#27 How to Rewire Your Anxious Mind

Sunday LivestreamBecoming Whole

18 May

Written By Matt Edmundson

YouTube Video of the Church Service

Time Stamps

00:00:00 - Welcome to Crowd Church with Matt, Sharon and Dan
00:02:04 - Talk begins: How to Rewire Your Anxious Mind
00:07:00 - What happens when your anxieties spiral out of control?
00:12:45 - Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: A lesson in handling anxiety
00:19:00 - Finding peace that makes no sense
00:22:04 - Conversation Street: Practical ways to deal with anxiety
00:46:00 - Is feeling anxious a sin for Christians?

How to Rewire Your Anxious Mind

We're living in what many call "the age of anxiety." In our latest session, Dan Orange explored biblical wisdom on anxiety and shared practical ways to find God's peace in our mental storms.

Ever found yourself spiralling with worry, your thoughts get trapped in an endless cycle of ‘what if’ questions? Well, you are not alone.

We're experiencing unprecedented levels of anxiety in our society. It's everywhere – from the young professional fretting about career decisions to the parent worried about their children's future, from the teen comparing themselves to filtered Instagram lives to those of us wondering how bills will get paid this month.

The Battlefield of the Mind

"The Bible uses warfare language when talking about our thoughts," Matt said during Conversation Street. "It's not passive – you've got to take your thoughts captive, bring them into line with the word of God."

This battle imagery makes sense when you've experienced anxiety. Those repetitive, panicky thoughts can feel like enemy forces advancing on your peace. But how do we fight back effectively?

Dan took us to the heart of biblical wisdom on anxiety, focusing on that well-known passage from Philippians:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

But rather than leaving it as a motivational poster slogan ("Be anxious for nothing!"), Dan unpacked what this actually means for our daily battles with worry.

God's Peace Pathway

The message version puts it beautifully: "Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers." It's not about denying feelings of anxiety, but transforming them.

This passage lays out a simple but profound pathway to peace:

Name your anxiety and bring it to God - Define what's worrying you, rather than letting vague fears grow out of proportion
Thank God, while you're still in the situation - Gratitude shifts your focus from what's wrong to what's right
Focus your mind on what's true and good - "Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure..."

As Sharon shared during Conversation Street: "When we're anxious, our thoughts can get in this knot and we can't think clearly. That's why these verses are so helpful – they give us a step-by-step program."

When The Worry Doesn't Go Away

But what about those times when you pray and the anxiety remains? What about chronic health conditions that contribute to anxiety? What about when the situation causing your worry doesn't change?

That's where God's peace that "passes all understanding" comes in. As Dan shared from his own experience:

"I had to pray a lot, give my concerns to God, and ask him to replace my worry with peace. He did. I still haven't been paid. The situation hasn't changed, but I have peace about it."

This peace isn't about circumstances changing – it's about having a different perspective on those circumstances. It's what Jesus meant when he said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you" (John 14:27).

The Anxiety Epidemic

It's worth noting the unprecedented levels of anxiety we're seeing. As Matt observed, "I have never, in all the years I've been around – and it's been a fair few – seen anxiety at the levels it's at."

What's driving this epidemic? Several factors emerged in our conversation:

Information overload - We know about every tragedy worldwide, instantly
Social comparison - Especially on social media, where everyone's life looks perfect
Economic pressures - Financial concerns remain a top anxiety trigger
Identity confusion - When we don't know who we are in Christ, we're vulnerable to anxiety

Dan highlighted how young people, particularly girls aged 17-24, experience anxiety at rates far above average – "Is it coincidence that this is the age of peer pressure and comparison, not just locally but globally, comparing with the false social media world?"

Finding Your Peace

So, how do we apply these biblical principles in practical ways?

1. Name your anxiety. Write down specifically what you're worried about. As Matt shared from his experience with financial anxiety: "I found that when I was worrying, my brain would worry about the size of it, but it couldn't define it. It was like it didn't have boundaries." Defining the worry often shrinks it to a manageable size.

2. Use scripture strategically. If you're anxious about health, focus on verses about God as healer. Meditate on passages about God's provision if you're worried about finances. Scripture becomes a powerful tool when applied specifically to our areas of struggle.

3. Create space for peace. Sharon noted how important it is to "shift our thinking to things that are good and things that bring joy." This might mean limiting social media, spending time in nature, or surrounding yourself with people who radiate peace rather than anxiety.

4. Take care of your whole self. Remember that the spirit, soul and body are connected. Physical exercise, good nutrition, and adequate rest all contribute to mental well-being and reduce anxiety.

5. Worship your way through. As Dan suggested, sometimes the best starting point is simply to "put some worship music on, and just get in that place where you're hearing things that are good about God, about what God's done in you."

The Bigger Picture

One final thought worth considering: while we certainly want freedom from debilitating anxiety, some level of concern is part of being human. As Dan pointed out, "If we didn't feel fear, we'd do lots of dangerous things. If we didn't worry, would we make rash decisions?"

Our emotions, even difficult ones, serve a purpose. The goal isn't to become emotionless, but to prevent anxiety from controlling our lives and stealing our peace.

As we journey towards wholeness, we seek the balance Jesus modelled – honest about his feelings (even sweating drops of blood in Gethsemane), yet ultimately saying, "Not my will, but yours be done."

That's true peace – not the absence of storms, but the presence of Christ in the midst of them.

Join us next Sunday at 7:00 pm as Matt continues our "Becoming Whole" series, exploring the power of gratitude in bringing spiritual wholeness. You can watch live on our YouTube channel or catch up later.

