I have a few words I’d like to insert there: annoying, painful, life-changing, hardships, challenging, and horrible. I’m sure if you have anxiety, you could fill the blank with your own words. Anxiety is different for everyone. I never realized how different anxiety was for each person until this past year.My freshmen year in college, I just thought what I was feeling was normal.I thought it was normal to get so nervous to give a presentation in class, you made yourself sick. To me it was normal to not be able to breathe while walking in a cafeteria. There was nothing strange about thinking of all the possible things that could go wrong while your walking up to the teacher’s desk to turn in your test…. Those were things that everyone dealt with, right?My freshmen year of college was hard. I experienced the toughest year. Mainly because I didn’t understand what I was dealing with. I didn’t understand why I’d go days without eating because I physically couldn’t walk into the campus cafeteria. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t walk into a Wal-mart without sitting in my car for at least 20 minutes before exiting, or why I couldn’t go to church. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t breathe while walking to class… But when I truly admitted to myself the causes of these things, I truly became myself again. When I accepted the fact that I have anxiety, and it’s a part of me, I was able to live again. I’ve had anxiety ever since I can remember, but it wasn’t until a few months ago that I accepted it, and started to find ways to control my anxiety. And the best method might not be what you’d expect:Prayer.

I’d pray walking to my classes, walking into the cafeteria, and walking into a store. I’d pray all the time. Talking to God truly helped me help my anxiety. It didn’t go away, as much as I desperately wanted. It’s still a part of me, but accepting it, and talking it out with God helped in a huge way.

A Bible verse I found during this time was, Proverbs 16:

“Mortals make elaborate plans but God has the last word. Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good. Put God in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned with take place. God made everything with a place and purpose; even the wicked are included but for judgement. God can’t stomach arrogance or pretense; believe me, he’ll put those upstarts in their place. Guilt is banished through love and truth; Fear-of-God deflects evil. When God approves of your life, even your enemies will end up shaking your hand. Far better to be right and poor than to be wrong and rich. We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.”

To me, this Bible verse is about having a place and purpose for everything. Anxiety, by definition, is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease. This Bible verse reminds me that God has planned everything. We have no reason to be nervous, or afraid. God is with us, He knows the outcomes, and He has a plan for our life. Whatever happens is a part of His plan, and although anxiety isn’t something we can really control fully, we can have some ease knowing that God is with us, with a plan.

Yours Truly,

Brittany Parker

About the Author:

Meet Brittany Parker!

She’s 19, currently in Atlanta, Georgia; and a sophomore in college, majoring in American Sign Language. She has a passion for writing, and hopes to one day become a Christian Fiction Novelist. Writing for her blog, and guest-blogging has become a huge part in her life. She is a strong Christian whose faith has played a big part in who she is today.