Viral Anxiety

The Challenge & Remedy for the Effects of Systemic Anxiety

That’s how many texts from anxious people I found on my phone after four hours of celebrating Easter Sunday with family and friends.

To clarify:

·      I’m not complaining. That’s what ministry often looks like in the U.S. in 2023.

·      I was not the source of any of their concerns.

·      Only two of the thirteen concerns overlapped or were related in any manner.

The challenge:

Anxiety, even chronic anxiety, has evolved from a malady affecting individuals to a systemic disorder. While our widening networks bring many benefits, they are also birthing unprecedented systemic anxiety. The world wide web has given us unlimited exposure to people, issues, concerns… The world has never been this connected. But, as our connections grow broader, they grow shallower, meaning that we see and hear what excites or upsets more people, though we lack the depth of relationship with all those connections to go beneath those surface emotions and see people as anything but their positions on an issue.

And as we seek answers on virtually any subject via this broad network, we are bound to find conflicting information. For most of history, most people have been relegated to the sidelines with very little influence in major issues or decision-making. However, the internet, specifically social media, has eliminated the sidelines. Anyone with an opinion on anything can become an influencer. With so many people with so many opinions, endless conflict is inevitable. For most people, endless conflict leads to chronic anxiety.

So, the more connected we are, the more conflicted we are, and therefore the more anxious we are.

Recently, my wife asked me to move a rather heavy piece of furniture as I walked in from a rigorous work-out. Having owned the chair for years, I had moved it multiple times. But that day… let’s just say that, in that moment, I lacked what I needed. My workout had zapped my energy. I had focused and depleted my physical strength in another arena, and I was incapable of safely moving the chair.

Much like my workout kept me from moving the chair when it needed to be moved, the chronic anxiety produced by the ever-present conflict of our consistent connectedness is lessening our capacity to deal with our own personal, professional, relational, emotional, and even spiritual stress. We have focused and depleted our energy in other arenas, and it’s left us ill-equipped for the challenges of our own lives.

So, what’s the remedy?

1.     We need to embrace the God of peace.

In Philippians 4:8-9, Paul writes,

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

The answer is not to disconnect the internet. The answer is to connect with God through Scripture and prayer. Paul is referring to our focus. A believer focused on God and his teaching does not need to avoid conflict and retreat to his comfort zone. Neither does he need to succumb to the temptation to pick a tribe and fight. Nor does he need to get sucked into the ever-present conflict and be drained of emotional energy.

The church needs believers who walk into the virtual and physical world with the confidence that the God of peace is with us, having preset our demeanor each day in the Word and with God instead of entering the chaos with a blank slate and allowing whatever rises to the surface to fray our margins and cripple our ability to deal with the challenges of our own lives.

2.     We need to practice peaceful presence.

Why is it important to recognize that God is with us?

Because his presence dispels fear.

As those who have God’s presence within us in the form of the Holy Spirit, the church should be known as a presence that dispels fear.

The internet is often a means of spreading viral fear. The challenge is that while fear can be spread virtually, virtual presence lags behind physical presence in dispelling fear. This means that we need to put our phones down and be fully present with our families, friends, and co-workers.

If we opt for virtual engagement with distant contacts rather than physical engagement with the people in our presence, will we not be as reactive to the online conflict as everyone else? If not us, who will bring a peaceful presence into our homes and workplaces?

If a building is on fire, it’s not the so-called leaders caught in the “what if…” loops while frantically running in circles, who have influence and save lives. It’s someone, regardless of title, who stays calm and gives clear, encouraging directions to safety. Honor the God of peace and be that person. Practice a peaceful presence with those around you.

Grace & Peace,

John Crosby