Need prayer for anxiety? We'd love to support you. Contact us

#27 - How to Rewire Your Anxious Mind
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[00:00:00]
Welcome
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Matt Edmundson: Well, good evening. Welcome to Crowd Online Church. My name is Ben Ben Edmondson. That's my brother. It's a good start. My name is Matt Edmondson. Uh, beside me is my beautiful wife, Sharon. I.
Sharon Edmundson: Hi. Hi everybody. Good to be with you.
Matt Edmundson: And on my other side is of equally beautiful, Dan Orange. Ah, hello. So very warm.
Welcome to you. Uh, if this is your first time with us here in Crab, very, very warm welcome to you. Let me just give you a heads up on what is gonna be happening tonight. Um, how we do this whole online thing. We're broadcasting from our church here in Liverpool, um, and we're broadcasting online as well, so.
It's great to be with you. We're gonna spend the next hour with you. Uh, we're talking about anxiety tonight, uh, which I was a little bit worried about it, but you know, the dad jokes, the dad jokes are coming out. So we're gonna be talking about [00:01:00] anxiety tonight. Uh, so as we go along, feel free to join us in the comments, write your questions, write your thoughts, share your stories.
Let us know where you're watching from. You know, that whole interaction thing you can do with the live stream. It will be great to hear from you in the comments. So do make sure that you are doing that. 'cause after Dan's done his talk, we're all gonna be back for what we call affectionately. Conversation street, which is where we're gonna answer your questions, thoughts and comments.
Uh, as well as just chat about Dan's talk. We're gonna give him a grade one to 10, and we're gonna hold, hold up little scorecards. Um, and that's basically how it's gonna work for the next hour. So, yeah.
Sharon Edmundson: And we've been giving Dan a little practical in uh, not being anxious 'cause we've had tech problems already right up until we were about to start.
So, uh, yeah. Little practical example. Yeah. I dunno
Matt Edmundson: what you mean about tech issues. Um, but yes, we did have a few. Not gonna lie. Um, so [00:02:00] have I missed anything about the stock? Not that I can think of. I don't think so. Have I, have I missed anything? Don't think so. I think I've said hello. Yeah, right, right in the comments.
Dan's doing a talk and anxiety. Uh, so yeah. Without further ado, let's hand over to Dan. Let's jump into this whole thing about anxiety. Dan. Hopefully you're not worried about it and, um, yeah, we'll, we'll see where it goes.
Talk - How to Rewire Your Anxious Mind | Dan Orange
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Dan Orange: Great.
Well welcome. Um, so being anxious is a part of life, isn't it? We all get anxious. We have worries and concerns. Some of us seem to be effecting more than others. Some people seem to always be in worry in situations or in a perpetual state of fear. Some priests through life and don't seem to have a care in the world.
Well, on the outside at least. Um. One definition of anxiety is, sorry. We cut software, and it's just a little bit slower than my talking, is a feeling of [00:03:00] worry, um, nervousness or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. I probably all know this is the case, but even a vent with a certain outcome can get us all upset and spiraling into an anxious state.
We're in the middle of a series on wholeness, specifically soul health, our mental and emotional wellbeing, and God wants us to be whole. He made us emotional beings. He made us with feelings. So today, let's look at. What the Bible says about anxiety, how it differs from perhaps the world or self-help, what practical steps we can take to gain peace over worry, and why do we have to go through these situations?
Probably the most well-known or talked about verses regarding anxiety are in Paul's letters of the Philippian Church, starting in chapter four, verse seven, starting in chapter four, verse seven. Be anxious for nothing. There we go. [00:04:00] Talk done. Let's move on. Conversation Street. Yeah. Only kidding. I grew up before the internet.
Isn't that a crazy thing to say? Before memes, before Google where we wanted to find stuff out, we went to bookshops, or if you wanted to scroll through Insta, which hadn't been invented. We did the analog version. We went to poster shops. Who remembers Athena looking for pictures of Ferraris and sunsets and.
Perhaps Magnum PI or Bross. It was a fun Saturday afternoon, but why do I digress? Digress, because they were also the motivational posters. Success you can do it, be the best of you and Christian versions versus in statements that are true eeg be anxious for nothing, but they lack depth. They lack any help or answers.
So let's read some more of the passage in Philippians. Paul doesn't just say, don't be anxious and leave us hanging. He says, do not be anxious about [00:05:00] anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made no to God and the peace of God which has passes. All understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
So Paul doesn't give us a command and then no answer. When I was talking to my son about this talk, I said, do a talk about anxiety and worry. What do you think the Bible says? And he replied, take it to God. I was like, that's my boy. He's got it. Let your request be known to God. Yes, he knows all his omnipresent, but he asks us to come to him to pray, to let him know our worries.
It's an active thing. I was listened to a Christian worships song the other day and the refrain was, God, walk with me. And although I know what they meant, God is with us. When we cry to him, he comes. When the prodigal son had used up his inheritance, he came and came with his tail between his legs. The father ran to him, but I thought, should [00:06:00] we be singing God walk with me or should it be God, I want to walk with you.
God's path is the one to be on. It's an active decision to walk with him. Jesus said, come to me all who are heavy laden. Revelation says the spirit and the bride, which is Jesus, say, come. Jesus said for the gate is narrow and the way is hard. That leads to life. And those who find it are few God's Path isn't often the easy path.
Let's come to him. Let's come to him and give him our concerns and worries. And the message translation, which I, I love. I love to read through. This translation is like a paraphrase version of the Bible. Puts it this way. It says, don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray, let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
I love that. Let your petitions and praises shape worries into prayers.[00:07:00]
There are concerns that face us all through our life. Some are immediate like fear. Fear for your life. Perhaps God, I'm in peril. I need your, I need your help. Now, some are concerns a long time in the future, God, I want to get married. What jobs should I do? What subjects should I study? These aren't things we can get out of, but they are events and things that I believe God can help us through.
