“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” - Proverbs 12:25
Chapter 12 of Proverbs is titled Contrast the Upright and the Wicked and discusses the differences between good and evil. The contrast between the effects of anxiety versus encouragement is a different matter. The effects of anxiety, whether physical, emotional or mental, always tear us down. Anxiety as an emotion is about informing us that something is at risk or at stake and inviting us to assess whether we can control, avoid or confront the risk.
When we get stuck in anxiety, it is often because we’re wanting to control something that is not really within our control. Holding onto the belief that ruminating on worrisome thoughts about things outside of our control will help us avoid the risk of pain and disappointment that only holds us back from seeing how God’s word offers to support us through these feelings even when it’s outside of our control. We can practice casting our anxieties on the Lord by stepping away from attempts to control our worries and leaning into the reassuring words of God. Once we do this, we can see that our anxiety is not a thing on which we should focus. Instead, we are called to give it up to God.
Verse 25 further deepens our understanding of what anxiety does to us – it weighs us down. To give this a visual metaphor, picture a backpack with a book in it. The more books you put into your backpack, the heavier it gets. The more worries you add onto yourself, the heavier your mind, emotions and physical body are weighed down with anxiety. When you carry thoughts in your mind, you carry them in your heart. Learning to replace those stressful thoughts with the word of God is life-altering. Rather than experiencing constant worry, you will find more joy in your life.