In The Lord of the Rings, King Theoden becomes enfeebled by listening to the words of Wormtongue, his advisor. These lies poison the mind of the King of Rohan and keep him from being a threat to the evil wizard Saruman.
Only when the lies of Wormtongue are exposed by Gandalf the White is Theoden freed from the bondage and able to see the truth.
Characters like Wormtongue remind us of an important lesson: be careful who you listen to.
We all recognize the need to heed that advice, but we often do not apply it to the voice in our heads that speaks up when we are anxious and afraid. This voice can debilitate and hinder us. People who live with anxiety know all too well what these words are and what they sound like.
Listening to the whispers of anxiety is not wise because they are not words of truth. Rooted in fear and worry, anxiety tells us lies that can keep us from living in faith.
We must learn to tune out these words and instead listen to the truth. Using Scripture, we can fight against the twisted words of fear. For truly, those words can sometimes come from the enemy.
The first step in combating the lies of anxiety is learning to identify them. Sometimes, in our fearfulness, we can rationalize the worry we feel and make convincing excuses for our anxiety. We may even feel that the words that pop into our heads during anxious times are true.
To fight against the lies of anxiety, we must practice discernment and test everything against Scripture. We cannot always control the flood of fearful thoughts that overwhelm us during stressful and trying times, but we can control how we respond. By applying the Bible to our lives, we can learn to combat lies with truth.
An important note before we begin: if you find that your feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, or fear continue, do not be afraid to reach out to someone you trust. Persistent and chronic anxiety could be a sign of an anxiety disorder or could be connected to other issues, such as depression.
A trusted family member, friend, or ministry leader can help you find a Christian counselor or therapist. There is nothing wrong with seeking help and you should not feel afraid to do so if your anxiety is crippling.
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