Jesus went through troubles. The night before his trial and sentence on the cross, he was in the Garden of Gethsemane and in Mark 14, verse 34, we read and he said to them, my soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch and go in a little farther. He fell on the ground and prayed that if it was possible, the hour might pass from him, and he said, Abba, father, all things are possible for you.
Remove this cup from me. Not why will, but what you will. And in another of the gospels, [00:08:00] it says that his sweat was like drops of blood. He knew he was approaching horrific physical pain. And on top of that separation from the father, he made his petition known to God. God knew his concerns, but then he was able to say, not my will, but yours.
He was anxious, but those concerns didn't take over his life. His concerns didn't get their hold onto him. He prayed to God and went through God, went through what God told him to do, went through with what God told him to do. I. When we pray, again, it's not a passive thing, a one-way conversation. Prayer is expecting an answer.
That answer might be, I've got you in this. It could be the reason. You could be, the reason you're worrying is you still haven't forgiven that person. That's why you're struggling. Perhaps the worry seems disproportionate to the actual event. Do you have times when your concerns spiral? They get bigger than they really are.
I know I [00:09:00] do. I, I run a business and I've got a customer that hasn't paid me. He's had emails and texts with the invoices and requests to pay. It's been almost a year and around 500 pounds owed. And I got a text a couple of weeks ago saying, Dan, we've logged ourselves up. The system can't set our password.
Can you sort it for me? And I had to reply back and say. Words to the effect of, I can, but you need to pay me first before I do. And that type of conflict I don't like. I knew I had to do it. It's my livelihood. It's how I make a living. It's a business, not a charity, but it's still a situation that concerns me, doesn't give me peace.
I knew that this could take over all of my thoughts, take all my time that day. What's he thinking? What does he think of that message? It's only a small thing. He can sort it. What does he think? Holding me at ransom, et cetera, et cetera. That's all the things I thought that the customer might be saying about me, and I had to [00:10:00] pray a lot, give my concerns to God, and ask him to replace my worry of peace.
He did. I still haven't been paid. The situation hasn't changed, but I have peace about it. I sometimes have to come to back to God and say. You know that thing, it could get hold of me again. I need your peace in Matthew chapter 10. Jesus says this, are not two sparrows sold for a penny, and not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father, but even the hairs on your head are numbered.
Fear not. Therefore, you are more value. You are of more value than many sparrows. That's in Matthew chapter 10. Verse 29 to 31. Sorry, I've got to say this 'cause it's not moved.
Matthew Chapter 10, Matthew 10 29 31.[00:11:00]
It didn't like me writing numbers.
Yeah,
yeah. So anxiousness, this is one of those things, isn't it? That it's the unknown, but I. Um, God has really helped me with this talk because normally I prepare my talk like at least, at least a week before. So I've, I've done it and I can think about it through the week, pray about it, go over it. [00:12:00] Um, and this, I finished this talk this weekend and I felt God's talked to me through those verses.
Um, I. Here.
Keep Next paragraph. Next one. There we go. There we go. Um, yeah, uh, it was great. Um, for me, this chapter 10 in Matthew, it was great for me. I. Um, putting this talk together 'cause verse 19 says, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you're to say for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
And like I said before, I've, I've known about doing this talk for quite a few weeks and I normally like to have the talk prepared at least a week before so I can mull it over and bring it to God and practice it. I finished this talk, like I said before this weekend. Had to keep coming to God. Help me to put down in [00:13:00] words what you want me to say.
I had lots of ideas and felt, God gave me things to say, but I struggled getting it together on the pages, so I had thought This weekend all I'll be doing is the talk. It was hanging over me a bit. And then after more prayer, I felt God say, now this weekend it's not consumed by the talk. You get to tell people about Jesus.
And I'll give you the words to say it's been hard, but it's been a good lesson. And I think that was God saying to me, don't be anxious about this. God cares for us. Peter says in his letter, cast in all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. God cares for us. So going back to the passage, Paul gives a command, don't be anxious.
He tells us what to do, give our concerns to him, and then he gives us the outcome, and here's the outcome and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [00:14:00] The peace of God. Would you say the opposite to anxiety is peace? I think so. When we're at peace, we're not anxious.
He doesn't say The situation would be resolved and you'll have peace. The situation may not have changed, but peace, which is irrespective as situation comes to your heart. There's a song I love that says Peace. That makes no sense. That peace that we don't know how it's possible. It doesn't work with the understanding of the situation, but it still comes to us.
It's no surprise really. 'cause Jesus is the prince of peace. He gave us his peace. He said to us in John's Gospel, peace I live 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. And back in the Old Testament, in the book of the prophet Isaiah, are these words, you keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you.
Because he trusts in you. Not [00:15:00] just peace, but perfect peace. And in the original Hebrew, the word for peace, which you may know is shalom. But the word for perfect is also shalom. He will give you in peace. Peace, perfect. Complete peace. When you think of something at peace, it's not unstable, it's solid, perfect peace.
So if we have anxiety come to God in prayer. Praise and praise, and he will give you the peace outside of your understanding. But we live in a busy and information bombarded world. We know where there's a tragic death on the other side of the world when yet another bomb has dropped. When there's a cyclone, an earthquake, often.
More than we can take. And in Paul's time, they might not, might not have had that global onslaught of social media and global near instant news, but they had local troubles under the Roman occupation experience, shipwrecks and prison [00:16:00] letters full of the churches of quarrels and persecution. In the response to this, the passage continues.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true. Whatever is honorable. Whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely. Whatever's commendable, if there's any excellence, if there's anything worthy of praise, think about these things. I find this very useful when things are too much for me. It's often when social media is consuming my thoughts, perhaps when people are stating things I don't really agree with or find hurtful.
