Anxiety and the Gospel

 The Gospel’s Core Message: Peace Through Christ

I really struggled to write about this topic for a couple of reasons. One, I wanted to convey REAL empathy for those that may be struggling with the instability that is happening in the US this year. Two, I didn’t want to give cookie-cutter answers to these issues.

At its heart, the Gospel is a message of reconciliation and peace. Jesus didn’t just come to forgive sin—He came to restore wholeness. That includes our emotional and mental well-being. Anxiety, in Scripture, is not treated as a moral failure but as a human vulnerability that God meets with compassion and strength.

• John 14:27 — “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
• Philippians 4:6–7 — “Do not be anxious about anything… and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

These verses don’t shame the anxious-they invite them into divine peace.

Fear as a Spiritual Opponent

Fear is often portrayed in Scripture as something that challenges our trust in God. It’s not just a feeling—it’s a force that seeks to paralyze faith and distort our view of God’s presence.

• Isaiah 41:10 — “So do not fear, for I am with you… I will strengthen you and help you.”
• 2 Timothy 1:7 — “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

The Gospel reframes fear—not as something to suppress, but as something to confront with truth. The antidote isn’t denial; it’s divine presence.

Casting Our Cares: A Gospel Invitation

Scripture repeatedly invites believers to cast their anxieties on God—not because they’re insignificant, but because He cares deeply.

• 1 Peter 5:7 — “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
• Psalm 55:22 — “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.”

This is a radical invitation: not to manage anxiety alone, but to transfer it to the One who bears our burdens.

 Perfect Love Drives Out Fear

The Gospel culminates in the revelation of God’s perfect love—a love that doesn’t coexist with fear, but drives it out.

• 1 John 4:18 — “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear…”

This isn’t poetic fluff—it’s theological truth. Fear thrives in uncertainty. Love thrives in assurance. The Gospel assures us that we are known, loved, and secure.

Dr. Lanny R Morrow II