Welcome to the line within us, a podcast, serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders they’re predestined to be. I’m your host, Chris Granger. Let’s jump in. All right, guys. This week is all about the self at bucket, and we’re going to be talking about lions and anxiety. And I know that’s a tough topic.

Okay. There’s a lot of stressors out there. Just a lot of things coming at us as lions as we lead our families. Now the verse of the week, first Peter five seven cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. What a wonderful message that is. Okay. And to get us started for this. I have a letter and I want to read this letter to you guys, and there’s a lot of truth here.

This guy lays it all out. It’s very, very vulnerable here, but I think there’s several points in this letter that we all can relate to. So here we go. I’m writing this in the midst of an anxiety attack as I want to help others out there that face the same. This attack came. As soon as I received news that my wife’s grandmother had passed away.

Anxiety hits me in a very physical way as I can feel it. And I experienced a fight or flight reality head on for me, it’s a raised heartbeat, a sense of fear. And it’s really hard to explain often when this happens, I have to get up out of bed. I have to start with. When it’s really bad, like it is tonight.

I have to get dressed and actually go outside for a walk. The crazy part is that I noticed just an anxiety attack and at the same time, there’s a very real feeling that I will lose this. I want to put this together simply as an encouragement to others who battle with this and provide some guidance on items to consider what under attack.

My God is more powerful than Satan. Our worship, the creator of the heavens and earth to him time is measured much differently than I do. So while the texts seem like they last forever and God’s timing there. Often ponder these things. It think about how does my God do it while at the same time relishing in the fact that I don’t know, I do not need to figure.

Figure that out because it’s outside of my human ability to understand the cool part is I’m on the same team as a creator, and there’s no one better to allow what they can help me fight through. By next thoughts, often shift to when Jesus was being attacked and the wilderness, and he didn’t run, he went straight to scripture and used the word to fight his attacks.

That brings me peace is I can see firsthand how the lion of Judah, even with his strength and being God still succumb to attacks the encouraging part is that when Jesus faced these attacks, it shows, it’s saying that even though Jesus faced these attacks, Satan’s going to attack any. Right. No one, no one is safe.

He will strike when we’re weakest a strike or we are even close to God. Cause think about it. Why would Satan need to attack someone who is not trying to live their life in God’s will? And those cases, he leaves them alone because they are right where he wants them to be, which is on the path to Hale is separated from Jesus forever.

Eternity is far too critical and I choose to stay on my savior and we’ll use his power to fight against the forces of this world. The letter continues. The final areas that are coming to mind are how my wife is a source of strength and a mighty prayer warrior. And how, and how more scripture I have stored in my heart.

The more equipped I am, the. The only way through these battles is by leaning on the word of God and prayer. You hear where worship is, the worry cannot exist. And I’m beginning to see that first. Whether it’s reciting the Lord’s prayer or individual scripture that you have in your heart. That’s a powerful tool against these attacks.

We’re blessed to have a partner in marriage that leans on the word of God. That is truly amazing. She is one person who met whom who, no matter what, even when they’re in another state, I know will not only pray for me, but she’ll do it at the drop of a hat. And I pray you fast. You find strong partners in marriage and never take their love for.

That many out there, they read this and see a weak man. That’s okay. Perhaps you’re right. For those that battle with anxiety. I want you to hear this. You are not alone. There may be other brothers in Christ that fight the same battles that you. For me, it goes in ways and it can be years between attacks. I encourage you all to listen to your bodies.

And when the attacks come, tell yourself this too shall pass the battle sucks. However, I fully believe that if you are facing persecution, then you are advancing the kingdom. State of course lean on the God of Israel. Use a scriptures that has Armas as our Messiah did, and always take your concerns to him in prayer.

Give God the honor and the glory he deserves and, and take comfort in knowing that he knows every hair on your head. I’ll leave you with this from Isaiah 41, 10 as he closes this letter. Don’t fear because I am with you. Don’t be afraid for, I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will surely help you. I will hold you with my righteous strong hand.

And this letter is signed Chris Granger. That’s right guys. I wrote this letter. I wrote this letter several weeks ago. So just being real with you. I have battled anxiety in my life. Okay. It’s it’s coming different phases that re recall the first time having anxiety. It was actually when my oldest daughter was, was due to be born.