Even more so. Perhaps it's friends posting things and it can really get to me in my answer. I turn it off. Where is my focus? How can I have a heavenly perspective? And then think on these things. Whatever is true, honorable. Just pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any [00:17:00] excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise.
So turn your focus onto these things. This may be God's word, it may be talking with God's people, your family, good friends. It might be being out in nature, looking up at the stars. I love to love to fill my heart with his creation, his awesomeness, his details. One version of the Bible says, meditate on these things the world may say.
When you're troubled, meditate, clear your mind. My issue with that is what happens when things come into your mind after it's, after it's been empty? Something will always fill it or meditate on him. Meditate on the truth. The honorable, the pure. Fill your mind with those things. When putting this talk together and looking at stats of anxiety in different age groups and demographics, one area where anxiety is way above average is young girls 17 to 24, and I thought, is this coincidence that that coincidence that this is the age of peer [00:18:00] pressure of comparison, not just now locally at school and college and work, but globally comparing with the false social media world that's presenting.
I believe the answer of course, is Jesus the Prince of Peace. Changing our focus from comparison to those things that lift us up, but not put us down Real beauty, not falseness real love, not the attraction of fame. And the message translation, again, translates that verse as summon it all up. Friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your mind and meditating on these things.
True, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious, the best, not the worst. The beautiful, not the ugly things to praise, not things to curse. So focus on the authentic, focus on the true. And if you can get round people that are authentic people that love you, then do [00:19:00] that. You've probably walked into houses where you can feel the tension.
You might know people that when you're around them, they're anxious and. And, and you get anxious 'cause anxiety's contagious. But have you walked into a house where there's peace? Peace is contagious too. Get to know these people. Get to know this. Those who have peace. Peace that goes past our understanding.
But we wouldn't need this piece if we just didn't have to go through these situations. Wouldn't it be great if there wasn't fear? Well, spoiler alert heaven, no tears, no fear. But on this earth, it's a fallen world and we experience the unknown, the hardships, but I believe without them, we wouldn't be the same people.
If we couldn't feel pain, wouldn't that be that? Would that be a good thing? Pain hurts, right? But pain also saves. Touch a hot pan and we feel pain. We may be able to drop it before it does any real damage. [00:20:00] That pain saved us. If we didn't feel fear. We'd do lots of dangerous things. If we didn't worry, would we make rash, decis decisions?
Decisions that aren't thought through choices that don't help the situation, but only mask it? I hope this talk helps. I know it's helped. Me to think on these things, and if you've got any questions, please add them to the comments. If you've got worries, then we'd love to pray. But finally, some of you may be thinking that's okay for you, Dan.
Worry and fear is something you can control Firstly. Without God, I know they wouldn't be. God has helped me massively with fear with OCD, with fear caused by caused and linked to my IBS, but I still know there are many conditions that can increase worry and concern, maybe A DHD or autism depression.
These are not small issues, and if you know this is you, then I believe God still has hope for you. He's still the God of peace. If [00:21:00] you take medication, don't stop. But come to the Prince of Peace for help. My daughter is autistic. She has worries every day that most of us wouldn't even consider things with social interactions and instruction.
I pray for every day that she will know peace in those tricky situations. So in summary, Paul says, if you're anxious, come to God, pray, listen, and your note peace. Enjoy that. Peace. Meditate on those things that are good. The answer to all your questions is Jesus. If you don't know him, you are literally missing out on the answer.
My family used to travel many countries and my dad and others would preach this message, and in Portugal we would have a banner outside that said, Jesus ar Jesus is the answer.
Conversation Street
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Matt Edmundson: Uh, uh, very good. Very good. Thanks Don. And that was great. Portuguese as well. Thank you. I, I was, I was right there with you. Um, [00:22:00] sorry, I've been getting into the comments, uh, which we're gonna get into.
So if you've got any questions, any thoughts, anything you wanna throw into the comments, uh, anything you'd like to ask, uh, anything you'd like to ask us, um, then please throw them in the comments. Now, uh, I've got some questions to start off with. Uh, but, um, one of the comments here, I, I'll just get it out the way because I thought it was funny.
So Marina put in the comments, um, that, uh, she likes to go, uh, being, being in nature here, being in nature always brings me peace, right? So going out for a walk and so I put, yes, uh, I agree. And Enzo, who's wash watching from Washington, I think it is, um, he said, uh, I agree 100% also. Um, and he said nothing better than taking the dog for a nature walk.
Uh, which my daughter would love. But, um, so I wrote, if only I had a dog. And then the conversation got to be, well, cats proved difficult to walk, and I was like, yeah, [00:23:00] that wouldn't help my anxiety. Um, and so we've just, I've just been enjoying that, that, uh, that fun there. So, uh, yeah, I don't recommend walking your dog.
Uh, sorry. Walking your cat, but walking your dog seems to be fine, although my,
Dan Orange: my neighbors. Walked past me a couple of weeks ago. With a cat in a push chair taking it for a walk. Okay. I used to do, she did have a gin tonic as well. I think they got out for like a, yeah. Morning storm. Yeah.
Sharon Edmundson: I used to do that with my rabbit when I was a kid.
I used to stick it in a pram and take it down the road. I wasn't very happy.
Matt Edmundson: No. Uh, okay. Back to church. So I we're like a
Sharon Edmundson: bunch of five year olds now, aren't we? One starts on this like slight tangent and everyone's like, I'll tell you about my puppy.
Matt Edmundson: You go, don't you? It's really funny. Um. So I was looking at some stats actually, um, and what are the biggest causes of anxiety at the moment, because I thought that would be an interesting thing to look at.
And what do you think is top of the list, the biggest cause? [00:24:00] Well, another thing I did
Dan Orange: mention was identity as well is struggling with Yep. Who you are.
