Anxiety – How Not to Lose Your Marbles

Do you struggle with an anxious heart? Most of us can say, “yes!” Carmen gave an illustration on the practical side of dealing with anxiety in this blog post from 2020. It is worth repeating. 

In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus talks about worry and anxiety. Jesus literally says,

“Don’t be anxious about your life.”

He reminds us that God sees us and knows our need. I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s one thing to hear those words. It’s a completely different story to believe and practice them!

Really Jesus? How can I NOT be anxious in the midst of trials and needs of various kinds?

Fortunately, Jesus doesn’t leave us to figure it out on our own. In Matthew 6:33, he explains:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

What does He mean? Well, basically, when Jesus says “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” He’s saying, “Seek me first!” Jesus came to make us right before God and build God’s kingdom. So in essence, Jesus might ask us, “Hey! Is your top priority your trials and needs? Or is your top priority seeking me?

A while back, I was frustrated by my work. Daily I felt sabotaged by email. I was complaining about this to my husband who asked me an excellent question:

“Is email your priority?”

“Uh… no.”

“Then don’t let email be your priority.”

Jesus is saying the same things about our trials and worries. Don’t allow worries to be your priority.

Don’t allow worries to be your priority.

So practically, how do we apply this? What does it look like today or this week to make seeking Jesus a priority? Friends, Bible study is one practical way to engage with God, know Jesus and make Him a priority.

Now I’m a visual person. And maybe this visual is a little cheesy, but it has stuck with me for more than thirty years since beginning one of my first Bible studies as a young adult. Sometimes I call it, “How not to lose your marbles.”

The jar represents one day of life. The golf ball represents “seeking God.” All the marbles, whether big or small, represent the rest of the day’s activities and concerns. Think one marble per email, per load of laundry, per text, brushing teeth, getting dressed, fixing a meal, eating the meal and cleaning up after a meal, exercise, work, errands, etc.

What happens if I go about my day making other concerns – like email – top priority? Well, all the concerns (marbles) go into the day (jar) first. When I try to fit “seeking God” (the golf ball) in as a last priority, not everything fits.

I cannot get the lid of the jar to fit:

So, let’s try Jesus’s way: seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Let’s seek Jesus first… making Him top priority.

All the other concerns become secondary. Now what happens?

Exactly what Jesus says in Matthew 6:33:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Seeking Jesus first is key to dealing with anxiety in the midst of various trials. And that’s the beauty of inductive study. We seek to know God through His Word. In three simple steps, we ask:

1. What does it say?

2. What does it mean?”

3. What does this mean for my everyday life?

In this case, applying God’s Word meant: “Make seeking Jesus our first priority.”

Do you need help seeking God first? I know that I do! Being part of a Bible study with others encourages me and makes all the difference. Gather a friend or a group and seek Jesus with our SIMPLY BIBLE studies. Instead of focusing on our worries and trials, you’ll change your focus. In Peter’s words, we’ll “cast all our anxieties to Him!” (I Peter 5:7)