And I, it was probably the, the nerves, the stress of being a new dad. And that affected me in a, in a very physical way. You know, I, there were several times, it was just very real feeling of panic and fight or flight. I don’t know if I can do this. Right. So I really got some help. Now we’re going to talk about tips.

I’m going to give you some encouragement as we work through this, but that’s when it hit me the first time. And for me, that anxiety feeling as this letter says, it’s very physical. Yeah, it was for some guys. It may not be physical. It may just be more of a, of a mental thing as stressor. This is a very physical thing.

Now I really try to stay on top of, of working out and, and try to eat the right food. It’s not always happening, but you try to do the right things. So in those moments, I know that, you know, physically I’m in pretty decent shape, but that fear, that anxiety. Overrides the mind is a powerful thing guys, and, and mental health.

It’s a real thing. It’s a real area of concern because we need to make sure our minds are sharp and we need to make sure that we take care of our MAs and sometimes. W we can’t do it by ourself. Okay. So that was me. When, when that anxiety started happening, uh, back then it did subside, you know, once she was born, I got to hold her in my arms.

I did the anxiety kind of went away and really it went away for several years. You know, I haven’t had real battles with anxiety the way I did back then. And that was 2010 until probably the last year, the last really couple of months. And I really think, as I think through it as anxiety, a lot of anxiety for a Christian man comes in the way of spiritual warfare.

As you draw closer to God and you start working towards things to build up his. Who are you really going against? You’re going against Satan and Satan. Doesn’t like that. And Satan is going to use tools. He’s going to throw every dart at you. Hey, just getting up to courage. The have this conversation that I know is going to be heard all over.

Right. Satan was having a field day, but you know what guys, this is not about Chris. This is about helping you. Whoever’s listening to this that may be battling with anxiety. Who’s never told someone you need to know you’re not alone. Cause I certainly did. I felt very isolated when this was happening. I felt very ashamed.

I felt like a pretty weak dude, to be honest, like I’m a man. I was supposed to be able to deal with this. I just need to be able to suppress it, move on. I mean, that’s what I was thinking. That’s the way you may be thinking. And you know what, that only goes so far, that only goes so far. You have to embrace it.

You have to understand, you have to listen to your body. Okay. Because there’s nothing wrong with you. You can get through this distressors of this world are on believable. Just think about what we’re fighting every day for our families every day. You know, you have career, you have your spouse, you have kids, you have your FA your, your extended family finances.

Right? All of these things, all these things inflation. Everything’s going on the dollar today is definitely not worth what it was a year ago. Right? There’s so much coming at us guys. This it’s natural to feel stressed. It’s natural to have some anxiety. So what you need to do is think through ways to address it.

Now we’re going to take a quick break and I’m going to come back with some encouragement, with some tips that you can consider when you’re facing anxiety.

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Let’s talk about some ways that you can really address anxiety and thanks. You can consider, okay. The first and foremost, I’m not a doctor, so, or a psychologist or anything like that, but I think these tips are solid and you can use them and you can move forward. Tip number one, acknowledge it. You need to acknowledge the fact that something’s happening and you know what acknowledge it to your spouse.

She does not need to be kept in a dark. You know, and I I’ve gotten to the routine with my wife and she started reading my cues. She can pick up on it. Hey, you know? All right. And I know when she asked me that, that, that ma ma my cube, but the facade I’ve been putting up, it’s not as good as I thought. And I was just, and I’ve learned now to just lean into it, you know what, I’m really happy.

I’m struggling with. Mean a lot of times she’d be like, do I need to do anything? And sometimes like, well, let’s pray. Or sometimes, you know what, I’m just going to go for a walk or maybe I just need to rest. Maybe I’ve been trying to get too much done too much stress, whatever it is, but acknowledge it and just accept it.

Hey, this is happening. And also with acknowledging it, I want you to go to your friends. You know, also therapists, counselors. These people are wonderful, but sometimes it could be something actually physically wrong. So one way to make that anxiety go away subsides in some ways is to check the box that nothing is physically.

