Anxiety disorder is not a sign of insufficient faith or spiritual weakness. This opening article in the Mental Wellbeing Series addresses several common misconceptions in faith communities (anxiety equals a faith problem / medication equals lack of trust / enough prayer means no need for a doctor). It shows how giants of faith — David, Elijah, and Paul — all experienced genuine struggles with fear and anxiety; then offers concrete, practical guidance for three groups: those experiencing anxiety themselves, those walking alongside them, and the church community as a whole. A list of help resources in the UK and mainland China is included.
Speaker: Pastor Bond · Scripture: 太6:27;彼前5:7;腓4:6-7
"Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?" (Matt. 6:27)
When Jesus said these words, he was speaking to people who were genuinely anxious — worried about what to eat, what to wear, and what tomorrow would bring. Two thousand years later, anxiety has not grown distant from us; if anything, it appears in our lives in ever more complex forms.
Perhaps you yourself are living with anxiety right now, or perhaps someone close to you — a family member or a friend — is caught deep in it. This article wants to talk with you about: What exactly is an anxiety disorder? Why do believers still experience anxiety? And when anxiety knocks at the door, what can we do?
A word about what this article is and isn't: This article deals specifically with *clinical anxiety disorder*, not the everyday anxiety that everyone experiences from time to time. The gap between the two is larger than you might expect — like cats and tigers: both belong to the cat family and may look similar on the surface, but they are fundamentally worlds apart.
You may have read plenty of Christian articles and sermons about anxiety. The prescription is usually: "Meditate on Philippians 4:6-7," "Cast your cares on the Lord," "Do not worry about tomorrow." These exhortations are genuinely helpful for general anxiety; but for brothers and sisters who are truly trapped by an anxiety disorder, those same words can sometimes deepen the shame: "I've already cast my worries on the Lord — so why can't I sleep, why is my heart racing, why won't my mind stop?" Please allow this article to feel a little different from what you may have read before. It is not here to tell you to "just cheer up" or "just pray about it" (there is nothing wrong with those encouragements — they simply were not written for people with anxiety disorders). Instead, this article wants to take anxiety disorders seriously on their own terms.
If you are in the grip of anxiety right now and cannot get through a long article, please hold onto these words:
❶ Anxiety disorder is a real health condition. It is not your fault, and it does not mean your faith is too small.
❷ You do not have to carry this alone. Seeking help is courageous, not weak.
❸ One thing you can do right now: make an appointment with your GP (family doctor) and tell them how you are feeling.
❹ If you need to speak to someone immediately: in the UK, call 116 123 (Samaritans — 24 hours, free); in mainland China, call 12356 (National Psychological Support Hotline). If there is immediate danger of self-harm or harm to others, call your local emergency services right away. If you are in another country, you can find a helpline for your area at findahelpline.com.
The fact that you have read this far is itself an act of courage.
Everyone feels anxious. Nervousness before an exam, unease before a job interview, worry when a child is sick — these are normal emotional responses, and they can even help us handle challenges more effectively.
But anxiety disorder is different. It is what happens when the intensity, duration, and impact of anxiety on daily life far exceed the normal range, becoming a state that is difficult to control. Think of it this way: ordinary anxiety is like a smoke alarm that goes off when there is actually smoke. An anxiety disorder is like a smoke alarm that has malfunctioned — it goes off when there is no smoke at all, and you cannot turn it off.
Physical symptoms:
Emotional and cognitive symptoms:
Behavioral symptoms:
You do not need to tick every box on this list before you "qualify" to seek help. Even if something just feels off, has been going on for a while, and is already affecting your daily life — that is worth taking seriously.
💡 A gentle reminder: An anxiety disorder, like high blood pressure or diabetes, is a health condition that deserves to be taken seriously and treated. If anxiety has been ongoing for some time and is difficult to ease on your own, it may be worth taking that first step — seeing a doctor and letting a professional assess what is going on.
