When I was in grade school I would sometimes hyperventilate. It was usually triggered when I became too excited, overwhelmed, angry or could not express my feelings. I could feel my breathing accelerate. I felt as if I could not find enough air to keep up the pace of simply breathing. Then I would panic, start to jump around and breath faster. As I stood panting and struggling to find my footing, the world around me seemed to spin and rapidly close in on me. I would start to feel light headed and just as I started to slip away I would always hear a voice echoing “breathe.” Over time I learned these episodes were anxiety or panic attacks.

Now y’all, I am certainly not a licensed medical professional, however I would like to share an exercise with you that helps me relax when I am feeling overwhelmed or at the onset of an anxiety attack.

What does the bible say about anxiety

Philippians 4:6-7 says “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Anxiety can be the product of worry , stress, fear, the feeling of inadequacy, low self-esteem, or the inability to cope with the world around you. I know first hand that anxiety can strip you from yourself. It overtakes you and robs you of your joy and inner peace. Y’all, this is not God’s plan for us.

The bible says that we can find peace in God. John 16:33 says “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Yes, we will have struggles – as 2020 so boldly stated. However, if you can find small moments to pray and trust God in between the pandemic, grief, injustice, financial struggles or whatever is causing anxiety in your life. He will give you calm in the middle of the storm. Remember, whatever you experience in life is part of God’s plan for you. God wants us to lay it all down at his feet and worry about nothing and totally put our trust in him.

The more you worship, pray, dedicate yourself to God and open your heart to receive his love the more content you will feel and the less you will fear. Anxiety will begin to lose it’s grip on your life. In Matthew 6:26-28 it says, ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;” God is in control.

Basically God is saying, “No worries, I got this. BREATHE!”

The next time you start to feel overwhelmed try this simple exercise.

1. Stop and Focus on God. Associate every breath you take with the goodness of God’s grace and mercy
2. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose – Relax
3. Exhale slowly through your mouth – Relax
4. Quote Scripture – “Be still and know that I am God” – Psalm 46:10 – Focus on the scripture, relax and know that God is in control
5. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose – Relax
6. Exhale slowly through your mouth – Relax
7. Quote Scripture – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7
8. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose – Relax
9. Exhale slowly through your mouth – Relax
10. Quote Scripture Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10

A Few More Bible Verses on Anxiety and Fear

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
—1 Peter 5:5-7

“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
—Psalm 34:4

“We can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”
—Hebrews 13:6

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
—Psalm 23:1-6

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
—Revelation 21:4