Matt Edmundson: Yep. The most common cause of anxiety. What we're
Sharon Edmundson: guessing, uh, could be finances, war, health.
Matt Edmundson: So top of the list, stressful life events, um, such as work, stress, family issues, or bereavement are the most common tri triggers and are strongly linked to spikes in anxiety.
Health is one of those things that we worry about consistently. Um. Relationships and social situations can be a problem, as is money, and they're the biggest things that we worry about. Oh, okay. And so, um, yeah, I, it's, it's an interesting one, isn't it? We are living in an anxiety epidemic. There is no doubt about it.
I have never, in all the years that I've been around, and I mean, and this has been a fair few before any of you say it, um, I've never seen anxiety at the levels that it's at. Do you know what I mean? It's, it's, it's [00:25:00] unprecedented and the amount of anxiety medication which is prescribed, which I'm not saying is a bad thing, but I'm just saying it is a lot.
Mm-hmm. Do you know what I mean? I've, when I was growing up, I don't know if I ever heard the word anxiety.
Dan Orange: No. Do
Matt Edmundson: you know what I mean? As a kid, I
Dan Orange: as a, definitely, as a, as a kid, like I didn't you you heard of sort of older Yeah. People having troubles or depression or, um, yeah. Being anxious, but as a child at school, yeah.
Yeah,
Sharon Edmundson: yeah. Although as a child at school, I would say if it was a subject, I would've got an a plus. Quite easily 'cause I think I lived anxious.
Dan Orange: Mm-hmm. I think my wife probably would've said that as well. Yeah.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah. So Marina's put here in the comments. I sometimes feel like it's hard for me to sit down and pray with God when I feel anxious.
Do you have any advice?
Sharon Edmundson: Oh yeah, I know, I know what you mean. I think because when we're anxious, it's like our thoughts can just get in this knot and we can't [00:26:00] really think clearly. Mm-hmm. Which is why I actually find the verses in Philippians that Dan mentioned so helpful because it almost gives you like a step by step program of what to do.
Um, and I've got a situation going on at the moment, which, um, potentially could leave me really anxious, but, um. When I feel like that I, I pray through those verses and the, the bit that comes before the bit that says, do not be anxious, says the Lord is near. So I think the first thing I do is recognize that God is near, even if I can't feel him, is just to go, yeah, God you're here.
And then that the next step on that is it's to pray. So it's to talk about like pour out your heart to God about. All the things that are worrying you. And sometimes I write these down because it helps me to actually get out and like see what I'm thinking and then I pray them through one by one, which is go, God, I'm anxious about this and about this and about this, and I need [00:27:00] you to help me with all of them.
But then the next bit is, well, it talks about. Praying, but with Thanksgiving as well. So it's like once I've prayed them all out, I'm like, okay, God, I thank you that you hear me and that you are gonna speak to me about each of these points. I dunno how may not be today. Maybe you know, over time. And then the next bit it talks about, like Dan's just mentioned as well, about thinking on those things that are pure and lovely and.
Wonderful. So it doesn't leave us thinking about our anxious thoughts. It it, we get them out, we give them to God, and then we shift our thinking to things that are good and things that bring joy and God, and I think. Having, just looking at them things from his perspective just really changes how I feel.
And every time I've done that recently, it's just like, yeah, I've got your peace again. God, thank you. Um, yeah, I just find those super helpful. What about you guys?
Matt Edmundson: Yeah, [00:28:00] I, I, I think that the key there is, um, to get the anxiety named. I always found that when, um. When I, I used to have, um, like really strong anxiety around money, right?
Around finances. And I, I always found that when I was worrying about it, my brain would worry about the size of it, but it couldn't define it. It was like it didn't have boundaries. Do you know what I mean? And you, and it quickly escalated into this, oh, I'm. Gonna die of starvation or whatever, or I owe more than I think I do, or, or, or all.
Do you know what I mean? I found that actually just writing the facts out just stopped the actual, an awful lot of it because it was like, no, this is the actual truth. And so I think when you are worried, when you're anxious, it is bigger in your mind than it actually is. And the very thing [00:29:00] you need to do at that point is bring those thoughts into captive and give that anxiety over to God.
So define it. 'cause I think half the problem is in defining the, you know, what's going on. Define it. I am anxious about this, this, this, and this. And then give that over to God. I think. It's a much better mechanism, if I can use that word, than just holding onto it and not bringing it to God, if that makes sense.
Yeah,
Dan Orange: I agree. And I, I have, I, I mentioned it there, I've, my biggest cause of concern, anxiety is what people might be thinking of me. Yeah. So I'll, I'll get, like, I had a text this weekend. Dan this did, did when you were here last time, was this working? 'cause it's not working now. Um, but then nothing, you know, I replied back saying, well, you know, try this, try this, and I don't get a response.
And I'm like, oh, what's, what's going [00:30:00] on? And I consciously have to. Give it to God. Yeah. Okay. I've done what I can do physically now it's in your hands. And help. Don't let that, that person, no. Great person, you know? Yeah. Nothing against them. Don't let that what they've said have, have a hold on me.
Sharon Edmundson: And I think the, although there is in those Philippians versus it is like a step by step thing.
Um, I think if you are just starting out on that journey. And you have lived with a lot of anxiety. Actually. It can be quite difficult initially to actually keep your mind on, um, on those good things once you've prayed it out. Um, I quite often have like specific verses or things that I believe God's saying to focus on, but when I first started on this journey, that was so hard.
Really exhausting because if your mind, if your mind is used to going just wherever it wants to, and you're used to being in those anxious thoughts to [00:31:00] then try and take charge of your mind and go, no mind, we're gonna go this way. I. It's so hard. But after, you know, practice and walking that through, it does become easier.
Um, but I can remember just being so exhausted by the thoughts and then just needing to completely switch off and like, I dunno, sometimes TV's quite helpful for that when you just need a little break from your own thinking. It is, yeah.
Matt Edmundson: No, you do. Well, that's why they call the, the mind the battlefield, don't they?
