Anxious Thoughts — Morning Devotions

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Transcript

Anxiety is a widespread problem in our world. It goes without saying. We’re concerned about news, we read, hear or see, it becomes a troublesome issue for most of us, and it can provoke a lot of negative emotions as we grapple with anxious thoughts each day.

Some large, some small. And sometimes they seem overwhelming or even paralysing. Sometimes these thoughts are warranted. You know, did I leave the oven on when I went out? Or they’re unfounded, like, does my boss hate me? And the brain doesn’t seem to know the difference.

What the research is telling us

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics national study of mental health and wellbeing, roughly 1 in 6 Australians aged 16 to 85 reported experiencing an anxiety disorder in the last 12 months. And among younger Australians, the picture appears much more bleak. According to research released by the National Youth Mental Health Foundation Headspace in November 2025, nearly half of young Australians report high or very high psychological distress. And that rises to 65% among 18- to 25-year-olds.

These figures are alarming. They should be taken seriously, and I think most of us like everyday life to be certain. We’ve got our routines, but if something changes or throws us off course, we become anxious. We need to set boundaries like not checking our phones every 10 minutes. That can cause distress, especially with bad news, so set a time to check it so that you’ve got some control over the anxious thoughts creeping into your mind.

One of the most frequent thoughts is this one. What if something goes wrong? It’s natural to want things to go well, but when anxiety is involved, this thought can spiral into something unhelpful. This what if mindset can turn minor concerns into major catastrophes in your mind.

You might worry about the worst-case scenario even when there’s really no reason to believe it will happen. Anxiety can feel overwhelming and isolating, but you know we have thankfully the Word of God, the Bible, to guide us through our struggles.

God understands our anxious minds

It’s comforting to remember that God is aware of our feelings. He provides us with verses that serve as a reminder of his unfailing love and support. In these verses we find hope, encouragement, and the promise of peace that surpasses all understanding. How wonderful to know that we’ve got this positive alternative. And one of the best Bible verses to meditate on is Proverbs chapter 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways obey Him, and then He will make your paths smooth and straight.

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This is a fantastic piece of teaching from the Bible. Many times our anxiety seems to come from how we view our situations, and we tend to hyperfocus on the negatives and let our imagination run wild. However, it’s God who sees our circumstances with a perspective that’s far greater and full of hope. When we embrace God’s perspective, we start to understand that our worries are not as insurmountable as they feel. With God, nothing is impossible.

Our human methods and assumptions are often faulty. We need another perspective, and only God can give us the best way forward. He is all wise and knowing. He spoke through the prophet Isaiah and said, My thoughts are not like your thoughts, and your ways are not like my ways. The heavens are higher than the earth and my ways are higher than your ways. That’s from Isaiah 55.

It’s about cultivating faith and trust in God through the person of Jesus Christ. Place your trust in Him. Stop relying on your own judgement. He through the Holy Spirit can influence or change your thoughts, and you will be amazed at how it works out in daily life. This hope reminds me that no matter how tough the storm of anxious thoughts might seem – there is always light on the other side, not by wishful thinking, but by trusting in a loving God who knows better than you do.

His love is unconditional. It never ends, and it fuels us with the courage that we need to face our challenges.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, help me with the anxious thoughts that I have, some of these thoughts get out of control, Lord, and I know that’s true for others. Some people battle with this every day. May your peace and your sense of companionship be with those who need it today. I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

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