Overcoming Chronic Anxiety Through God's Presence and Curiosity

 

Summary

In our journey through the Lenten season, we have been exploring the concept of a redeemed mind, as inspired by Dallas Willard's "Renovation of the Heart." The focus today is on the mind, where anxiety often takes root. Dallas emphasizes the importance of having the great God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as a constant presence in our minds, which helps to crowd out false ideas and destructive images. This intention aligns with Paul's teaching on using divinely powerful weapons to destroy speculations and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Steve Cuss, our guest, shares insights from his work on chronic anxiety, which is distinct from grief or trauma-related anxiety. Chronic anxiety is built on false beliefs, such as the need to impress others, control situations, or always have the right answer. These false beliefs often lead us to either inflate or diminish ourselves, moving us away from our true human size and into a space where we try to take God's place. The key to overcoming this is to relax into the grace of God, recognizing that these attributes belong to God alone.

Steve explains that chronic anxiety can fill the space where we would otherwise be aware of God's presence, likening it to a tapeworm that feeds off us and grows. The antidote to anxiety is curiosity, a tool Jesus frequently used. By being curious, we can pause and break the cycle of anxiety, which often drives us to try harder and do more. This curiosity allows us to become aware of our triggers and preemptively address them.

A practical step is to pray a simple prayer, acknowledging that Jesus died to free us from the need to fulfill these false beliefs. This freedom allows us to focus on God's presence and be curious about what He is doing in our lives. As we continue this journey, let us form the intention to have God present in our minds, crowding out anxiety and embracing curiosity.

Key Takeaways:

- Chronic anxiety is rooted in false beliefs that lead us to either inflate or diminish ourselves, moving us away from our true human size and into a space where we try to take God's place. Recognizing these false beliefs allows us to relax into the grace of God, acknowledging that attributes like control and perfection belong to God alone. [05:54]

- Chronic anxiety can fill the space where we would otherwise be aware of God's presence, likened to a tapeworm that feeds off us and grows. By noticing our reactivity and when we are getting bigger or smaller, we can engage God more effectively and become aware of His presence. [07:55]

- The opposite of anxiety is curiosity, a tool Jesus frequently used. By being curious, we can pause and break the cycle of anxiety, which often drives us to try harder and do more. This curiosity allows us to become aware of our triggers and preemptively address them. [08:45]

- A practical step to overcoming anxiety is to pray a simple prayer, acknowledging that Jesus died to free us from the need to fulfill these false beliefs. This freedom allows us to focus on God's presence and be curious about what He is doing in our lives. [09:43]

- Let us form the intention to have God present in our minds, crowding out anxiety and embracing curiosity. By doing so, we can be free from the five core generators of anxiety: control, perfection, having the answer, being there for people, and approval. [10:34]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - Introduction to Steve Cuss
[01:02] - Walking Through Lent
[01:14] - Dallas Willard's Vision
[02:24] - Taking God's Place
[02:51] - Understanding Chronic Anxiety
[03:28] - Bigger or Smaller
[04:05] - Five Core Generators of Anxiety
[05:30] - False Beliefs and the Gospel
[06:09] - Relaxing into God's Grace
[07:07] - Reactivity and False Reality
[08:08] - Chronic Anxiety as a Tapeworm
[08:45] - Curiosity as the Opposite of Anxiety
[09:31] - Simple Prayer for Freedom
[10:34] - Be Free from Anxiety

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5: "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
- Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what are the five core generators of chronic anxiety? [04:05]
2. How does Steve Cuss describe the effect of chronic anxiety on our awareness of God's presence? [07:55]
3. What metaphor does Steve use to describe chronic anxiety, and what does it imply about its nature? [08:08]
4. How does the sermon suggest we can use curiosity as a tool against anxiety? [08:45]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ relate to managing chronic anxiety? [02:13]
2. In what ways might the false beliefs associated with chronic anxiety lead someone to "take God's place"? [02:24]
3. How does the idea of "relaxing into the grace of God" challenge common responses to anxiety? [06:19]
4. Why might curiosity be considered the opposite of anxiety, according to the sermon? [08:45]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt anxious. Which of the five core generators of anxiety were at play, and how might you address them differently next time? [04:05]
2. Consider a time when anxiety filled the space where you could have been aware of God's presence. How can you create more space for God in similar situations in the future? [07:55]
3. Identify a specific false belief that contributes to your anxiety. What steps can you take to replace this belief with the truth of the Gospel? [05:54]
4. How can you incorporate the practice of curiosity into your daily life to help manage anxiety? What specific questions can you ask yourself when you feel anxious? [08:45]
5. Think of a simple prayer you can use to remind yourself of the freedom Jesus offers from false beliefs. How can this prayer become a regular part of your routine? [09:43]
6. What practical steps can you take this week to "relax into the grace of God" when faced with anxiety? [06:19]
7. How can you intentionally focus on God's presence in your mind to crowd out anxiety and embrace curiosity? What changes might you need to make in your thought patterns or daily habits? [10:34]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing False Beliefs and Embracing God's Grace
Chronic anxiety often stems from false beliefs that distort our perception of ourselves and our relationship with God. These beliefs can lead us to either inflate or diminish our sense of self, causing us to step out of our true human size and attempt to take on roles that belong to God alone. By identifying these false beliefs, we can begin to relax into the grace of God, acknowledging that attributes such as control and perfection are His alone. This realization allows us to let go of the burdens we were never meant to carry and to trust in God's sovereignty and love. [05:54]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: What false belief about yourself or your role in the world do you need to release to God today? How can you actively rest in His grace instead of striving for control or perfection?


