Freedom From Anxiety

What Good Does Anxiety Do?

Good morning. It's really wonderful to be with you, especially on this campus ministry weekend. I want to start by honoring our ministry partners—the 1,045 volunteers here at Heights who serve regularly. If you've served in a role this past year, please stand so we can celebrate you.

[Applause]

I'm grateful for each of you. Serving doesn't just help our church—it helps us become more like Jesus.

A Personal Story of Anxiety

Twelve years ago, I received a call that changed everything. My wife Tammy had been diagnosed with an egg-sized brain tumor that needed surgical removal. That moment began twelve years of challenges, questions, and deep anxiety. "Is the tumor malignant? What are the long-term implications? What will the surgery look like?"

Lately, I've noticed something alarming. According to recent trends, anxiety in our country has increased by 40% every year for the last three years. Some call it an epidemic. That's why we're talking about anxiety today, looking at what Jesus has to say in Matthew 6:25-34.

I want to be honest: I need to hear this message just as much as you do. This passage can feel like one of the most unrealistic commands to follow. But it's practical, and it's transformative.

Point One: What Good Does Anxiety Do?

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not more of value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (Matthew 6:25-27)

Jesus asks three piercing questions:

1. Who of you by being anxious can add a single hour to your life or anyone else's life? Worrying doesn't lengthen your life—it may shorten it.

2. Who of you by being anxious is driving the people around you out of their minds? Has worrying made you more pleasant to be around?

3. Who of you by being anxious has updated your lifestyle or economic status? Has it reduced your grocery bill or added value to your life?

That's the essence of what Jesus is saying. He uses examples of food, drink, and clothing because these were the primary concerns of people in his day. But we can fill in the blank with whatever we're anxious about: school acceptance, job security, relationships, marriage, children, family conflict, finances, health, independence, or social issues.

When we worry, it becomes front and center. It fills our entire world. But Jesus reminds us: Is not your whole life bigger than whatever particular thing you're worrying about? Your life is more significant than the things that create anxiety.

A Delayed Surgery

Tammy's surgery was scheduled for August. Our three grown, married children were flying across the country from the East Coast. We were excited—the perfect plan. Then the doctor called: "We have to delay. Tammy's anemic. She needs a blood transfusion. Surgery might be delayed a month."

I was angry. We had the perfect plan. Tammy was crying. I was anxious. I asked God, "How is this going to work out?"

But Jesus asked: What good does anxiety do?

Point Two: Do I Really Believe That God's Got This?

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, oh you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. (Matthew 6:28-32)

Jesus gets to the heart of the issue: faith and trust in God. He's asking the foundational question: Do I really believe that God's got this?

Notice what He says: "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all."

This is huge. God knows what you're anxious about. He knows your worries. What if, in the middle of your anxiety—whether you're worried about a job interview, finances, a relationship, a health issue, or a difficult conversation—what if God whispered to you and simply said, "I know"?

Wouldn't that change everything? Wouldn't about 90% of the emotional weight lift if you truly believed that God knew?

Here's the radical truth: Even before we know how things will work out, even before we understand the outcome, knowing that God knows transforms our anxiety.

The Long Surgery

Tammy's surgery was supposed to last 3 hours. It took over 9 hours. The tumor was more difficult than expected. It had "tails"—extensions that were challenging to remove. The doctors had to leave 15-20% of the tumor inside.

I was stressed all day. The information was scarce. Every few hours, a nurse would call: "It's moving along." I thought, They're clearly finding something wrong. Why is this taking so long?

I had to face the question: Do I really believe that God's got this?

That first night in ICU was brutal. They couldn't give Tammy all the pain medication normally administered because they needed to keep her brain more active. Every hour, the nurse asked: "Pain level from 1 to 10?"

Every time: 10.

When you see your loved one in pain and can't do anything about it—when you pull an all-nighter and face unbearable suffering—it pushes on your confidence in God. It really does.

Then came the second day. Tammy woke up with her entire right side fully paralyzed. She couldn't speak. No one had told us this was possible. The doctors had no answers: "We really can't say. We don't know."

Is this her new normal? Will it get better? The fear in her eyes, the tears—and the question: Do I really believe that God's got this?

Point Three: Trust God for Tomorrow

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. And all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow. For tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:33-34)

Jesus gives us an alternative. He says, "But"—because He's offering those who believe in Him a different way. He says:

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

When you prioritize God's kingdom, He takes care of your kingdom and everything you're worried about.

Then Jesus does something brilliant—He relabels our anxiety. He says:

Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.

Here's what I want you to do: Think of the thing you worry about most. The thing at the top of your list. Got it?

