Greater Than > Anxiety

What are stress and anxiety?

Read Philippians 4:6

Commentary:

Stress - Results from external triggers (Ex: unexpected expenses, relational strain, a season of transition)

Anxiety - An internal disorder characterized by persistent worry and fear, a general sense of unease

• What are some common stressors for men, how might they be different for women?
• How can you discern the difference between reasonable stress and an issue with anxiety?

Causes of Anxiety

Read Psalm 32:3, 2 Corinthians 1:8, Luke 12:22, 29

Commentary:

Sin - Living in a state of compromise keeps you out of right relationship with God, which means excluded from experiencing his peace.

Spiritual roots - There is a spiritual enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy, he will throw attacks at your mind to unsettle you any chance he gets.

Situational - We all experience stressful seasons, but our response determines if that stress reshapes us into anxious people.

• How can you take inventory of the causes of stress or anxiety in your life?
• When you discover something causing anxiety in your life how can you uproot it? What tools or strategies may be helpful to overcome anxiety?

Here's how to overcome anxiety...

Read Proverbs 12:25, Psalm 119:11, Matthew 6:33

Commentary:

Limit your intake - You cannot listen to every news cycle or spend endless hours doom-scrolling social media. You were not designed to carry the weight of information overload.

Increase God's word - As you reduce negative input, take in more of God's word. Research shows that reading the Bible at least 4 times a week has measurable effects on your habits and health.

Get in community - Online followers are not the same as close friends in local community, isolation always leaves the door open for the enemy to attack your mind and emotions.

Pursue the Kingdom - Anxiety comes from focusing too much on the things of this world and not enough on eternity, check your perspective often.

Know that God cares - God is concerned with everything that concerns you, he is attentive to all of your needs, this means you can take all of your cares to the Lord in prayer and trust him to handle them.

• What does a healthy perspective on social media look and sound like?
• What are practical tips for incorporating more of God's word in your daily routine?
• It's one thing to quote scripture and say that God cares, but how do you wield that knowledge as a weapon against anxiety when it tries to creep in?

UPCOMING EVENTS & REMINDERS:

REPORT:

Please continue to report your in-person and virtual group meetings!

By using the same email address at which you would normally receive report reminders, you may update your group information and report your weekly meetings.

If you need help with reporting, then please contact your district pastor.

Have an amazing and Spirit-filled group!