Anxiety and Faith

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)

“The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. (Luke 17:5 NKJV)

Anxiety and faith are just the opposite of each other. By contrasting the two, we may get deeper insights into both, and be aided in losing the one and acquiring the other. It will also help us to see how our faith has begun to recede as soon as anxiety begins to develop.

Anxiety has its center in the creature [mankind with his resources and abilities], but faith has its center in God. Anxiety could never form a part of the experience of an immortal soul unless that soul were in some way depending on created beings or things. [Mankind is born into this world looking inward at himself and his abilities, and just naturally puts his hope in himself.] Reason is the parent of anxiety. Reason looks at the creature, at friends or foes, at circumstances and probabilities, at laws of nature and the prospects. And seeing only the realm of the natural, it can never produce perfect confidence.

On the other hand, faith pierces through all creatures and all circumstances, and fastens itself upon an infinite, Sovereign God, who is in all, and through all, and who knows all and superintends all. Faith is the eye of the human spirit looking at God; and, in a certain lofty sense, ignoring everything but God. In childlike faith it trusts in His promise to work out all things for the good of His children.

Anxiety originates in the unfulfilled desires that come out of the fallen state, but faith has its origin in the fullness of the provisions of God. If it had not been for the fall of mankind, the human mind would never have been tortured with anxiety. There never would have been any abnormal or fictitious wants, but only such legitimate needs as the Creator found, and these would have met a counterpart supply without the intervention of foreboding or questioning fears.

The fallen condition of the soul [because it no longer experiences the fullness of the indwelling presence of God] has many overreaching desires and an excessive feeling of want. The reason is busy with these wants and is constantly searching for the ways and means to gratify them. It sees the thousands of instances where these wants are not supplied, and this creates anxiety. Furthermore, the more these wants are brooded upon, the more exorbitant they grow until the natural life becomes a series of multiplied wants.

On the other hand, faith goes out from the creature and looks upon the fullness of God. It searches into His character, His benevolence, His inexhaustible fullness to supply the mind and affections with His heavenly spiritual life, and sees in ever widening oceans not only the resources of God, but His loving willingness to supply His creatures [the human race], and then simply rests in Him. This interior vision of the fullness of God destroys anxiety.

Anxiety is bounded by the vision of the natural perceptions and is attached to things around it. But faith has a wonderful expansiveness to it and is attached to God’s will, wherever that will may be found, anywhere in the universe.

The natural reason is nearsighted and sees things only as they affect the present hour and emergency. It sees things fragmentary, and so is perplexed at the mishaps and complications of men and things. It attaches itself to this or that thing or enterprise, and when there is a collapse or disappointment, it is in consternation.

On the other hand, faith is long-visioned and is expanded wherever God exists. It is firmly attached to the Divine will, so that it does not cling to any creature, or position, or circumstance, or human plan, or nation, or church, or human creed or any other earthly prop. It is internally united to God Himself and thus can easily let go of all things and circumstances to follow God and be in harmony with His providences. And in this place where the will is in complete union with God’s will, it finds perfect rest of soul.

Faith looks at passing events from the standpoint of eternity, as they will appear thousands of years from now. On the other hand, anxiety results from seeing all creatures and events out of their proper proportion. With its microscopic view, it sees things to be giants, while faith, looking in the light of eternity, regards them only as tiny insects.

Anxiety is always changing its object, but faith has no change of object, and its only change is to increase and intensify. Human reason, which is the instrument of anxiety, fixes its hope first on this person, then on that, first on this party or government, or plan, or desire, and then on that. Hence anxiety is like a person crossing a river of floating blocks of ice, stepping on this one hoping it will float them over, but finding that is melting or sinking, they step on another. And so all through life, the mind never reaches a solid rest and deep repose in God.

On the other hand, faith has gotten down through the shifting sands on the earth’s surface and is anchored in the primeval rock of God and His Word. It never changes its objective. And the more it expands and apprehends God, the farther it gets from ever wanting to change the center of its rest and look back to the temporal realm [this world] for hope.

Anxiety, resulting from various reasonings, is always manifold and complex, and divided into many forms and things. But faith is united and simple. Perfect faith in God is a miracle of simplicity and reduces all things in life to a state of simplicity. The reason, the judgment, the affections, the words, the labors of such a soul all move in straight lines under the dominion of a deep and simple faith in God. It knows that nothing can occur to it that is not according to God’s will. It therefore shuns the complex, where reason naturally goes in an attempt to work out its own results.

Hence we notice that people who are trying to live by their own reason are always uneasy. There is chronic distress in their lives and a fruitless effort to find happiness in somebody or something apart from God Himself. But perfect faith in God has a sweet satisfaction in it. Thus, the soul that in perfect faith gazes on the ocean of God, is kept from uneasiness and inward distress of heart, for it lives on what it sees in God and not on the appearance of things.

The principle of reason is always struggling to achieve results, but the principle of faith accomplishes the greatest results by harmonizing with God and allowing Him to work out His will in this world in and through us. Not only are unsaved people full of anxiety, but great multitudes who are serving God allow their reason to take the place of faith. Today, the churches and other Christian organizations present a scene of so much human planning and wire pulling, where half believing people are taxing their wits with policy and plans and fears, to bring things to pass, as they think, for the glory of God.

Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part {enjoying the peace of God}, which will not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:41-42)

There is sweet satisfaction when faith in God has become perfect [pure]. It seeks only His will regardless of apparent success or failure – and works through the Holy Spirit, letting God bring about the results. When the soul is made one with God by pure faith, it achieves things in a Divine way and in the Divine time, free from anxiety and free from the laborious, demanding and tiresome struggles of the natural mind. Perfect faith sees God, even in apparent failure.

Thus, all through life, anxiety sprouts from the creature and makes its home in the human reason and calculations. But faith drinks continually from the sun bright fountains of God Himself, through the person of Jesus Christ, and by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. With the soul always satisfied, and with the reason and the will always in harmony with God’s perfect will, it finds a heavenly rest, no matter the circumstances of life.

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


G. D. Watson