Today’s Focus: What Your Anxiety Is Really Trying to Tell You
The Conversation You Need to Have With Your Anxiety
Tuesday arrives and anxiety is already talking.
Maybe it started the moment you woke up.
Maybe it’s been a constant companion for so long you barely notice it anymore. Maybe it’s specific worry about specific thing. Maybe it’s general unease about everything.
But instead of just trying to silence it or manage it or pray it away, what if you actually listened to what it’s trying to tell you? Not to the lies it speaks. To the underlying truth it’s pointing toward.
Because here’s what most people don’t understand: anxiety itself isn’t the problem. Anxiety is alarm system. Sometimes it’s malfunctioning and going off when there’s no actual danger. But often it’s pointing to something real that needs attention. Something you’re avoiding. Something you need to address. Something God wants to transform.
Today we’re going to have different kind of conversation about anxiety. Not “just trust God more and it will go away.” Not techniques to suppress it. Not shame about why you’re anxious when you should have more faith. We’re going to listen to what your anxiety is actually revealing and let Scripture speak to the real issues underneath.
This might be most honest conversation you’ve had about anxiety in a long time. Stay with it. There’s freedom on the other side.
Six Things Your Anxiety Might Be Revealing
Revelation One: You’re Trying to Control What You Can’t Control
What Your Anxiety Says: “I need to make sure this works out exactly right. I need to prevent every possible problem. I need to manage all the variables. If I plan enough, worry enough, strategize enough, I can control the outcome.”
What This Reveals: You’re carrying responsibility that was never yours. You’re trying to be god of your own small kingdom. You’re believing lie that outcomes depend entirely on your management. You’re living as if God needs your constant oversight to keep world running.
What Scripture Says:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
You’re leaning on your own understanding. Trusting your ability to manage outcomes. Not acknowledging that God is actually sovereign over what you’re frantically trying to control.
The Question: What are you trying to control that you need to surrender to God’s sovereignty?
The Action: Today, identify one specific thing you’re trying to control. Pray out loud: “God, I release control of this to You. I trust Your sovereignty over my management.”
Revelation Two: You’re Not Dealing With Actual Problem
What Your Anxiety Says: “Everything is wrong. Everything is overwhelming. I can’t handle any of this. It’s all too much.”
What This Reveals: You’re anxious about everything which means you’re probably avoiding dealing with the actual specific thing that needs attention. When anxiety is vague and everywhere, it’s often because you’re not facing specific issue that’s driving it.
You’re worried about hundred things because you’re avoiding the one thing. The anxiety diffuses across everything as distraction from the actual problem you need to address.
What Scripture Says:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)
David asks God to search him and reveal what’s actually wrong. Not surface anxiety. Root issue.
The Question: What’s the actual specific thing driving your anxiety? The conversation you’re avoiding? The decision you won’t make? The truth you don’t want to face?
The Action: Ask God: “What’s the real issue underneath all this anxiety?” Wait quietly. Listen. Then address that specific thing today.
Revelation Three: You’re Believing Lies About Your Identity
What Your Anxiety Says: “I’m not enough. I’m going to fail. People will see I’m inadequate. I can’t handle what’s required of me. I’m going to be exposed as fraud.”
What This Reveals: Your identity is built on performance instead of on who God says you are. You’re measuring worth by output. Determining value by success. Defining yourself by what you accomplish instead of whose you are.
When identity is rooted in performance, every challenge threatens your sense of self. Every potential failure risks exposing worthlessness you fear is true. Anxiety is inevitable when identity is this fragile.
What Scripture Says:
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
Your identity is chosen. Royal. Holy. His possession. Not based on performance. Based on His choice. Your worth is settled. Your value is secure. Your identity is established by God, not by your accomplishments.
The Question: Are you building identity on what you do or on who God says you are?
The Action: Write down three identity statements from Scripture. Speak them over yourself today. “I am chosen. I am His. I am secure in Christ.”
Revelation Four: You’re Not Resting Like You Need To
What Your Anxiety Says: “There’s too much to do. I can’t stop. If I rest, everything will fall apart. I don’t have time to slow down. I need to keep pushing.”
What This Reveals: You’re operating from depletion. Running on empty. Burning energy you don’t have. Your body and mind are sending anxiety signals because you’re ignoring basic need for rest.
Anxiety often intensifies when you’re exhausted. Your capacity to handle normal challenges decreases. Your perspective gets distorted. Problems feel bigger than they are. Everything seems urgent.
What Scripture Says:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29 (ESV)
Jesus invites the weary to come for rest. Not to push through exhaustion. Not to ignore depletion. To come for rest. Your anxiety might be your body’s way of screaming that you need to stop.
The Question: When’s the last time you actually rested? Not just stopped working but genuinely rested?
The Action: Schedule rest today. Not tomorrow. Today. Even 30 minutes of genuine rest where you stop all activity and just be.