You might be surprised: anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental health conditions in the world. According to the World Health Organization, around 300 million people globally are affected. In the UK, approximately 1 in 6 people experience a common mental health problem (such as anxiety or depression) in any given week.
It is not rare. It is not shameful.
This is a genuine question in the hearts of many brothers and sisters — and it may not be a judgment of others so much as a question directed inward. Let us face these questions honestly together.
Behind this question often lies a real struggle — perhaps you are in the midst of anxiety, and at the same time feeling guilty that "I believe in the Lord, so why am I still like this?" Let me say plainly: anxiety disorder is not necessarily a faith issue.
Anxiety disorder has multiple causes — genetic makeup, formative experiences, life pressure, relationships, and even prolonged physical exhaustion can all play a role. It is not because you are "overthinking" or "not trusting enough." Just as a devout Christian can develop cancer, a Christian with strong faith can also experience an anxiety disorder.
Many great figures of faith in Scripture went through profound anxiety and fear:
These people were not "lacking in faith." They were real people who experienced real struggles in real circumstances.
Prayer matters deeply — but prayer and seeking professional help are not in conflict.
When we are sick we go to the doctor; when a tooth aches we go to the dentist. We do not say, "Prayer is enough — I don't need a dentist." Mental health is no different. God has given human beings the wisdom to develop medicine and psychology; making use of that professional help is receiving the grace God has provided.
Here is a helpful parallel: after Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness being tempted, angels came and "served him" (Matt. 4:11). God could have restored Jesus directly, but he chose to do so through concrete means. In the same way, God also helps us through doctors, counselors, and medication.
Absolutely not.
We would not tell a diabetic who needs insulin that their faith is weak. Medication for anxiety disorders can help relieve symptoms so that a person can engage more effectively in therapy and return to daily life. If a doctor recommends medication, that is just as reasonable a medical measure as taking blood pressure pills or managing blood sugar — and it can be used together with counseling.
In fact, Scripture holds the physical and the spiritual together from the very beginning. Mark 6:13 records that when Jesus sent out the Twelve, "they cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them." The Greek word ἤλειφον ἐλαίῳ (ēleiphon elaiō) — olive oil — functioned in the ancient Near East both as a symbol of spiritual anointing and as an everyday medicine. In Luke 10:34, the Good Samaritan "poured oil and wine on his wounds." Mark deliberately places the act of medical treatment and the act of spiritual healing in the same scene. The integration of the physical and the spiritual was the prototype of the early church's healing ministry — and James 5:14 later formalized this practice: "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." If the disciples were alive today, they would probably be taking their brothers and sisters to see the doctor with one hand and laying hands on them in prayer with the other. Refusing medical care while "trusting in faith alone," or seeing only the doctor and feeling that prayer is unnecessary — both approaches artificially separate what Mark deliberately placed together.
Trusting in God and accepting the help he provides through medicine are the same thing.
These two questions look different on the surface, but at their core they point to the same struggle: "Do I really need professional help?"
First, about not having professional resources. If you are in a remote area, or your circumstances make it difficult to openly access mental health services, know this: you can start by calling a remote helpline (the UK's Samaritans on 116 123 and mainland China's 12356, listed earlier). Many Christian counseling platforms now support remote video sessions that can work across regions and borders. At the same time, please take the basics seriously — regular sleep, a daily walk, reducing caffeine, getting sunlight. When God sent an angel to Elijah at his lowest point, it was precisely these "everyday" things the angel brought (1 Kings 19:5-8) — not visions, not rebuke. Add to that one or two trusted spiritual family members walking alongside you over time, and prayers from the Psalms (especially Ps. 42, 55, 77, and 139 — David's prayers in the midst of anxiety and darkness). The scarcity of resources is not your fault. Do what you can with what you have, and entrust the rest to the God who "is near to those who have a broken heart" (Ps. 34:18).