Day 2: Filling the Space with God's Presence
Chronic anxiety can occupy the mental and emotional space where we would otherwise be aware of God's presence. It acts like a tapeworm, feeding off our energy and growing as we become more reactive and less attuned to the divine. By noticing when we are becoming either too big or too small in our reactions, we can engage more effectively with God and become more aware of His presence in our lives. This awareness helps us to reclaim the space that anxiety has taken and to invite God into our thoughts and actions. [07:55]

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what situations do you find yourself reacting with anxiety rather than faith? How can you invite God's presence into these moments to transform your response?


Day 3: Curiosity as a Tool Against Anxiety
The opposite of anxiety is curiosity, a tool that Jesus frequently used to engage with the world around Him. By adopting a posture of curiosity, we can pause and break the cycle of anxiety that often drives us to try harder and do more. Curiosity allows us to become aware of our triggers and to address them preemptively, creating space for God's peace to enter our lives. This shift in perspective helps us to see challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, rather than as threats to our well-being. [08:45]

"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." (Jeremiah 33:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can replace anxiety with curiosity today? How might this change your approach to a current challenge or decision?


Day 4: The Freedom of Simple Prayer
A practical step to overcoming anxiety is to pray a simple prayer, acknowledging that Jesus died to free us from the need to fulfill false beliefs. This freedom allows us to focus on God's presence and to be curious about what He is doing in our lives. By embracing this freedom, we can let go of the pressure to meet unrealistic expectations and instead rest in the assurance of God's love and guidance. Simple prayers can be powerful tools for realigning our hearts and minds with God's truth. [09:43]

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: What simple prayer can you incorporate into your daily routine to remind yourself of God's presence and freedom? How can this practice help you combat anxiety?


Day 5: Intentionally Inviting God into Our Minds
Let us form the intention to have God present in our minds, crowding out anxiety and embracing curiosity. By doing so, we can be free from the five core generators of anxiety: control, perfection, having the answer, being there for people, and approval. This intentional focus on God's presence helps us to live in alignment with His will and to experience the peace that surpasses all understanding. As we cultivate this mindset, we become more attuned to God's work in our lives and more open to His transformative power. [10:34]

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally invite God into your thoughts and decisions today? What practical steps can you take to ensure that His presence is the guiding force in your life?

Quotes


A lot of what we've been talking about here is the vision for a redeemed mind, and Dallas talks about the need for a vision but then also for intention, and he says the intention to be formed is to have the great God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ a constant presence in our mind, crowding out every false idea or destructive image, all misinformation about God and every crooked inference or belief. [00:01:25]

Chronic anxiety is built on false belief. That's why I get so fascinated with it. So it's built on the idea that I think I need something that I don't really need, like the need to impress somebody, the need to always get it right, the need to control a situation. [00:03:02]

There's five core generators of anxiety, and this was like a light bulb moment for me when I realized that human beings we strive for control, perfection, always having the answer, being there for others, and approval. These things are God's unique attributes, and anytime a human being is diminishing ourselves or supersizing ourselves, we're not human-sized. [00:04:08]

Chronic anxiety actually fills the space where you're aware of God's presence. My favorite metaphor is a tapeworm. It's not a pleasant metaphor, but it pours a hole and then it feeds off you and grows, and you can't see God anymore. So now I'm in this room and it's all on me to figure something out rather than be attending to what God's doing. [00:07:51]

The opposite of anxiety in this field is curiosity, and it's fascinating that Jesus used curiosity more than almost any other tool. Like the woman caught in adultery and the angry violent mob, and he just goes in and asks curious questions. Anxiety is telling you just try harder, just so anxiety is a form of legalism. [00:08:41]

If you can notice when you're anxious and then if you can pause, because anxiety is telling you just try harder, just so anxiety is a form of legalism, it's just trying to keep you on the treadmill of do more. And so if you can notice when you're in that cycle, once you figure out where you are, you can start to be aware of yourself. [00:09:19]

For me, it's a simple prayer I pray. I better pray it multiple times a day, and it's just Jesus died to free me from blank, whatever blank is. Jesus died to free me from having to shoot a video and know the answer for example in real time or Jesus died so I don't need to impress that person anymore. [00:09:43]

Today be free those five items again. So control, perfection, having the answer, being there for people, and approval. Those are the big five so let's be free of that. Let's form the intention to have that great God present in our mind to crowd out all five and be curious. [00:10:34]

Chronic anxiety is built on assumptions and needs, and then you know you're filled with chronic anxiety because you're getting bigger or smaller. Someone like me, I tend to get bigger so I get a little more aggressive. Others get smaller, they suddenly don't feel safe and so they retract like a turtle and they don't share everything they think. [00:03:32]

The idea of noticing your reactivity and when you're getting bigger or smaller is really a powerful tool to engage God. Now that you know those things, how do you use them to help you make God more present? That's a great question. [00:08:22]

It occurred to me when I was doing this study, okay if chronic anxiety is built on false belief and the gospel is built on the truth and Jesus says truth sets you free, and to jump on it Paul says this weird like convoluted thing that it's for freedom that we've been set free which sounds like a circular argument but it really is something. [00:05:35]

So the idea of noticing your reactivity and when you're getting bigger or smaller is really a powerful tool to engage God. Yes, and now that you know those things, how do you use them to help you make God more present? [00:08:28]

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Transcript
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