From now on, relabel it. Call it tomorrow.

We're not really worried about the bills—we're worried about tomorrow. We're not really worried about the health issue—we're worried about tomorrow. We're not really worried about the relationship—we're worried about tomorrow.

We're not worried about today. We're worried about tomorrow.

Jesus says: I've got today. And you can trust Me for tomorrow.

Do not bring tomorrow's troubles into today. You have enough trouble for today. Why borrow sorrow?

A Difficult Recovery

Tammy spent 2 weeks in the hospital doing therapy. For the next 2 months, her mom flew in from Pittsburgh to drive her to physical therapy 4-5 days a week. She slowly, gradually recovered. She went back to playing competitive tennis. The only lasting issue was needing to stay on anti-seizure medication.

But when I reflect on all that stress and anxiety I carried—let me tell you: it didn't lengthen my life. I probably lost years off my life. It didn't help me relationally. It didn't improve my circumstances. What good did anxiety do?

Then, four years ago, Tammy's brain tumor started growing again. The doctor said we needed surgery once more. This time, we entered it differently. We said, "Okay, Lord, it's on You. We're trusting You." And we had peace.

But it didn't go well. She came out worse. The paralysis lasted for many days. She couldn't speak for weeks. We're four years later now, still doing therapy. She has weakness, limitations. Now we live with the anxiety that she might fall, because she has nothing on her right side to hold her up.

But here's the beautiful thing: We've experienced God's peace in that. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

We still have hard days. But God is present. He shows up in the hard. He gives us His grace. And we're so grateful to be part of this church community. We couldn't do it any other way.

The Peace That Passes All Understanding

Here's what encourages me: Jesus' disciples heard this message for three years. They saw miracles. They participated in them. And yet, at the very end of Jesus' life, they were still anxious.

So what did Jesus do? He gathered his closest followers and said:

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. (John 14:1)

The core issue is trust. Faith. The belief that God can be trusted.

Then He said:

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. (John 14:27)

Here's the difference: The world's peace is based on circumstances. The world's peace is based on paying your bills, having groceries, your bank account, who you know. It's the illusion that you can manage your future and control your life.

But Jesus' peace is different. It's not the absence of troubles. He's not saying you won't have hard things. He says:

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

The peace Jesus gives is the peace you have when you realize your heavenly Father knows, and He cares. The Apostle Paul called it "the peace that passes all understanding"—a peace we can't fully explain, but we can absolutely experience.

And it's such a better way to live.

Three Things You Can Do Today

1. Begin Your Day Declaring Your Trust in God

If you get ahead of your anxiety, you stay ahead of it. But if anxiety gets ahead of you, worry will snowball until you think there's more to worry about.

Here's what helps: Get alone early in the morning. Read Matthew 6 out loud multiple times. This is called renewing your mind—getting God's truth into your heart. Start your day every day declaring your trust in God.

2. Relabel Your Anxiety as "Tomorrow"

Get attuned to your feelings. Notice what you're feeling. Then say: "That's tomorrow."

Whether it's finances, a job interview, a relationship, family conflict—whatever it is: It's tomorrow. And I'm not saying you're not responsible (scripture talks a lot about being responsible). But whatever is creating anxiety is something you're worried about in the future, not something happening right now.

3. When You Begin to Have Anxiety, Start Praying

Tammy and I started praying diligently when we found out about her tumor 12 years ago. It transformed our marriage and our relationship.

But here's the key: Don't just pray about yourself. That keeps you worried. Instead, pray this way:

Lord, what are You doing right now in Your kingdom? I want to seek Your kingdom first.

When you take your eyes off yourself and put them on what God is doing in this world, when you pray for other people and their needs, something amazing happens: The Spirit can work through that to give you ideas of how you can love and serve people.

You might write a note card. You might make a phone call. And suddenly, you're not worried about your stuff anymore.

The Invitation

Jesus taught these truths. He modeled them. He lived them. And now He extends this invitation to you:

Therefore I tell you, don't be anxious. It's not worth it. Trust me. I've got this. And if you seek first my kingdom, I've got yours.

He knows you. He knows what you're carrying. He knows your anxieties. And He's saying: Call it tomorrow. Trust Me. Experience My peace—the peace that passes all understanding. The peace that doesn't make sense, but works. The peace that shows up in the hardest moments.

It's the better way to live.

Lord, we're grateful for how well You know us and how much we need these practical truths. Thank You for Your words of wisdom and Your promise to be with us. Give us grace and strength to trust You. Help us to grow in our relationship with You. We declare right now, collectively, that we're calling our anxiety tomorrow, and we're trusting You with it. Amen.