For the last several years our society has been called the Age of Anxiety.   More than anytime in history there is a growing sense of anxiety and stress. Why? We worry about our families and jobs.  We worry about whether we can afford an education, new car or computer, and pay our bills. Now we are worried about the new millennium. Will computers crash?  Will the government or Commonwealth Edison shut-down?  These fears greatly affect our lives.  We lose sleep over 
anxious thoughts and premonitions of disaster. Worry plays havoc on our bodies. We suffer from ulcers, high blood pressure and heart disease.  
And despite the admonition that 90-95% of our worries never come to fruition, we still worry.  Even though doctors tell us anxiety is a physical enemy we dwell on our fears. Even though the Lord commands us repetitively in scripture:  “Do not fear”,  we fall prey to this inner tormentor.  
Do we have a choice?  Can we really stop this unseen enemy from destroying our lives and robbing us of joy, peace and health?  
Is it Y2K or worry that poses the real threat? 
When I counsel people they complain that these thoughts overwhelm them. They say they can’t help but worry. But worry must be a choice since God commands us “do not be anxious about anything” (Phil. 4:7).  
How can we overcome these fears which alarm us and cause us to dread the future?  
Billy Graham wrote:   “Anxiety is the result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us.”  
So God is the answer.   But we need the correct view of God.  We need a BIG view of God.  
John MacArthur reminds us,  “We will live out our view of God”.   So if we don’t believe God cares for us... if we question His ability to help us....if we think we know a better way to run our lives... then our hope will not be centered in God.  And we  will choose to live in a state of 
anxiety.  
We need to surrender our lives, our wills and our fears to the God of the Bible.   The God Who raises the dead, heals the sick, provides for the widow and cares for you and me (1Pet.5:7).  We need to discover everyday the life-changing power of a relationship with Jesus Christ... so that when we find ourselves entertaining fearful thoughts we will instead fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and say with David in  Ps 94:19 “When anxiety was great within 
me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” (NIV) 
When the year 2000 rolls around, will you and I be wringing our hands, filling every corner of our houses with food and water..ready to run to the hills?   Or will we be spiritually prepared trusting in the Lord Jesus Who said... “Your Father knows what you need”, “do not worry about your 
life”, “... take heart! I have overcome the world." Matt. 6:8,25; Jn. 16:33 

Read the article on faith to learn how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  See other articles on anxiety, panic and depression for further encouragement.  

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