Living with the anxiety of daily living and distractions, and learning to rely on the Spirit rather than your own strength, is a lifetime journey. Even today, I still struggle. When big things happen, or there is a lot going on, I want to take control. I want to put things together so that they are doable and fixable. Rather than leaning into God, I take Him out of the equation and make everything my responsibility. I forget the promise I made to be my best self because I get to the point that I don’t feel right; I don’t feel at peace. This is the last of the red flags, because I realize it took some steps to get here.

Here are my Red Flags and the Warning Signs I’m Carrying Everything Myself

1. Time with God becomes less consistent. You start skipping or shortening your quiet time, prayer, or time in the Word.
2. Time with God is taken up by other things. Your schedule fills up with tasks, distractions, and obligations that feel more urgent.
3. Unimportant things become an irritant, and little things become big things. Minor inconveniences trigger outsized frustration or stress.
4. People—who they are and what they do—make you feel angry and impatient. You find yourself easily annoyed or resentful toward others.
5. You blame other people for your responses and reactions. You don’t take responsibility for your own attitude or righteousness.
6. You avoid your feelings. You ignore what you feel and why, rather than bringing it honestly before God.
7. Your peace is only experienced in brief moments. Calm feels temporary and quickly gives way to worry or tension.
8. Your words and deeds are hurting people. You notice that your reactions are wounding those around you.
9. You go into problem‑solving mode immediately instead of going to the Problem‑Solver Himself. You strategize and plan before you surrender and pray.

What to Do When Anxiety Rises

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:67 (NLT)

• Don’t worry. When anxiety rises, notice it as a cue to turn to God, not spiral in your thoughts.
• Pray about everything. Tell God what you need with honesty and humility.
• Thank him for all he has done. Remember his faithfulness and choose gratitude in the middle of uncertainty.
• Receive His peace. Trust that he will guard your heart and mind as you live in Christ Jesus.

What we see as problems are opportunities for growth. How we approach difficulties and life in general is what makes the difference. God must be at the forefront. Set your mind and heart where they need to be. Our Father already has the answer; we only need to follow His lead.

Shifting Your Perspective

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me, everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:89 (NLT)

• Change your perspective. Intentionally focus on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise.

Trusting Your Good Father

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:79, 1112 (NIV)

Let go of worldly expectations and release the pressure to have it all together. Trust your Heavenly Father: ask, seek, and knock. Your Father wants to give you good things and shape your heart so that you can love others well, even in the middle of anxiety and uncertainty.
– Remind yourself… it’s okay to not have all the answers right now…or they may not. Lean into what trusting God means.