Anxiety has been a constant companion in my life. It has dictated my actions, distorted my thoughts, and left me feeling powerless more times than I can count. For years, I struggled under its weight, unsure of how to manage the racing thoughts and overwhelming fear that would arise out of nowhere. Add to that the battle with substance use, which at one point seemed like my only escape, and I found myself in a deep, dark pit with no visible way out.
But I am here today, writing this. That in itself is a miracle. And I can say with absolute certainty that my journey toward healing and recovery has been shaped in large part by my faith in God.
I understand that faith is not the answer for everyone. I also know that medication and therapy have been crucial parts of my recovery. But I cannot tell my story without giving credit to the One who has carried me through the hardest moments of my life.
Faith as a Source of Strength
When I was at my lowest, I felt utterly alone. Anxiety told me that I was beyond help, that I would never be able to function like a “normal” person. But in those moments of despair, I turned to God. At first, it was out of sheer desperation. I had nothing left to lose. I remember crying out, asking for peace, asking for relief. And slowly—so subtly at first that I almost didn’t notice—I began to feel a shift.
It wasn’t a magical, instant cure. My anxiety didn’t disappear overnight. But I felt something new: strength. The kind of strength I had never known before. The kind that whispered to me in my most anxious moments, reminding me that I was not alone. That I was not beyond help. That my life had purpose.
I started praying more, not always with eloquent words, but with raw honesty. I read scriptures that spoke to my heart, verses that reminded me that even in my brokenness, I was loved. The more I leaned into my faith, the more I realized that God was not asking me to be perfect—He was simply asking me to trust Him.
Learning to Let Go
One of the biggest struggles with anxiety is the need to control everything. I have spent so much of my life worrying about things that may never happen, trying to plan for every possible outcome to avoid discomfort or pain. But faith has taught me to surrender. Not in a passive way, but in a way that acknowledges that I am not meant to carry everything alone.
Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” This verse has been a guiding light for me. It reminds me to take things one day at a time. To focus on what I can do today and leave the rest to God.
This doesn’t mean I don’t struggle. I still have moments where anxiety grips me, where I start to spiral into old patterns of overthinking and fear. But now, I have something to anchor me. When those moments come, I remind myself that I don’t have to do this alone. God is with me, and He has brought me through so much already.
A Journey, Not a Destination
I still take my medication. I still go to therapy. These are vital tools in managing my anxiety, and I fully believe that God works through them as well. Faith doesn’t mean ignoring the help that’s available—it means embracing every resource with gratitude while trusting that I am never alone in this battle.
Looking back, I see just how far I have come. I used to believe that I would never be able to function, that anxiety would always define me. And yet, here I am, writing this, sharing my story. That, to me, is proof of God’s work in my life. I may not be completely free from anxiety, but I am no longer its prisoner.
Finding Peace in the Present
If you are struggling with anxiety, I want you to know that you are not alone. Whether faith is part of your journey or not, I hope you find the strength to keep going. Healing doesn’t happen all at once, but every small step matters. Every moment of courage, every time you reach out for help, every time you choose to keep going despite the fear—it all adds up.
For me, God has been the source of my strength, my hope, and my healing. And if you feel lost, I encourage you to seek Him. Not because it’s a quick fix, but because there is peace in knowing you are never alone. Anxiety may still whisper its lies, but faith reminds me of the truth: I am loved, I am capable, and I am never beyond hope.
And so are you.
