If anxiety is a problem for you, you’re not alone. Far from it.Several 30% of American adults struggle with an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.
For people of faith, We believe true peace comes from God. And communicating with God through prayer helps us draw closer to the peace of Christ. But how can prayer help us when suffering from anxiety?
Several times in the Bible, Jesus says, “Don’t worry,” for example in Matthew 6:25. But practically speaking, How can I get rid of worries and worries?
It turns out that St. Thomas Aquinas had wisdom for these situations, as he did for many others. Learn more about his specific treatments for mental distress here.
“St. Thomas Aquinas teaches: One way to combat anxiety is to increase our trust in God’s providence for our lives. ” Dr. Edward Suri said in an interview with Aleteia. “Daily prayer helps with that. It helps us learn to rely on God and not on ourselves. ”
Dr. Edward Suri is a theologian, author, and well-known Catholic speaker who appears regularly on EWTN.
A great resource for preparing for uncertain times is his video series. When to Pray: A Clear Path to a Deeper Relationship with God.
How prayer can help when anxiety begins
The first step is to notice when anxiety starts to creep into our thinking.
“Whenever we lose our peace of mind, it’s a sign that we’re anxious. It’s like the check engine light in your car going off,” Suri said.
Anxious thoughts are when a person is “so attached to a particular plan, a particular dream, a particular relationship that we fear God won’t care for us or that we don’t have what we need to be happy.” It may indicate that you are worried that you won’t be able to get it. ” He said.
There are three reasons why daily prayer helps us develop trust and peace. He explained:
1
trusting God with our time
Taking time each day to pray quietly and privately is an act of trust. Please do it every day. ”
2
fill your heart with goodness and truth
Thinking about the life of Christ, the Bible, or the wisdom of the saints fills your heart with God’s love and increases your trust in Him.
3
Recognize the promptings of the Holy Spirit
“The more I pay attention to how the Holy Spirit guides me in prayer, the more I trust God to guide my life in the little things, and the more I trust God to guide my life in the small things, and the more I learn to trust God in the small things when I face various crosses. “You will be prepared to trust,” he said.
Daily prayer teaches us that, as St. Paul said, “In all things God works for good to those who love him” (Romans 8:28). It helps you know with certainty.
A daily quiet time of meditative prayer makes a big difference for many people. Meanwhile, Shuri said: “God has taught me to surrender more and put my life in the hands of my Father more. If I don’t learn that, I will be paralyzed with fear because I want to control and manage everything. They often become unable to do so and become “worried and anxious about many things.”
It’s true that anxiety is a complex and multifaceted issue, and different people deal with it differently. But what a gift it is to know that prayer gives us God’s love and, hopefully, God’s peace as well.