Now, about the biblical examples. David, Elijah, and Paul did not take SSRIs or undergo CBT — but a few things are worth noting:
First, they lived two thousand or more years ago, when modern psychiatry simply did not exist. Saying "they didn't take medication, so you shouldn't either" is like saying "they didn't ride in cars, so you shouldn't either" — it confuses the vessel of grace with grace itself. God's grace reaches each generation through whatever means are available in that generation.
Second, what Scripture records is not "relying on prayer alone" but God providing through concrete means. When Elijah was at his lowest, God arranged bread, water, and sleep (1 Kings 19). Paul had Luke — "the beloved physician" (Col. 4:14) — as a constant companion. The Psalms themselves are David's "prayer journal" — pouring out his emotions before God. These are all ordinary, physical, deeply human forms of help that God used. They are not substitutes for faith; they are the carriers of grace.
Third, what we see is what the biblical figures went through — we cannot see those who were not written into Scripture and who struggled alone in silence. It is not fair to compare ourselves with a group of people who were specially chosen by the Holy Spirit, whose stories were recorded for all time, and who came through. Other people's survival cannot be used as a reason to deny your need for help.
So please make full use of whatever vessels of grace you can reach — doctors, counselors, fellow travelers in the church, healthy daily rhythms, prayer, and Scripture. Keep reminding yourself: what brings a person through the valley of anxiety is never sheer willpower, nor a faith that is "strong enough" — it is the grace of God, holding you up through these concrete vessels. The stories of David, Elijah, and Paul are never hero narratives of "a person of faith making it through on their own strength." They are grace narratives of "a weak person held up by grace" — just as Paul later wrote in 2 Cor. 12:9: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." And so it is with you.
This is a real and different kind of error, and it tends to appear especially among urban believers who have ready access to healthcare: "Doctor + medication + therapist = my salvation; God is at best a psychological comfort." It wears the clothing of modern rationality, and the person often does not even notice.
Two sharp examples from the Old Testament: Ahaz, when threatened by the coalition of Aram and Israel, was told by the prophet Isaiah, "Be careful, and be calm. Don't be afraid, and don't let your heart be faint" (Isa. 7:4). The Lord even invited him to ask for a sign to strengthen his faith. Ahaz piously declined — "I will not ask, neither will I tempt Yahweh" (Isa. 7:12) — but he had already quietly sent the gold and silver from the temple to Assyria to buy an alliance (2 Kings 16:7-8). Hezekiah fell into the same trap later in life — he showed the envoys from Babylon everything in his treasury, his armory, and all his royal storehouses, most likely hoping to forge a military alliance with Babylon (ironically, the Lord had just miraculously delivered him from the Assyrian army not long before). The prophet immediately announced that all those treasures would one day be carried off to Babylon (Isa. 39:2-6). The problem with both kings was not that they sought allies; it was that their hearts trusted first in visible people, nations, and resources, while God was reduced to a polite formality.
This is the mirror image of refusing medical care and "trusting in faith alone" — opposite in direction, identical in nature. Both place a vessel of grace in the position that belongs to God. The key distinction is not how many times you see the doctor or whether you take medication. The question is: is your ultimate sense of security built on the healthcare system, or on the God who "is near to those who have a broken heart"? When treatment is not going well for a time, will you despair, or will you return to God and keep waiting?
A healthy posture is this: use every vessel of grace available to you, but do not make any of them into God. Trust in the one true God, but do not despise the concrete help he gives through doctors, medication, and counseling. Neither line can be cut.
1. Acknowledge it — don't pretend everything is fine
Anxiety is not a sin; there is no need for shame. Be honest before God, and honest with the people you trust. "Casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you." (1 Pet. 5:7) — the prerequisite of "casting" is first admitting that you are carrying the weight.
2. Seek professional help
In the UK, you can:
3. Some everyday things to try
The following can help ease mild anxiety, and can also be used alongside professional treatment. But if your anxiety is more severe and these things bring no noticeable improvement, that is not a reflection on you — it simply means you need more specialized help, just as a cold might respond to rest and fluids, but pneumonia requires a hospital.
