Anxiety, Depression, and the Christian Life

Your hands are sweating, your heart is racing, and your brain is in overdrive. You are feeling lonely, sad, and not sure anything is going right for you. Stress, anxiety, depression, and fear are all feelings most of us are no strangers to. As someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression, I want to share my heart with you.

I have struggled with anxiety and depression for 15 years and have always tried to manage it on my own. I grew up in a Christian home and in the church, but I never knew how to humbly come before God and ask him for help. I re-dedicated my life to Christ at the age of 21 when I found my home church and a pastor who graciously understood the struggles of anxiety.

I think I finally realized this was an issue many Christians (and non-Christians) battle. I knew I could not face these battles without Christ at the center of my heart and my world. What a relief to know that I could openly talk to my heavenly father about the struggles I was facing. I often think of Paul as he wrote Philippians 4:6-7:

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Let’s take a step back and think about Paul when he wrote these words. Paul was able to overcome his anxiety even during his own imprisonment. This makes this passage that much more inspiring for me. I don’t believe that Paul or anyone else believes Christians won’t ever face struggles with anxiety, fear, or depression, but it is so encouraging that we serve a God who is almighty and in control at all times.

We can humbly and eagerly approach God with anything we are battling. So, if you or anyone you know is facing an uphill battle today, please remember we serve an amazing, powerful God that is in control at all times – even when it hurts, even when it seems like the world is broken, and even when his plans for your life don’t seem to make much sense. Trust in him always.

Prayer when facing anxiety and depression

Lord, we humbly come before you and surrender the weight of anxiety, fear, depression, and anything else that may be crushing our spirit. When I am weighed down by my fears and worries, remind me of your power and grace. Fill my heart with peace and clarity. I trust in you God and know that I can do all things through you. Amen.

About the Author

For more than a decade, James served in academic leadership within biblical higher education. He currently serves as President of the D. L. Moody Center, an independent non-profit organization in Northfield, MA, dedicated to honoring the spiritual legacy of D.L. Moody. James serves on faculty at Right On Mission and as a consultant for Christian colleges and seminaries in the areas of leadership development, online programming, and enrollment management. He also teaches as an adjunct instructor at the collegiate and graduate level in the areas of biblical studies, interpretation, and Christian thought. James graduated with his B.S in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2000 before earning his Master of Divinity from Moody Theological Seminary (2004), his M. A. in Biblical Exegesis from Wheaton College Graduate School (2005), and his PhD in Theological Studies-Old Testament from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (2012). He later attended the Harvard Institute of Education Management and completed a year of executive coaching. James researches and writes in the areas of theology and Old Testament Studies. Useful to God: Eight Lessons from the Life of D. L. Moody was published in 2021. He also published Thinking Christian: Essays on Testimony, Accountability, and the Christian Mind in 2020 and co-authored Trajectories: A Gospel-Centered Introduction to Old Testament Theology in 2018. James also co-authored "Isaiah" with Michael Rydelnik in the Moody Bible Commentary and contributed to Marriage: It's Foundation, Theology, and Mission in a Changing World, and The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy.In addition to writing on theology and Old Testament studies, James has also published and presented in the areas of online curriculum design, higher education policy, organizational strategies for higher education recruitment, and Christian leadership. James and his family live in the Chicagoland area. He is available to speak in the areas of Christian leadership, Christian theology and contemporary issues, Christian identity in the digital age, biblical higher education and college choice, and Old Testament theology. .

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