Because that's actually where it takes place, you know? Um, and to think of the battlefield in your mind and to almost like, it is a warfare to take your, it uses the Bible, uses very kind of warfare language. Like you've gotta take your thoughts captive. Yeah. You've gotta bring them into subjection or bring them into the line, you know?
Of the word of God. And so it's, it's not something that is passive. It is something that you are actively involved in and training your brain how to think. And I, I find [00:32:00] personally journaling works really well for this. Just, this is what I'm thinking, this is what I'm worried about. Spending a bit of time looking at the Bible.
What does God say about this? How does that compare to what I think? Do you know what I mean? And, and bring in that scripture in, um, Ellis wrote here. That sometimes he just li he lies down and just talks. Um, and that, that's like a form of journaling for me. Do you what I mean that, that, um, he finds that that works quite well.
Um, and I think it's true. You know, Enzo said, I've found the whole body health, um, works. And I think actually this is true. I mean, we're talking about wholeness and we're talking about it in the five realms, aren't we, spirit, soul. Body relationship, health and economic health. And actually when those thi, when those five things are in, in good work, in order, um, it obviously is gonna help your anxiety levels.
Mm-hmm. But I, I think whilst anxiety is the opposite of. Hope in many ways is a, it is a [00:33:00] spiritual force. I think just doing things like going out for a walk, working out, they all help because all these five things are interlinked, aren't they? They're not separate and distinct. They're not mutually exclusive.
Yeah. And so, yeah.
Sharon Edmundson: Yeah. And sometimes anxiety, like again Dan mentioned, can be caused by physical problems. So if you're physically unwell or you've got not got the right vitamins or something that can make you more susceptible to anxiety. So yeah, it is that the wholeness Yeah. Thing. Yeah. It says,
Dan Orange: yeah.
And before all those verses, um, Paul also says, he says, rejoice in the Lord always. And um, that might be a hard thing to do when you're going through stuff, but it could be just perhaps a time just to put some. Music on some worship, music on, and just get in that place where you're hearing things that are good about God, about what God's done in you.
And then you can say, okay, I can now in a place to be able to, to take this to God. Yeah. [00:34:00]
Matt Edmundson: One of the things that I, I thought would be good to touch on again, Dan, is right at the start you said. You know, with your posters, do not be anxious. That's it. Let's go to Conversation Street. Um, because I think for many years, many people have read that and, and felt guilty for feeling anxious.
Does that make sense? It's like, yeah, absolutely. There's, I. I've heard if you've been around Christianity long enough, you'll have heard it said that anxiety is a sin. That worry is a sin because Jesus explicitly tells us not to do. In fact, there are so many times when Jesus says, do not worry. Do not worry.
Yeah. Right. And you're like, I thought it'd be good to address this a little bit, because this is one of those things, um, in the Bible. Where you can read it and actually get condemned by it, can't you? Because you kind of go, you think, well, there must be something wrong with me because I am feeling anxious, I am worrying, but the Bible clearly tells me not to do it.
So what are your thoughts on that?
Sharon Edmundson: I actually did this, uh, as a talk [00:35:00] for crowd a few months ago and covered that a little bit, so you can go back to and look to that. Um, but I think it's more a case of, um, you know, that a father. With their kid. And, um, the father has got the kids back in a situation, so the father says, don't worry, I'm, I'm here for you.
So it's not like, don't worry or I'll punish you. It's, don't worry, because I'm here. I'm with you. I'm for you. So I, yeah.
Dan Orange: Even the sparrows, I'm gonna look after you. Yeah. I'm gonna look after. Yeah. Yeah.
Sharon Edmundson: So it's one of those where you can say it in a completely different tone and get a different sort of sense of the meaning.
Yeah. Um, yeah. Any more thoughts on, and I,
Dan Orange: I did also think it is, some of it is, like we've been talking about is an active thing, so you can be in that state of worry and God can say, okay, well you need to, you need to go and forgive that person. You need to do something. And then if you don't do that, that that disobedience, that might be a sin.
Yeah. So [00:36:00] it's not the anxiety, it's, you are in that because. You didn't totally see what I mean. Yeah, totally. I think
Matt Edmundson: I do. I think sin can lead to anxiety. Yeah. But I don't think all anxiety is sin. No, no. And I don't think all anxiety is a result of sin, but I do think anxiety is a result. Lemme change.
Change how I just said that. I do think anxiety is the result of the fall. Yeah. But I, which is technically the result of sin, but I don't think it is sin in my life that necessarily causes anxiety. Um, and I, I don't want people to feel condemned to. Yeah. Like, like, like
Dan Orange: I said, the talk, there's, we, we have to have these emotions, don't we?
Otherwise, if we didn't, if we just were carefree about, we wouldn't think about stuff, we wouldn't mul it over.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah. Uh, one of the questions, um, any particular worship songs you recommend? I can't remember which one said, listen to worship, but anything,
Dan Orange: um, I. I'm very, I'm very fussy about my worship songs and like, like I put [00:37:00] in the talk if, if someone's singing something and I'm like, is that a theologically correct?
I'm a bit like, Hmm. Um, but I'm quite enjoying the, um, I think it's Bethel Live in New York. It's got Martin Smith, so that's like delirious. It's back in my era and he's in it as well. Showing your age now. Yeah, I know. Some great songs.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah. Yeah. No, I think they're good. And um. Yeah, there's quite a lot out now actually.
Alta Live, not Alta Live. What they uh, they'll come back to me and, oh, I'll come back to you on that one. 'cause there's some great worship songs which have come out. I would say anything that addresses the area that you are struggling with, that sings about the word of God. Yes. Right. So if I am. Anxious about my physical health.
I would sing worship songs that talk about God being my healer. If I was anxious about finance, I would talk about God being my provider and his faithfulness and um, all [00:38:00] those kind of things. But I would also sing songs, which are probably some of the old hymns because there's so much depth and theological truth in them, like in Christ Alone.
And. Is that a new one? Just, just tell I'm not a worship leader. Come here. Um, but do you know what I mean? All those kind of songs, even Amazing Grace. Amazing Grace. Yeah. You know, I just think is a phenomenal worship song. So yeah, any of those kind of things I think would be, would be bang on. So, um, but just try it.
See how you get on. You, you were gonna say something?