4. Ongoing spiritual practice
📖 "In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7)
1. Come alongside — don't lecture
❌ "You just need to stop overthinking."
❌ "Just hand it over to God."
❌ "You're just not keeping yourself busy enough."
❌ "Other people have it so much worse than you."
✅ "I don't fully understand what you're going through, but I'm here to listen."
✅ "You don't have to carry this on your own."
✅ "I can go with you to see the doctor / help you make the GP appointment."
✅ "I'm praying for you, and I'll be right here."
2. Don't rush to "fix" things
Anxiety disorder is not something that can be resolved by one conversation or one prayer. Your role is not therapist — it is fellow traveler. The most powerful help is often simply consistent, non-judgmental presence.
3. Encourage (rather than replace) them in seeking professional help
You can help them find out what resources are available, accompany them when they call to book an appointment, or even go with them to the doctor. But the final decision belongs to them.
4. Take care of yourself
Walking alongside someone is a marathon, not a sprint. Leave space for your own rest and renewal, so you can keep going for the long haul. And if you are the person being walked alongside — please know that you are not a burden to anyone. Those who choose to accompany you do so because they care about you. Taking care of themselves is precisely what allows them to keep walking with you.
Caring for those with anxiety disorder is not only a personal matter — it is a community matter. As a spiritual family, we can work on this together:
| Resource | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NHS 111 | Call 111 | Non-emergency medical advice, 24 hours |
| Samaritans | Call 116 123 (free) | 24-hour emotional support helpline |
| SANEline | Call 0300 304 7000 | Mental health support, daily 16:30–22:30 |
| NHS Talking Therapies | Via GP referral or self-referral | Free talking therapy |
| Mind | mind.org.uk | Mental health information and support |
| Chinese Mental Health Association | chmha.org.uk | Mental health services in Chinese |
| Emergencies | Call 999 or go to A&E | If someone is in immediate danger of self-harm or harming others |
| Resource | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 12356 National Psychological Support Hotline | Call 12356 | National unified psychological support hotline; service hours may vary by region |
| Beijing Crisis Research and Intervention Center | Call 010-82951332 | 24-hour crisis intervention hotline |
| Hope 24 Hotline | Call 400-161-9995 | 24-hour psychological support hotline |
| Emergencies | Call 120 or 110 | If someone is in immediate danger of self-harm or harming others |
If you are outside the UK or mainland China — or if a number above does not connect — you can find a verified helpline for your country at Find A Helpline or the IASP crisis-centre directory. Phone numbers can change; these directories are kept up to date.
If you are in the midst of anxiety as you read these words — I want to say to you: what you are experiencing is real, your pain does not need to be minimized, and there is nothing to be ashamed of. Anxiety disorder is not necessarily a failure of faith, and it is not necessarily a sign of spiritual weakness. What matters most is this: what will ultimately bring you through this dark valley is not your willpower, nor whether your faith is "strong enough" — it is the grace of God. That you are willing to face this is itself grace. That you have held on long enough to read this far is grace too.
As a church, we are called to be a community that "considers one another" — "Let's consider how to provoke one another to love and good works" (Heb. 10:24). When our brothers and sisters are struggling in anxiety, may we not be those who say, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," while giving them nothing they actually need (cf. James 2:16). Instead, may we be willing to enter into their situation and walk through the valley alongside them.
For our God is the God who is "near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit." (Ps. 34:18)
This article is for educational purposes only and cannot replace professional medical advice. If you or someone near you is experiencing severe anxiety symptoms, please contact your GP or call one of the helplines listed above as soon as possible.
💬 After reading this article, if you have any thoughts or questions, you are welcome to ask Pastor Bond:
- "I have anxiety — does that mean my faith isn't strong enough?"
- "Giants of faith experienced anxiety too — what does that mean for me?"
- "A family member has anxiety. What can I do, and what should I avoid saying?"