In the sermon, I really liked this reminder: “That you’d experience anxiety by putting all of your hope in keeping up your appearance rather than being honest with others about what’s really going on in your life.“ Can you please share the verse(s) this is pulled from? Thanks!
I’m glad you asked for verses(s), because there’s not a single verse that conveys the idea I shared. The idea comes from multiple passages in the Bible. I’ll share a few below, but know there are many that I’m leaving out!
Overall, when we take what we learn in the verses below, and elsewhere in Scripture (especially in the historical accounts of people who didn’t speak honestly), we see there being a tie between dishonesty in our lives (even about what’s going on personally, which is what I referred to as “keeping up appearances”), and the experience of anxiety. For those of us who follow Jesus, who is the Truth, speaking truthfully is the standard for all areas of our lives. For when we don’t speak truthfully, there will be a consequence for our disobedience. Often, when our dishonesty is over a personal matter, anxiety is often a consequence we experience.
On anxiety:
Proverbs 12:25 – Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
Proverbs 29:25 – The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
Matthew 6:25-34 – 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Philippians 4:4-8 – 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
1 Peter 5:6-7 – 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
On honesty:
Psalm 32:3 – For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
Psalm 101:7 – No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.
Jeremiah 9:5 – Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity.
Mark 8:36 – “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Ephesians 4:15 – Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,