Dave and Bethlie continue their Overcoming Series with part 3 of overcoming anxiety. Do you know someone who struggles with anxiety? Be a blessing to them and send them this series. Reach out and let us know how it has been a blessing in your life and others around you.

1. Decide it is wrong (based on the teaching of Jesus)
   1. It is wrong because the past is over and gone
      1. Healing is available for everything we face
      2. Forgiveness is essential for our wrongs
   2. It is wrong because the future is not here yet
      1. Nothing can ever be done about the future
      2. Only God knows about the future
      3. Jesus is teaching that it is wrong to allow tomorrow's problems to tear you apart today
   3. It is wrong because only God knows the future
   4. It is wrong because it damages today
      1. Today is a gift from God
      2. We should handle our emotions wisely so we can fully live for Him today
2. Know the difference between worry and planning
   1. Planning is preparing for the future while simultaneously leaving it all in God's hands and trusting God's goodness.
   2. Worry does not plan.
      1. Anxiety assumes the worst
      2. Anxiety presumes to know outcomes
      3. Anxiety gives into our feelings rather than make an attempt to overcome them.
      4. Anxiety accepts our feelings as the norm of our life.
3. Redirect your concerns
   1. Emotions are not wrong
      1. They are right when they are used properly according to the commands and principles of God's Word
         1. Move into Psalms
         2. They show us that emotions are real
         3. They show us that life is hard
         4. They also show us that truth trumps it all
      2. Emotional concern is the God-given ability to mobilize the forces of our bodies and minds to focus upon a problem and solve it.
      3. Anxious concern is when we focus on our problems and hang onto them.
         1. Literally all the energy is released but has it has nowhere to go
            1. This energy can even eat away at the lining of the stomach
            2. This energy leaves us feeling hopeless and helpless
            3. This energy often leads us into other issues
               1. Depression
               2. Social withdrawal
               3. Loss of sexual desire

Part 2 of this Overcoming Anxiety series begins with answering the question, what is anxiety?

From Jesus' teaching

1. 1. Matthew 6:31
   2. Anxiety is concern over things future
   3. It is concern over something you can do nothing about
   4. It is concern over something we cannot ever be sure about
   5. It is also concern over something that is in the past

From Banner Health

Someone with an anxiety disorder experiences more than just occasional worry. They often feel afraid, tense or uneasy about something with an uncertain outcome.

"Symptoms of anxiety can make sleeping, focusing or completing everyday tasks difficult," Dr. Brenner Freeman (MD, Psychiatrist) said. "Some people may notice racing thoughts that make it hard to concentrate, while others feel tension in their muscles, rapid heartbeat or stomach problems."

What anxiety might look like in:

• Children: Trouble with transitions, clinginess or tantrums
• Teens: Avoiding school, withdrawing socially and excessive worry about fitting in
• Adults: Irritability, difficulty concentrating or pulling back from work and relationships

Aside: This seems to be rather normal for almost every child, teen, and adult. Which leads to the question - What do we do about it as Christians?

Overcoming anxiety

1. Decide it is wrong (based on the teaching of Jesus)
   1. Healing is available for everything we face
   2. Forgiveness is essential for our wrongs
   1. Nothing can ever be done about the future
   2. Only God knows about the future
   3. Jesus is teaching that it is wrong to allow tomorrow's problems to tear you apart today
   1. Today is a gift from God
   2. We should handle our emotions wisely so we can fully live for Him today
   1. It is wrong because the past is over and gone
   2. It is wrong because the future is not here yet
   3. It is wrong because only God knows the future
   4. It is wrong because it damages today

Grab your Bible and turn to Matthew 6:25 and join Dave and Bethlie as they discuss Overcoming Anxiety.

Understanding anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the U.S., affecting over 40 million adults (19.1%) annually, with roughly 31% of adults experiencing an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Females are more likely to be affected (23.4%) compared to males (14.3%)

Key Anxiety Statistics

• Prevalence: Nearly 1 in 3 adolescents (ages 13-18) will experience an anxiety disorder.
• Adult Prevalence: Around 19.1% of U.S. adults aged 18+ have an anxiety disorder, with 22.8% of those cases classified as serious impairment.
• Types:
• • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Affects 6.8 million U.S. adults (2.7% prevalence).
  • Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): Affects 15 million adults, typically beginning at age 13.
  • Panic Disorder: Affects 6 million adults.
• Gender Differences: Women are twice as likely to be affected by anxiety disorders than men.
• Treatment: Only 43.2% of people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder receive treatment.
• Impact: Approximately 70% of adults feel anxious about the state of the world, including economy, personal health, and new technologies.

