Overcoming Anxiety Through Faith in God's Promises

In this session, we delve into the battle against the unbelief that manifests as anxiety. The focus is on how faith, particularly saving faith, can produce love, holiness, and the ability to overcome sin, including the sin of anxiety. We explore how belief in God's promises can liberate us from anxiety, allowing us to become people who are not preoccupied with our own needs but are free to serve others. This transformation is rooted in the satisfaction found in God's promises, which are new every morning and are a testament to His steadfast love and faithfulness.

We begin with a simple yet profound truth from Psalm 56:3, which teaches us to trust in God when we are afraid. This trust is a battle against unbelief, and it is supported by the promise that God's mercies are new every morning, as stated in Lamentations 3:22-23. This promise is a powerful tool to combat the anxieties that accumulate each day. Furthermore, 1 Peter 5:7 encourages us to cast our anxieties on God because He cares for us, reinforcing the idea that we are not alone in our struggles.

The session also addresses specific states of anxiety, such as feelings of inadequacy, weakness, insignificance, decision-making, adversaries, afflictions, aging, perseverance, and death. For each of these, Scripture provides tailor-made promises that assure us of God's sufficiency, strength, guidance, and ultimate deliverance. For instance, 2 Corinthians 9:8 assures us that God will provide the sufficiency needed for every good work He calls us to do, while Isaiah 41:10 promises God's strength and help in times of fear.

Ultimately, the battle against anxiety is a battle against unbelief. It is about being satisfied in all that God promises to be for us in Jesus Christ. This satisfaction in God is the essence of faith and the key to overcoming anxiety.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Trust in God's Promises: When faced with fear, trust in God as Psalm 56:3 teaches. This trust is a proactive battle against unbelief, reminding us that God's mercies are new every morning, providing fresh strength and hope. [02:08]
• 2. God's Care and Sufficiency: 1 Peter 5:7 reassures us that we can cast our anxieties on God because He cares for us. This care is coupled with the promise of sufficiency in 2 Corinthians 9:8, ensuring that we have all we need for the tasks God calls us to. [03:26]
• 3. Strength in Weakness: Embrace weaknesses as opportunities for God's power to be perfected, as Paul did in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. This perspective transforms anxiety into contentment and strength. [06:37]
• 4. Significance in God's Work: Our labor in the Lord is never in vain, as 1 Corinthians 15:58 assures us. This truth counters feelings of insignificance, affirming that work done for God's glory is eternally meaningful. [08:00]
• 5. Eternal Security and Hope: The New Covenant promises in Jeremiah 32:40 and 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 provide assurance of God's unwavering commitment to us, dispelling anxiety about perseverance and death. [12:34]
  ** [12:34]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:22] - Introduction to Battling Unbelief
• [00:46] - Focus on Anxiety
• [01:05] - Prayer for Understanding
• [01:32] - Trust in God When Afraid
• [02:08] - New Mercies Every Morning
• [03:26] - Casting Anxieties on God
• [04:05] - Fear Not, God is With You
• [05:06] - Specific Anxieties and Promises
• [06:19] - Sufficiency in Weakness
• [07:29] - Significance in God's Work
• [08:37] - Guidance in Decisions
• [09:12] - Overcoming Adversaries
• [10:10] - Deliverance from Afflictions
• [11:32] - God's Care in Aging
• [12:34] - Assurance of Perseverance
• [13:31] - Hope Beyond Death
• [14:32] - Conclusion: Satisfaction in God

1. Psalm 56:3 - "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you."
2. Lamentations 3:22-23 - "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
3. 1 Peter 5:7 - "Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you."

1. According to Psalm 56:3, what action should we take when we are afraid? How does this relate to the battle against unbelief? [01:48]
2. In Lamentations 3:22-23, what is said about God's mercies, and how does this provide a foundation for combating daily anxieties? [02:27]
3. How does 1 Peter 5:7 describe God's relationship with us in the context of our anxieties? What does this imply about our approach to anxiety? [03:26]
4. What specific states of anxiety are mentioned in the sermon, and how does Scripture provide promises for each? [05:06]

1. How does trusting in God's promises, as mentioned in Psalm 56:3, serve as a proactive battle against unbelief and anxiety? [02:08]
2. What does the promise of God's new mercies every morning in Lamentations 3:22-23 suggest about the nature of God's faithfulness and our daily struggles with anxiety? [02:46]
3. In what ways does 1 Peter 5:7 reassure believers about God's care, and how might this influence a person's perspective on their personal struggles with anxiety? [03:26]
4. How does the sermon suggest that embracing weaknesses can transform anxiety into contentment and strength, as seen in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10? [06:37]

1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt anxious. How might trusting in God's promises, as described in Psalm 56:3, have changed your response? [01:48]
2. Consider the idea that God's mercies are new every morning. How can you remind yourself of this truth at the start of each day to combat anxiety? [02:27]
3. What are some practical ways you can cast your anxieties on God, as encouraged in 1 Peter 5:7, in your daily life? [03:26]
4. Identify a specific area of your life where you feel inadequate. How can the promise of sufficiency in 2 Corinthians 9:8 help you address this feeling? [05:28]
5. Think of a time when you felt insignificant. How does the assurance in 1 Corinthians 15:58 that your labor in the Lord is not in vain change your perspective on your contributions? [08:00]
6. How can the promise of God's strength in Isaiah 41:10 help you face a current fear or challenge? What steps can you take to rely on this promise? [04:47]
7. Reflect on the concept of eternal security and hope as presented in Jeremiah 32:40 and 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10. How does this assurance impact your view of perseverance and death? [12:34]