Revelation Five: You’re Ignoring Conviction About Something
What Your Anxiety Says: “Something feels wrong. I can’t quite identify it but something isn’t right. There’s this nagging sense of unease that won’t go away.”
What This Reveals: Sometimes anxiety is Holy Spirit’s conviction that you’re ignoring. Something in your life isn’t aligned with God’s will. Some choice you’re making isn’t right. Some behavior you’re continuing needs to stop. Some relationship you’re pursuing is harmful.
You’re trying to silence the conviction by calling it anxiety. But underneath the anxiety is voice of God saying “This isn’t the path I have for you. This isn’t who I’m calling you to be. This isn’t the choice I want you to make.”
What Scripture Says:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 (ESV)
Conviction brings discomfort that’s resolved through confession and repentance. If your anxiety is actually conviction, addressing the root issue brings relief that managing anxiety never could.
The Question: Is there something you’re doing that you know isn’t right? Something Holy Spirit has been nudging you about?
The Action: If there’s conviction you’ve been ignoring, confess it today. Address it. Align your life with what God is showing you.
Revelation Six: You’re Facing Real Challenge That Requires God’s Help
What Your Anxiety Says: “This is really hard. I don’t know how to handle this. I’m in over my head. I need help.”
What This Reveals: Sometimes anxiety is accurate assessment that you’re facing something difficult that you can’t handle alone. This isn’t malfunction. This is reality check. You do need help. You aren’t sufficient on your own. You are in over your head.
This anxiety is gift. It’s driving you to dependence on God instead of confidence in yourself. It’s revealing your need for help instead of illusion of self-sufficiency.
What Scripture Says:
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
Not “I can do all things through my own strength.” Through Him who strengthens. Your anxiety about inadequacy is accurate. Your strength is insufficient. His isn’t.
The Question: What challenge are you facing that requires admitting you need God’s help?
The Action: Stop trying to handle it alone. Ask God specifically: “I can’t do this without You. I need Your strength. Help me.”
What To Do With What Anxiety Revealed
Don’t Just Manage Symptoms
Most anxiety advice focuses on managing symptoms. Breathing techniques. Thought patterns. Coping mechanisms. These can help. But they don’t address root issues anxiety is pointing toward.
If your anxiety is revealing that you’re trying to control everything, breathing exercises won’t solve that. You need to surrender control. If anxiety is revealing identity crisis, positive affirmations won’t fix that. You need to rebuild identity on who God says you are.
Listen to what anxiety is revealing. Address the actual issue. Don’t just treat symptoms.
Thank Anxiety for the Information
This sounds strange but stay with me. When anxiety reveals something true (you are trying to control too much, you do need to address specific issue, you are depleted and need rest), thank it for the information then address what it revealed.
“Thank you for showing me I’m trying to control this. I’m going to surrender it to God now.” “Thank you for revealing I’m avoiding this conversation. I’m going to have it today.” “Thank you for showing me I’m exhausted. I’m going to rest.”
Anxiety becomes useful instead of just tormenting when you extract the truth it’s pointing to.
Distinguish Between True and False Alarms
Sometimes anxiety is revealing real issue. Sometimes it’s malfunctioning alarm going off when there’s no actual danger. Learn to distinguish between the two.
Ask: Is there real problem here requiring action? Or is this catastrophizing about unlikely scenario?
If real problem, address it. If false alarm, recognize it as such and redirect thoughts to truth.
Your Tuesday Practice
Today, have honest conversation with your anxiety:
1. What is my anxiety saying? Write down the anxious thoughts.
2. What might this reveal? Which of the six revelations does this connect to?
3. What’s the real issue? What is anxiety pointing toward that needs attention?
4. What action is needed? What specific thing will I do today to address root issue?
5. What truth will I anchor in? What Scripture speaks to this issue?
This isn’t just managing anxiety. This is using anxiety as diagnostic tool that reveals what needs transformation.
A Prayer About Anxiety
God, I’m anxious today. Instead of just trying to make it stop, help me listen to what it’s revealing.
Show me if I’m trying to control what I need to surrender. Show me if I’m avoiding specific issue I need to address. Show me if my identity is built on performance instead of on who You say I am.
Show me if I’m depleted and need rest. Show me if this is conviction I’m calling anxiety. Show me if this is real challenge revealing my need for Your help.
Help me not just manage symptoms but address root issues. Help me extract truth anxiety is pointing toward then address that truth.
Thank You that even my anxiety can be used for good when it drives me to You. Thank You that You don’t shame me for being anxious. Thank You that You address real issues underneath.
Give me wisdom to distinguish between true and false alarms. Help me address real problems and redirect thoughts about unlikely catastrophes.
Where anxiety reveals I’m trying to control, help me surrender. Where it reveals I’m avoiding, help me address. Where it reveals wrong identity, help me rebuild on truth.
Where it reveals I need rest, help me rest. Where it reveals conviction, help me confess. Where it reveals I need help, help me ask.
Transform my anxiety from tormentor into teacher. Use it to show me what needs changing. Then give me courage to actually change it.
In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.