Fear and anxiety are real emotions that we all experience from time to time. Every year, 18.1% of the U.S. population suffers from anxiety, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Overall, 50% of college-aged individuals say they often experience feelings of anxiety or depression, fear, or suicidal thoughts. In 2024, the United States saw a troubling resurgence in suicide rates, reaching levels unseen since 1941. According to a report from U.S. News, the national age-adjusted suicide rate climbed to 14.7 per 100,000 people—an increase from 14.2 in 2022.
Despite these devastating statistics for the next generation, Barna had encouraging news: “What’s actually going on is a worldview problem,” Barna explained. According to his latest worldview research, 90% of the 18—to 24-year-olds who at one time identified as Christian have abandoned belief in God, have rejected His truth and moral standards, and have no hope of eternal life. The majority of these students are unable to find meaning and purpose in life. They fail to embrace almost all key elements of biblical worldview understanding. Without relying on the one true God, His truth, and His promises to help them navigate the world, they have no solid place to land when they hit rough patches in life. If they had a biblical worldview that anchors them in understanding who God is, who they are, their purpose for living, and the hope of Heaven, their lives would be forever changed.
Many self-identified Christians who struggle with anxiety and fear and are discouraged with their “Christian” faith need to step back and make sure that they trust Jesus Christ, as found in the scriptures, as their Savior and Lord. Being raised in a Christian family and going to church on Sundays does not make you a Christian. Who do you trust with your life, yourself, the culture, or Christ? We do not earn our relationship with God by being religious and doing good things. We become children of the One True God when we choose to believe in our hearts that Jesus died for the penalty of our sin of non-belief and then rose again to life. When we commit to love and follow Jesus, God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, will reside in us. Then, we will be able to experience the true peace of God when we realize that we have been forgiven, justified, and made righteous through what Jesus has done.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
When you know that you’re at peace with God, you can be at peace with yourself and those around you. Peace with God only comes from knowing Jesus and understanding His grace.
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20).
“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:25-27).
When we choose to no longer focus on our own fears and learn to focus on what God has to say by reading the scriptures and praying, then we will begin to experience His peace, no matter what circumstances confront us. We will no longer be afraid of the things that come against us. We will be like the psalmist who said with confidence,
“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23).
Often, we fear the future and what will become of us. But Jesus reminds us that God cares for the birds of the air, so how much more will He provide for His children? “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31).
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:1-7)
The Apostle Paul suffered greatly throughout his ministry. He never lost sight of how great His Lord is and that suffering was to God’s glory because He allows it so that we might grow closer to Him. In his book of Philippians, Paul exhorts us to rejoice always and then shows us how to do it.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication 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 minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:4-9)