Sharon Edmundson: Yeah, it was more just picking up what you said about, so not to do with songs, but you talked about songs and them being based on scripture for the area that you're struggling with. I'd definitely say that in terms of studying the Bible. So yeah, if you are worried about finance, just do a deep dive into what the Bible says about finance.
'cause I definitely find that, um, and I've said this before, that preparing talks for crowd, actually it. Makes the like God's word go so deep in [00:39:00] me that even if no one else gets anything out of it, I feel really blessed. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. And it just helps build my faith in those areas.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah.
I've been, um, in my daily devotionals, um, the last couple days I've been looking at Luke 12 32, 33 and 34, which is a passage of scripture where. Um, Jesus talks about money and he immediately sort of follows this, um, don't worry. You know, be like, do the birds of the air worry that they're gonna get clothed?
You know what I mean? And all this. And, and seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things, uh, will come upon you, um, or be added to you. And I think when it comes to money specifically, because it is such a massive. Thing that we get anxious about. Jesus. Luke 1232 starts off by saying, fear not, um, which I, I think is, is fascinating.
And he's addressing straight away financial anxiety. [00:40:00] Like, you don't have to do this. You do not have to fear, you do not have to be afraid. And he tells you why. He says, fear not little flock. So immediately this, this then becomes an issue of covenant. It's like, um, and when he is talking about a little flock, he's not saying that in a sort of condescending or you little flock.
He's talking like, I would say all that little child. Do you know what I mean? It's like in, it's in a. Uh, a term of endearment, a term of affection. And we know from John's gospel that Jesus says, I know my sheep by name. I am the good shepherd, which seems a bit of a strange analogy in the modern West. I, I will admit, but.
Um, we know that sheep are both vulnerable and prized, and we know that the shepherd both protects them and leads them to pasture. And so Jesus talks about you don't need to have financial anxiety because I am your good shepherd. I am the one that takes care of you. I am the one that leads you into [00:41:00] these pastures.
And the rest of that verse says, um, fear not. Uh, little flock 'cause it is your father's good pleasure, which I think is one of the most incredible statements to make. It is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Such a powerful verse. Um, talking about money and anxiety together and why we don't have to be as Christians anxious about it as this is what we mean when, when you are struggling with something.
Whether it's money, whether it's health, whether it's relational situations, whatever it is, you can look at the Bible and you are faced with the promises of God that will combat and often contradict what we're anxious about. And it doesn't take the anxiety away. It's not like a, a magic, you know, Izzy wizzy, let's get busy.
Poof there, it's gone. Um, but it gives you something concrete to believe. Uh, if that makes sense. And [00:42:00] so I think there's all kinds of things like that in scripture that you can look for. And if you've got any questions, if you, if you're new to the Christian faith, if you're not really sure how to find things in the Bible, just email into us.
Just the, you can contact us through the website, um, www dot crowd church. And we will quite happily send you a whole bunch of things that will, uh, that will help you. Um, let's talk about, you talked about identity. Um, marina put in the comments about, 'cause you mentioned about how women age 17 to something of those super anxious, the Instagram generation Marina's picked that up in the comments.
So let's dig into that a little bit.
Dan Orange: Okay.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, um,
Dan Orange: yeah, yeah. Sort of that the, there can be an anxiety that wasn't, didn't really even. Existed it, you might be potentially at school and bullied, or I want the, I wanna be [00:43:00] like that person, this person. But now it's like a, it is a global thing and it's not the thing that struck me.
It's not, it's not just big, it's false. Um, because you don't see the real person, even in your work, in your, and your school, you don't often see the real person. It's only very rarely that comes out, isn't it? Um, and it's that. It's that. Falseness that we're trying to, that, that, so we're trying to achieve something that is just utterly impossible to achieve.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah. Yeah. It's, if I, again, just tying that back to money, one of the things that people believe is, if I have more money, everything will be okay. But the, the reality of is the more money you have, the more. You have to be worried about. Yeah. Right. So anxiety levels don't go down. The more you have, they do slightly actually for middle class, if I'm tightly honest.
But then when you get out there a little bit more, you then move into debt anxiety. 'cause usually the more you have, the more you owe, um, which is ironic. Um,
Sharon Edmundson: yeah, I think there's a [00:44:00] certain amount that you need isn't there to, and, and after that, yeah. It doesn't make matters a difference. In my
Dan Orange: job, I work with people that have lots of money and they.
Have lots of worries and they just have different wor, you know, just a whole different set of D.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah, different set of worries. And I think with the whole comparison thing, you know, I can look at somebody's life and I can compare what I have to what they have and think I need that. Right. And because I don't have that, it will.
It gives insecurity in me. It gives it a level of anxiety in me. So that applies to money, but I think it applies, especially with Instagram, because on Instagram, I notice when I put photos, I never put a photo of me just getting outta bed with my hair all messed up. Do you know what I mean? My makeup all, I don't wear makeup.
Um, but do you know what I mean? Before you start writing it. Um, but all what you do is you post these pictures, which are perfect moments. Filters, like you say, aren't real, right? [00:45:00] And so what happens is then when somebody else sees that, they're like, well, that's not my life, so therefore my life sucks, which then produces anxiety in me.
I'm, I've not accumulated the stuff that I need to have that life, and I think it's a really dangerous, dangerous. Precedent, which is why I'm actually, not to get too political, but why I am actually really in favor of, um, just banning kids from, from social media until they're 16. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I don't think it's a bad thing.
I think it's actually quite a good thing.
