Anxiety: What Is The Worst That Can Happen?

Recently, I published a couple of posts on eliminating anxiety. While I wish I could believe that anyone who read those posts has now eliminated all traces of anxiety, I doubt that is the case. Therefore, I want to share more thoughts about defeating this debilitating attack of the enemy.

Bible Is Truth!

If you read those last two posts, you will remember that Step #1 was to recognize and believe that the Bible is 100% truth. If this is not something you are willing to accept, then I will say again that you need to learn to enjoy anxiety. You are not going to defeat it otherwise.

Assuming you do accept the Bible as truth, then I want you to take a look at the following excerpt from Psalm 91. For the full effect, I suggest you read all of Psalm 91. Read it slowly and carefully and think about what you are reading.

Because you have made the Lord—my refuge,
the Most High—your dwelling place,
no harm will come to you;
no plague will come near your tent.
– Psalm 91:9-10

What Is The Problem?

Let’s first tackle the obvious problem with these verses (and the whole Psalm 91). Here, we are told no harm will come to us. Elsewhere in Psalm 91, we are told that others will fall at our right and left, but the attack will not reach us. We are told we will live a long life.

Clearly, when we take this literally, we have a hard time accepting what it says. We know of people who have fallen. We have been affected by attacks. We know those who have died way too young. So why do you think it says what it says? Are we missing something?

It Is All About Perspective!

I think it is all about perspective. If we look at this Psalm from an earthly perspective, then it is easy to argue that it is not true. Anxiety still makes sense because of all that can happen to us.

However, if we look at this passage from an eternal perspective, the picture changes dramatically. Imagine the Psalmist is not referring to our earthly body when he refers to our tent. Instead, consider that he is talking about our soul. Does that change things?

In fact, read the entire Psalm 91 again and experience it from your soul’s perspective. Maybe this is a little unconventional, but I think it is sound advice. When you read this Psalm from the eternal perspective, it makes perfect sense.

Eternal Perspective

Sure, things are going to happen in this life here on earth. Yeah, there will be challenges and pain, even death. None of this is avoidable and all of it can cause anxiety when viewed from a short-term perspective.

The problem is that the short-term perspective is usually our default view. It takes practice, perseverance, and prayer to develop our eternal perspective muscles. It won’t happen overnight in most cases. Nor will it continue automatically once you achieve it. Maintaining an eternal perspective is an ongoing battle, but it is worth the fight.

When you can maintain an eternal perspective and know that your eternity is in God’s capable and loving hands, then you can have peace during the short-term storms, trials, and defeats in this life. Nothing the enemy can throw at you can harm your tent (soul).

Anxiety Elimination Exercise

I will leave you with one quick exercise. I give you this from my own experience when dealing with anxiety years ago. It worked then and I have never forgotten it since. See if it makes sense to you.

I called my father with what I felt at the time was a significant, emergency customer issue – at least from my perspective at the time. I described it to him and expected him to gasp, wondering what in the world we would do! Fortunately for me, he remained relaxed.

He asked me a simple question, “What is the worst that can happen?”

I thought for a moment and responded with what I thought would be a reasonable, but terrible result.

He asked again, “What could happen that is worse than that?”

I paused again, thinking outside the box. I gave him an outlandish answer that included the customers pulling out guns and other weapons.

Again, he asked, “No, what is the WORST that can happen?”

Frustrated, I snapped back, “I don’t know! You tell me!”

Still calm, he answered, “The worst that can happen is that you die and go to hell. There is nothing worse. Is that a possibility for you?”

“No sir,” I responded quietly, “I have settled that forever.”

He then removed every ounce of anxiety from the situation. He said, “If that is not a possibility for you, then there is nothing more in this situation for you to worry about. The worst is taken care of – now go and address the situation as best you can.”

Ask Yourself The Same Question

I ask you the same question – is that a possibility for you or have you settled it?

If you are certain of your personal salvation based on what the Scripture says, then there is nothing else for you to worry about. Everything else pales in comparison to that. All that is left to do is for you to handle each situation as it comes. Do the best you can. The rest is taken care of.

Can you see Psalm 91 from an eternal perspective?

How does this impact your thoughts about anxiety?

Does the exercise help?