Anxiety in the Bible – Matthew 26: 36-46

³⁶ Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. ³⁸ He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

³⁹ He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

⁴⁰ Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? ⁴¹ Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

⁴² Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away^[f] unless I drink it, your will be done.” ⁴³ When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

⁴⁴ So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

Matthew 26 gives us a glimpse into some of the emotions Jesus experienced in His final days. After the Last Supper, He led His disciples to Gethsemane to pray. One must truly take time to imagine the heaviness of Jesus’ feet, the tightening in His chest, and the shortening of His breath before the cascade of events leading to the fulfillment of prophecy. He was literally carrying the weight of the world on His shoulders. Inevitably, this triggered His anxiety. 

Clinical Signs of Anxiety Disorders

The World Health Organization describes anxiety as intense fear and worry about a specific situation or everyday situations. Everyone experiences anxiety throughout life, and to some extent, it is normal and healthy. Anxiety can motivate us and keep us safe through our fight-or-flight response.

However, in people with anxiety disorders, this fear is heightened and disrupts daily tasks. It becomes debilitating, interfering with one’s ability to function in their personal, social, and work life. Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are some common forms of anxiety disorders.

Symptoms of anxiety disorders include irritability or restlessness, difficulty concentrating, sleeping too much or too little, muscle tension, and anxiety or worry on most days. 

Throughout the gospels, we can see how Jesus’ behavior aligns with common symptoms of anxiety.

Jesus experienced faith and fear like many of us. He was tasked with saving us all, knowing that many of us would reject Him because of our stubbornness. That caused great anxiety. As His followers, it’s comforting to know that He cares about our fears and wants to carry all our burdens. He also gives us the strength to weather the storm. Luke 22:43 NIV says, “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” Always remember that you are never alone in your anxiety. 

Our resources tab has information on where you can access help and support based on your needs. For example, you can find therapists, psychiatrists, Bible app plans on mental health, or call the National Suicide and Crisis lifeline at 988.

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Elijah’s Story in 1 Kings

1 Kings 18 provides context for Elijah’s struggle. The people had turned from God again and were worshipping Baals. So, as He had done many times before, God sent Elijah. Elijah gathered the people on Mount Carmel and called for a “battle of the gods.” The prophets of Baal would sacrifice to their gods, and then Elijah would sacrifice to the one true God.

The one caveat?

They could not light a fire. That would be provided by the gods. The prophets of Baal cried out all day, performing numerous rituals to win the favor of their gods, but despite their efforts, there was silence. No fire came.

Then, it was Elijah’s turn. He built an altar and had water poured over it three times. He cried out to God, saying, “Let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant,” and fire came down from heaven. The altar was consumed, and the people fell down and worshipped God. 

That night, Elijah killed all the prophets of Baal. One would think this should be the highlight of his career. But Jezebel heard what Elijah did and said to him in 1 Kings 19:2, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah became afraid and ran for his life. While this may not be where his mental health challenges began, this is where the spiral accelerated. As we read on, we begin to see Elijah display classic signs of depression.

Recognizing Signs of Depression

The mnemonic SIGECAPS is often used to highlight the symptoms of depression. The letters stand for: sleep, interest, guilt, energy, concentration, appetite, psychomotor retardation or agitation, and suicidality. These are all things that can result from or be impacted by depression. Let us examine Elijah’s behaviors as described in 1 Kings 19 and see how they align with symptoms of depression. 

Sometimes, we find ourselves in similar predicaments to Elijah. We burn out, exhausted from the trials of life. We lose our spark and our will to live. Throughout the rest of the chapter, we see God remind Elijah that he is not alone. He reminds Elijah of His presence in the still, small voice and tells him that there are many others who do not worship Baal. Elijah did not overcome his depression alone, and we do not have to either. In addition to prayer and leaning on our spirituality, we can find professionals to help guide us through difficult seasons. My prayer for you is that you find hope in Elijah’s story and feel less alone in what you are going through. 

Our resources tab has information on where you can access help and support based on your needs. For example, you can find therapists, psychiatrists, Bible app plans on mental health, or call the National Suicide and Crisis lifeline at 988.

More on the Blog…

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My Father’s Hand

One day I sat in a room listening to the speaker

My mind started to drift, my eyes began to wander

They landed on a young child with her father

She seemed to be distracted just like me

But unlike me, she had license to just be

Whatever she wanted to be and do

She had a pass, as young ones usually do

Suddenly, she stood up and started for the hallway

Her father followed

One foot in front of the other

She took two heavy steps out the door

And as if an invisible being knocked her over

She started to tumble

But she didn’t fall

I watched as she reached for her father’s hand

She knew he would be there

And as if he knew she would

His finger was already outstretched

With newfound strength, borrowed one might say

She kept walking

Down the hallway until I could no longer see

And I thought to myself

Isn’t life my invisible being

Ready to knock me over, I tumble

But I do not fall

I reach for hand behind me

Forever outstretched

The one that strengthens me

My Father’s hand

More Poems on the Blog…

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for free and confidential support available 24/7. For ongoing support, visit NAMI Support to find local resources and support groups. Help is always available.

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