. Spiritual growth is not a once-a-week event but a daily pursuit that transforms every area of our lives. The more we invest in our relationship with God, the more we experience His presence and power. [07:39]
- Worry and anxiety are distractions that divide our focus and weaken our faith. Jesus teaches that worry cannot add anything to our lives; instead, it pulls our attention away from God’s promises and onto our problems. Like Peter on the water, when we focus on the storm instead of Jesus, we begin to sink. The call is to keep our eyes fixed on Him, trusting that He is greater than any circumstance. [20:40]
- The peace of God and anxiety cannot coexist in the same heart. Philippians 4 promises that as we bring everything to God in prayer, with thanksgiving, His peace will guard our hearts and minds. This peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God in the midst of it. When we seek, listen, and obey, peace pushes out anxiety and anchors us in God’s love. [24:47]
- Humility is the key to casting our cares on God and receiving His grace. Pride keeps us stuck in worry, trying to control outcomes ourselves, but humility opens the door for God to lift us up. We are invited to cast all our anxieties on Him, trusting that He cares deeply for us and is able to handle every burden. This daily act of surrender is the pathway to true freedom and peace. [36:41]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:20] - Adjusting Our Vision to See God’s Work
[03:55] - The Power of Remembering Victories
[06:32] - Positioning Ourselves to Encounter God
[08:33] - The Parade Analogy: Seeing God Daily
[11:06] - The Importance of Daily Encounters
[12:37] - Introduction to “Potholes of Life” Season 2
[13:45] - Recap: Previous Potholes and How to Fill Them
[16:00] - Simplicity in Seeking, Listening, and Obeying
[18:14] - The Pothole of Anxiety and Worry
[19:50] - How Worry Divides Our Focus
[21:25] - Peter Walks on Water: Faith and Distraction
[24:47] - The Promise of God’s Peace
[27:01] - Seek First the Kingdom and His Righteousness
[28:59] - Trusting God for Provision
[31:28] - Reprogramming Our Thought Process
[33:11] - Hearing God for Yourself
[36:41] - Casting All Anxiety on God
[38:49] - Announcements and Dismissal
[40:17] - Worship and Altar Invitation
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Positioned for Peace: Overcoming Anxiety and Worry”
---
### Bible Reading
- Matthew 6:25-34
(Jesus teaches not to worry, but to seek first the kingdom of God.)
- Philippians 4:4-7
(Paul instructs to rejoice, pray, and let God’s peace guard our hearts.)
- 1 Peter 5:5-7
(Peter calls us to humility and to cast all our anxieties on God.)
---
### Observation Questions
1. In Matthew 6, what examples does Jesus use to show why we shouldn’t worry about our needs?
[[18:14]]
2. According to Philippians 4, what are we told to do instead of being anxious?
[[24:47]]
3. In 1 Peter 5, what does Peter say is the relationship between humility and God’s grace?
[[36:41]]
4. The sermon compared worry and anxiety to “potholes” in the road of life. What does this analogy mean, and how do these potholes affect us?
[[13:45]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus connect worry with “little faith” in Matthew 6 and in the story of Peter walking on water? What does this say about the root of anxiety?
[[22:27]]
2. The sermon says that peace and anxiety cannot coexist in the same heart. How does seeking, listening, and obeying God lead to peace, according to Philippians 4?
[[24:47]]
3. How does pride keep us stuck in worry, and why is humility necessary to receive God’s help, as described in 1 Peter 5?
[[36:41]]
4. The sermon talked about intentionally “positioning ourselves” to encounter God daily, not just on Sundays. Why is this daily positioning important for overcoming anxiety?
[[07:39]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon encouraged us to remember past victories God has given us. Can you recall a specific time God came through for you? How might remembering this help you face a current worry or challenge?
[[04:37]]
2. What are some “potholes” (moments of pain, discouragement, or anxiety) you’ve hit recently? How did you respond, and what could you do differently next time to seek God in that moment?
[[13:45]]
3. Jesus says to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” What does this look like in your daily routine? Are there practical changes you could make to position yourself to encounter God more regularly?
[[27:01]]
4. The sermon used the parade analogy—sometimes we miss what God is doing because we’re not in the right position. Are there distractions or habits in your life that keep you from seeing God’s movement? What’s one step you can take this week to “lift your spiritual eyes” above those distractions?