Sharon Edmundson: How workable that is. I'm not sure, but in principle, yeah.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah. Again, I mean, I know the, um, Australian government have, have tried a few things or are tried a few things, so we'll see how it goes. But I think it takes bravery. I get why parents find it hard to not let their kids on social media 'cause all their friends are on there.
Yeah. Um, and then that becomes problematic. What I can say to you is this. Um, I think in some, which is ironic considering we broadcast online. Yeah. What am I about to say? I [00:46:00] think there is a lot of life in not being on Instagram and not being on TikTok and not being on those kind of platforms and just going, okay, I don't need them.
I don't need them in my life. That's fine. And so for the last four or five months, I've maybe posted once on Instagram. Uh, 'cause uh, Josh got engaged, didn't he? So we were like, yeah, let's post a picture of that. But that's about it. I mean, people have posted reels, which have, they've tagged me in. It's been life.
It's just, it's been brilliant. Just like, and breathe. Yeah. You know? And so, um, yeah. Don't, don't let comparison rob you. Of your true identity in Christ because you're too busy comparing what you do or don't have to somebody else. And I think actually, this is also quite a dangerous thing for Christians when you are reading a Christian book in the sense that a lot of the.
Biographies, the autobiographies or the story, you know, the story books. [00:47:00] Um, we were reading a book about, you know, finances and there's a story in there about a guy who just, you know, gave away a car and some it triggered something over here and something amazing happening. You read those stories and you go, this is incredible.
This is amazing. Why do I not see that in my life? But actually, this book was written over a period of their life of about 20, 30 years, and they gave you four or five examples. Yeah, of the peaks. Do you know what I mean? What they didn't tell you about was the grind between those peaks that had to happen for those things to occur, and the majority of life is mundane.
The majority of life can actually be quite boring and ordinary. But we read these stories of missionaries and stuff like that and think Christmas, that's, that's not happening to me. But you don't read, they don't, 'cause you don't write in a book about the ordinary. You don't write in a book about the, the boring.
Um, and so it's easy to compare allies with what's missing rather than going to God and saying, God, this is. Where am I at? Where am [00:48:00] I hitting it? Where you are concerned, you know, going to your, to your God rather than to Instagram or to whatever.
Sharon Edmundson: And I think that's where those verses about. Being thankful in all circumstances is really helpful because it does mean that we can be thankful for.
The sun that day or that we've got water or, um, I like looking at the all the flowers and I'm constantly going to my family as we go in and out the house. Oh, look at the pretty flowers the kids have actually started telling me now, which I'm really proud about. But do you know what I mean? Just to have joy in the really ordinary things that are just there is great, I think.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah, absolutely. So anything else from you on this, Mr. Orange?
Dan Orange: Uh, no. Don't think so.
Matt Edmundson: Anything else from me? Anything you wanna add?
Sharon Edmundson: I've, I've got a, a verse I can finish with that. Um, please go ahead. It's one that meant a lot to me as a kid, and I think it's the living translation, but it says he does not fear bad news or live in dread of what may happen for, he's settled in his heart that Jehovah will take care of him and I.
Just love those [00:49:00] verses. Yeah.
Matt Edmundson: Very good. Uh, just going back to the comments, we've got some recommendations on worship songs. Nicholas put Jumping in the house of God. Jump up, jump up, jumping in the house, uh, which I think is, uh, I'm gonna stop singing there. Um, Enzo, thanks everyone. I need to go to work.
I've subscribed. Brilliant, and we'll see you all next week. Very enjoyable. It's great to have you. Thanks for joining us. Uh, Alice said, I don't use social media anymore and it's so much better, more free time, and you don't spend your evenings catching up on stuff you don't care about. Uh, which is very, very true, isn't it?
Words of wisdom. Very true. Uh, be more like Alice. That's what I say. Anyway, um, next week. What we got coming up next week.
Sharon Edmundson: I've got a really handsome speaker talking about something. I, it's, uh, yeah, it's you, isn't it?
Matt Edmundson: Uh, well, I hope it is.
Sharon Edmundson: Yeah, me too. I can say that we're married.
Matt Edmundson: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh, so yes, I am.
Uh, [00:50:00] we're talking about gratitude next week. So we're getting into this whole thankfulness thing and the whole gratitude thing, which we've started slowly to pick up on today. Um, we're gonna pick up on how that's connected to wholeness. Um, so yeah, it'd be great if you could come join us for that. Be very thankful.
I. Um, and see what I did there. That's very good. Uh, so yeah, come join us next week as we talk about gratitude. If you haven't done so already, uh, like Enzo, just subscribe to, uh, crowd Church on YouTube. Just click the subscribe button. Um, and if you haven't done so yet, then go to the Crowd website, crowd Church, and sign up for the email newsletter.
And we just email you once a week. What's coming up? What we've talked about, just some notes from this conversation just to remind you that email goes out on Wednesday. It's always good to have that sort of little refresher about what's going on. Uh, so do sign up for that. And of course, like I said, any questions that you have, any prayer requests, if you're struggling with something from an an.
Anxiety point of viewing. You [00:51:00] wanna know what the Bible has to say about that. Do get in touch with us. Um, we will happily help you. But let me tell you actually a little, I'm not supposed to promote AI on the church, but actually go to chat GPT and it will give you all the bible verses that you actually need.
Um, but that's another story. Yes, we are well done for reminding me. So we are gonna end the live stream, but if you are so inclined, uh, do come and join us in Google Meet. So we're gonna, um, meet on Google. So for those of you who are online that want to come and chat and hang out for five minutes and uh, talk with us, you're more than welcome to.
The link is in the comments, so. Yes, I get the thumbs up from the back. So the link is Go Crowd Church slash Meet. Uh, if you go to that link, it will take you to a Google meets place. We'll be in there in about two minutes time. We would love to meet you. Just say how's it, um, and say hi. Uh, we'll be in there for, I guess about five or 10 minutes, something like that.
But it'd be good to meet you. Uh, do come and join us for that. But I [00:52:00] think, uh, that's it from me. Anything from you guys in closing? That was easy, wasn't it? Awesome. Thank you so much for joining us. Uh, God bless you. Have a fantastic week wherever you are in the world. We'll see you next time. Bye for now.