In episode 91, “What God Says About Anxiety with Casey Coats”, we finish our interviews portion of our “Get Out Of Your Head” mini series. We discuss what the Bible says about anxiety and how to combat it with God at the center.
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Casey is a teaching pastor at Community Life Church in North Texas. He’s got a wife and kids and is an Enneagram 8. Hear his story on how he’s learned to overcome his anxiety with the power of God.
Stay in Community
Casey makes multiple references during his interview about how healthy community can make an impactful difference for those who struggle with anxiety. There are key moments in his life where people have stepped in and helped when he’s needed it the most.
Get people who unconditionally love you, will stand up for you, and will share your pain with you. We all need peers in our lives who can speak life and pray for us. Exercising healthy vulnerability in community, will allow them to move into action and step in where we need it most. The enemy wants you to feel isolated. By staying in a God-driven community and speaking out, you will get on the path to healing.
Capture Your Thoughts
This GOOYH mini series is all about how to capture thoughts. Casey goes in depth on how he is able to trace his line of thinking all the way back to the first toxic thought that entered his mind and it went unchecked. Listen to the episode “What God Says About Anxiety” to hear him walk us through step by step from the point of feeling anxious all the way back to the initial toxic thought.
“We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”
2 Corinthians 10:5
When we learn our triggers and can track down toxic thoughts, we can take them captive. Then, we replace those thoughts with better, more believable thoughts. The Bible gives us an excellent passage of scripture that helps us know what our minds should be thinking about:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things 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: 8-9
The Power of Journaling
Anyone can do this! There is power involved when we practice gratitude each day. It gets our minds and hearts focused, as well as trains our brain to constantly look for the good or something to be grateful for in our lives. Make it your goal to have a daily habit of journaling a few things you’re thankful for. This simple, five minute activity will reprogram your brain for the better.
The ball is in your court. What are you going to do to help your anxiety? We talk extensively about counseling in this episode if you want to give it a go . We’ve linked a couple of local ones at the bottom to get you started. You can also ask your local church and they can point you in the right direction.
If you want to be freed of anxiety, you have to be willing to let go of the toxic thoughts that put you in that mood state. Anxiety is a byproduct of the brokenness of this world, but Jesus can free you from that.
We hope you enjoyed “What God Says About Anxiety with Casey Coats”, the last interview of three in this mini series. Be sure to check out episodes 84-91 to hear this entire mini series on how to stop toxic thoughts from spiraling out of control. You can do this! We’re here to help.
Links From the Show
- The GOOYH mini series page
- Get Out of Your Head (book affiliate link)
- Witty & Gritty Patreon
- Daring Greatly Mini Series (episodes 28-38)
- Switch On Your Brain Mini Series (episodes 55-62)
- Laren’s Interview, Enneagram & Christian Counseling (episode 17)
- Jill’s episode #49: Anxiety and Work-Life Balance
- Rockwall Counseling & Wellness
- Sparrow House Counseling
