In our journey of faith there are particular moments characterized by, or that produce a certain amount of anxiety. Often anxiety and/or worry has been looked upon as an evil, or an un-Christian feeling to have, but The Anxious Christian conveys the message that anxiety can actually be helpful in our spiritual formation, and that God can use anxiety as a catalyst to move us forward in our life of faith. In that movement, anxiety’s gift is that it allows us to face our resistance and fears, understand where those fears come from, and then make intentional choices about important issues such as career, marriage, money, our spiritual lives and much more – rather than getting stuck.
It is quite common in the Christian life that when someone mentions they are experiencing anxiety, they are often dismissed and devalued by what are often well well-intentioned Christian platitudes and Bible quoting. But this dismissal of anxiety often produces shame in the individual, driving their anxiety into hiding where it often does more damage.
Let’s re-think our shame about anxiety by planting the seed that anxiety in our lives can be a catalyst for growth that moves us closer to who God created us to be. Counselor and Pastor, Rhett Smith will also lead us along in this journey through anxiety by looking at the following needs:
- Taking an Honest Look at Our Family of Origin
- Living in the Place of ‘What if?’
- Harnessing Anxiety as a Catalyst for Growth
- Discovering Who You Truly Are in Community.
