Hey Devoted Geeks! Welcome back to part two of our “Lift It Up” series, inspired by the song by Thousand Foot Krutch. In part one, we talked about what to do when our plans fall apart. Today, we are tackling a massive topic that affects almost everyone: Stress and Anxiety.

We live in a high-paced, instant-gratification, social-media-driven society. Because of this, people are constantly bombarded with things that cause stress and anxiety. Sadly, many people, young and old,  are not equipped to handle the weight of these emotions.

But what exactly are we dealing with?

Anxiety is an inner feeling of apprehension, uneasiness, concern, or worry, typically about an upcoming event or something with an uncertain outcome. When you experience stress and anxiety, your body physically reacts. Your heart beats faster, your muscles tense, and neurological and chemical changes occur. Sometimes you might sweat, feel faint, or get jumpy and restless. Your brain enters a state known as the “fight or flight” response.

How many of you have dealt with that exact feeling? Today, we are going to look at what the Bible says about this serious emotion and how we can “Lift It” to Jesus. However, as last time, before we start, I’d like to invite you to listen to the song, “Lift It” by Thousand Foot Krutch, before we begin.

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What Does Jesus Say About Worry?

Jesus actually spoke directly about how we should handle the anxieties of life.

“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? 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? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?…. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), Mt 6:25–27, 33-34

Jesus is telling us that we shouldn’t allow the stress and worries of this life to disable us. God knows exactly what you need, and He will provide. Instead of panicking, He tells us to seek His kingdom first.

Dr. Gary R. Collins, a Christian counselor, put it perfectly:

“Anxiety as fret and worry comes when we turn from God, shift the burdens of life onto ourselves and assume, at least by our attitudes and actions, that we alone are responsible for handling problems, instead of acknowledging God’s sovereignty and power, or seeking His kingdom and righteousness first…”

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Why Should We Lift Our Stress to Jesus?

When we are overwhelmed, our first response should be to lift it up to Him. Here is why:

• He Will Sustain You: “Cast all your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22). Jesus will help you keep going during those hard times.
• He Brings Joy: “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” (Psalm 94:19). When we lift our stress to Jesus, His comfort replaces our panic with joy.
• He Actually Cares: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). Jesus wants you to give Him your stress simply because He loves you. And as 1 John 4:18 reminds us, “perfect love drives out fear.”

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How Do We Deal With Stress?

Overcoming anxiety requires a two-part approach: the practical and the spiritual.

The Practical Side

First, if you are stressed because of environmental factors, start by changing the environment!

• If you are worried that you’ll fail a class because you haven’t been doing the work, then study and do your homework.  If you are stressed because you’re afraid someone will discover something wrong you’ve been doing, then stop doing it. Identify the source of the stress and develop a practical plan to deal with it in an appropriate way.

The Spiritual Side

What about the spiritual aspect of lifting these things to Jesus? The Apostle Paul gives us a perfect step-by-step guide in Philippians 4:4-9.

v. 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Worship: Sing praises and give thanks. Have a time of worship or just sit and talk to Him. Rejoice that Jesus will never abandon you and will always provide.

v. 5: “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

Show Gentleness: Act out what it means to be a Christian. Gentleness must exude in how we treat and talk to other people, even when we are stressed.

v. 6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Pray Specifically: People have no problem talking the ear off of everyone else about their problems, but say nothing to the ONE who can actually fix it. Bring the specifics of your situation to God.

v. 8: “Finally… whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable… think about such things.”

Change Your Focus: Stop dwelling on the negative. This might require drastic changes, like reducing your exposure to toxic people, certain music, or negative social media feeds.

v. 9: “Whatever you have learned or received… put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Walk it Out: Overcoming stress can be crippling, but you have to actively take steps. Work out the spiritual disciplines, but also put in the physical work to find your release.