[[08:33]]
5. Worry divides our focus and weakens our faith. Is there a specific area of your life where worry is pulling your attention away from God’s promises? What would it look like to “cast your cares” on God in that area?
[[19:50]]
6. The sermon said that peace and anxiety cannot coexist. When you feel anxious, what is one practical way you can seek God’s peace (prayer, worship, reading Scripture, etc.)?
[[24:47]]
7. Humility is the key to receiving God’s grace and peace. Is there an area where pride is keeping you from surrendering your worries to God? What would it look like to humble yourself and trust Him with that burden?
[[36:41]]
---
Close in prayer, asking God to help each person seek, listen, and obey Him daily, and to exchange their worries for His peace.
Devotional
Day 1: Seek First the Kingdom—God Provides and Calms Our Worry
When we are overwhelmed by anxiety and worry, Jesus calls us to shift our focus from our immediate needs and fears to the pursuit of God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Worry divides our attention and causes our faith to waver, but when we intentionally seek God first, He promises to provide for all our needs. Trusting in God’s care allows us to let go of the burdens of tomorrow and rest in the assurance that He knows exactly what we need. As we prioritize His presence and His ways, peace replaces anxiety, and we are able to walk confidently into each day, knowing that our heavenly Father is attentive to every detail of our lives. [18:14]
Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV)
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you are tempted to worry about the future? How can you intentionally seek God’s kingdom first in that area today?
Day 2: Fix Your Eyes on Jesus—Faith Overcomes the Storm
When we take our eyes off Jesus and focus on the storms around us, our faith begins to waver and we start to sink under the weight of our circumstances. Like Peter walking on water, it is only when we keep our gaze fixed on Christ that we are able to rise above anxiety and fear. The moment we allow distractions and worries to capture our attention, doubt creeps in and we lose our footing. But Jesus is always ready to reach out, lift us up, and walk with us back to safety. Faith that endures is not the absence of doubt, but the choice to look to Jesus in the midst of every storm. [22:27]
Matthew 14:28-31 (NKJV)
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Reflection: When you feel overwhelmed by life’s storms, what practical step can you take today to shift your focus back to Jesus and trust Him to carry you through?
Day 3: The Peace of God Guards Our Hearts and Minds
God’s peace is not just a feeling—it is a supernatural guard over our hearts and minds that stands in direct opposition to anxiety. When we bring our worries to God in prayer, with thanksgiving, He promises to give us a peace that surpasses all understanding. This peace is not dependent on our circumstances but is rooted in the presence of Christ. Anxiety and God’s peace cannot coexist; as we surrender our cares to Him, His peace takes up residence and drives out fear. The invitation is to continually bring every concern to God, trusting that He is both able and willing to carry what we cannot. [24:47]
Philippians 4:4-7 (NKJV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Reflection: What is one worry or anxiety you can bring to God in prayer right now, trusting Him to exchange it for His peace?
Day 4: Cast All Your Cares on Him—He Cares for You
God invites us to humble ourselves and cast every anxiety, worry, and care upon Him because He truly cares for us. Pride can keep us stuck in our struggles, trying to handle everything on our own, but humility opens the door to God’s grace and help. We are not meant to carry the burdens of life alone; God’s loving hands are ready to receive every concern we release to Him. As we surrender our cares, we experience the freedom and rest that come from knowing we are deeply loved and cared for by our heavenly Father. [36:41]
1 Peter 5:5-7 (NKJV)
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Reflection: What is one burden you have been carrying in your own strength? How can you humble yourself today and intentionally cast that care onto God?
Day 5: Position Yourself Daily to Encounter God’s Presence
Experiencing God’s presence and peace is not a once-a-week event but a daily pursuit. Just as you would miss a parade if you weren’t in the right place, you can miss what God is doing if you don’t intentionally position yourself to seek, listen, and obey Him each day. Daily encounters with God—through prayer, worship, and His Word—fill you with strength and equip you to overcome life’s obstacles. When you make space for God in your everyday routines, you invite His peace and power into every area of your life, transforming you from the inside out. [11:49]
Psalm 27:4 (ESV)
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally position yourself to encounter God’s presence today—at home, at work, or wherever you are?
Quotes
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