1. The effects of anxiety
   1. Ulcers
   2. Loss of joy
   3. Inability to cope
   4. Failure to trust God (sometimes is a cause; other times is an effect)
   5. Failure to overcome
      1. Often rooted in the belief that this is just the way I am
      2. Or the believe that I can't overcome it

1. The greek word that is used
   1. "Merimnao"
   2. To divide, part, rip, tear apart

Jesus taught about anxiety

• it is often a part of our lives
• it should not be a part of our lives
• it should be put away
• it should be overcome

Dave and Bethlie continue their series in identifying biblical steps for climbing out of the darkness that depression can bring. From confessing sin and getting right with God, to listing your responsibilities, avoiding pity parties, and anchoring yourself in the truth of Scripture, we know God's Word is powerful enough to help you overcome. Just as David continually brought himself back to the truth of who God is in the midst of his own pain, so can you. If God is real and His Word is true — and it is — you can overcome depression!

1. You can recognize a failing solution when the depression become cyclical
   1. Discouragement is normal to live
   2. Depression occurs when I handle discouragements and failures in a wrong way
   3. Stay focused on duties
      1. If discouragement separates us from our duties, it will always lead to depression
      2. You MUST continue to perform your duties and meet your obligations
   1. Around and around in depression
   2. Cf. 2 Corinthians 4:8
   3. Recognize the truth about what is happening
   4. Understand the difference in discouragement and depression

Steps to take:

1. Confess sin
2. List responsibilities
   1. Pity parties
   2. Gripe sessions
   3. complaining
   1. Your family
   2. Your home
   3. Your job
   4. Avoid all the negatives
3. Get to work doing them

Some truths about depression:

1. Some things are necessary in overcoming depression:
   1. You have to know God personally and intimately
   2. You have to desire to please God by doing what He says
   3. You have to obey God regardless of how you feel
2. Some are more susceptible to depression
   1. It is especially a problem for those who are responsible to set and keep their own schedule
   2. It is especially a problem for those who don't have a schedule
   3. Those who have a schedule (from a boss or workplace) have less of an issue with depression
      1. Self-control is strengthened by their schedule
      2. Self-discipline is set for them already
3. Some things naturally lead towards depression
   1. A setback
      1. Sickness
      2. Disappointment
      3. Failure
      4. Guilt
   2. A tendency to follow feelings rather than to pursue obligations
   3. A willingness to participate in pit-parties or to continually focus on self
4. Nothing but obedience to God and His Word can overcome depression
   1. Ignoring it won't work
   2. Anti-depressants won't work
   3. Substance abuse won't work

Is your marriage struggling? In Part 2 of this series Overcoming A Bad Marriage, Dave and Bethlie share biblical steps for overcoming a bad marriage and restoring what God intended for your relationship.

1. 1. Learn to love again
      1. Define it
         1. Love and feelings are not the same thing
         2. Love is about pleasing God
         3. Love is being willing to give another whatever it is that they need because you know it is what God commands you to do.
      2. Biblicize it
         1. Ephesians 5:25 Husbands love your wives as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her
         2. Older women teach the younger women to love their husbands
         3. Love your neighbor
            1. Your spouse is your closest neighbor so you have to love them
         4. Matthew 5:44. Love your enemy
            1. The lowest level of love
   2. Determine to please God
      1. Get very close to Him
         1. James 4:8
         2. The closer you are to God the healthier you will be
         3. The closer you are to God the stronger you will be
      2. Honor God in the decisions you make and your marriage will be amazing
   3. Take steps to love
      1. Learn to give.
         1. John 3:16
         2. Gal 2:20
         3. Proverbs 25:21
      2. Learn to forgive
         1. Forgiveness promises not to use another's wrongdoings against them in the future
         2. Forgiveness promises not to talk to other people about another's wrongdoings
         3. Forgiveness promises not to dwell on the other's wrongdoings
      3. Learn to meet each other's needs

Join Dave and Bethlie as they continue this overcoming series with this first in a two part series about Ovecoming A Bad Marriage.

Part 1

1. What is a bad marriage?
   1. Typically marriages don't start badly
      1. We meet
      2. We talk
      3. We spend time together
      4. We "fall in love"
      5. We propose
      6. We make plans
      7. We get married.
   2. Marriage can become bad
      1. It happens in a process of time
      2. We don't love each other anymore
      3. We aren't compatible
      4. We are miserable
      5. We allow hurt feelings to become BIG problems
      6. We allow little things to become bigger things
2. What do you do about it?
   1. Remember your vows
      1. For better or for worse
      2. A verbal commitment to honor God and His Word
         1. Divorce is only permitted in a few select cases
         2. Divorce is rarely the best option
         3. Divorce opens the door to more divorce
   2. Repent at the thought of ending it

Happy Valentine's week!

Join Dave and Bethlie as they discuss how love overcomes!