Throughout my life, I’ve dealt with an overwhelming amount of anxiety. There were seasons when it became almost unbearable, debilitating to the point where simply functioning felt like an impossible task. I know what it’s like to try and mask the trembling hands, to force smiles, and to move through life pretending everything is fine.

Anxiety is tricky. Sometimes, it’s triggered by obvious pressures, stressful situations, unexpected changes, or personal failures. But what’s more frustrating is when it strikes for no apparent reason at all.

I’ve witnessed not only my own struggle but also the ways other people attempt to manage their anxiety and depression. Some chase relief through distraction, others through self-care techniques, but often it feels like we’re all just trying to keep our heads above water, barely surviving, but never truly overcoming.

I’ve known about Jesus all my life. I grew up hearing His name, but I didn’t really know Him, not like I thought I did. In mid-2023, I faced a moment when anxiety overwhelmed me so intensely, I genuinely believed I was going to die. It was the darkest moment I’d ever faced.

As a parent, I’ve helped my kids learn how to self-soothe when they were babies, but during this season, I found there was no technique that could calm me. No breathing exercise, no temporary comfort, not even the familiar things I used to enjoy could touch the deep panic that had settled inside me.

I isolated myself in small ways, I wore comfortable clothes, let my hair grow long. I was busy as I normally would be, but I just found myself drifting through the days. That anxiety followed me into early 2024. Nothing I tried on my own worked.

Everything changed when I made the decision to get serious about the Word of God. I started reading the Bible daily, not out of duty, but out of desperation to know who God really is. As I soaked in His Word, I began to see the heart of God and understand His love for me in a way I never had before.

Slowly, I stopped focusing on myself, on my faults, my fears, my failures, and I placed my eyes on Jesus. The freedom I found in knowing that my sins were washed away by what Jesus did on the cross changed me.

Now, my life is about serving, loving my family, and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. I no longer live for my own desires. I live to follow His will. Does that mean I am perfect? Absolutely not. However, it does mean that I strive more intentionally to be who God has called me to be than ever before.

Since God revealed to me what real relationship with Him looks like, anxiety has lost its grip on me.