So don’t just assume that it is anxiety. Cause it may be something that physically, and it can be treated and you and your doctor should know. And there’s nothing wrong with going and talking to your doctor about that, your general physician or finding a wonderful counselor. You know, back when 2010, when my oldest daughter was being born, I actually was able to get connected with a counselor that she really helped me think through some ways to, to, to manage the anxiety.

To understand that this what was happening to my body and gave me some tips that really worked for me. Now, there’ll be different tips that work for you, but the fact that I acknowledged it and went and actually tried to get help, that was the only way I can move past it. Okay. So that’s your tip. Number one, we have to acknowledge it.

Tip number two. Attacks are temporary. Okay. Keep that in mind. Cause when attacks come, they can feel like they’re lasting for ever. And I get it. Yeah. I have literally been up all night and it’s and you may think, well, all night that’s a long time end up in, in God’s realm of time. It’s not, it’s a blip, right?

It’s not that long, but they are temporary and many are spiritual nature. Okay. So many are, there’s so many ways you can fight a spiritual attack through scripture, through prayer, through having the word in your heart, though. Those are ways I had the Bible always by my bed. So if I wake up, if I’m under attack, boom, you know what I’m going to that scripture, you guys, there was a lot of anxiety that, and that attacks that came to me just with wanting to start the line within that.

For a teaching, some Bible studies that I’ve done in the past and you know why those attacks come cause Satan doesn’t want it to be successful. Satan wants to lie within us to fail, and those taxes are going to come, but you know what I’m going to push through because I have you as brothers that are listening, that are supporting, that are being engaging, that I know together we can over.

And my brother, Adam, he’s always there for me. He’s one that 3m type guy that I can call. I know he’s there. So that’s really important. So a tax temporary, keep that in mind. Number three, be open to help. Okay. Now that you’ve acknowledged it, you gotta be open for help. So if the doctor or, or a therapist makes recommendations or medications, You can’t be so close minded to say, you know what, no, not going to do that because that may be what you need.

Now. I remember going back and revealing a lot to you guys, and that’s okay. There were several medications that they tried and two of them two or three of them did not work. They actually made it worse, but they finally got to a medication that really was a blessing. And that it’s a very low dosage, but it was something.

Trial and error and being open to the fact that, Hey, I need some help really was able to, to provide that blessing. So be open there. Don’t just think because you know what, this silly therapist wants me to think about this, or they want me to take this medicine and I’m not going to do that. I’m just, dude, I’ll figure it out on my own.

You know what guys that is not the way that. We have met around us. We have people, we have experts. Let’s use them lean into that. Okay. The stress number three, be open. Number four. I want you to recognize your triggers. Okay. And when I say recognize your triggers, I know for me, there are certain things that I’m doing.

The attacks we won’t come. Like if I’m working on this, working on the line with Dennis stuff and I’ve been cranking, cranking, cranking, cranking. And then I try to just go to bed after my mind’s middle wide open for hours, Satan is going to have a field day. So a trigger for me has to be, you know, what I need to make to, to, to, uh, purposely unplug for while before I leave.

Right. And to have that, that break, you know, there’s all sorts of studies about there, about the blue lights and, and, and screen time. And I think there’s probably a lot of truth to that. We’re not going to get it. All of that. I was going to take a final one that works a way that works for you, because you may need to modify your, your system, your S your flow, your habits, right.

To really be able to give that break and give your mind the time. To shut down and to actually think through what’s coming, you know, w what’s going on and what you need to do next. So, you know, recognize your triggers. And then when you can manage those triggers out of your life, let’s get them out, you know, may that it could be something that for, for me in the past, I’ve often I’ve often thought there are certain foods just to trigger it or smells guys were all different.

Once you identified some things that really trigger you, that raise your stress. Let’s get them out and bring that stress level back. Now it’s just natural, but you gotta recognize, you gotta be in tune. You gotta be thinking about what are some of those triggers and what, how did they affect me? Number five, do not be ashamed of this or hide it from your wife.

Guys. I’ve seen too many times where we feel like we just need to put it in our pocket, leave it alone. And we’re going to manage it ourselves. I got this. This is not how you deal with anxiety. You need to understand first and foremost, nothing is wrong with you. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Okay.

There’s all sorts of texts. The Bible talks about anxiety a lot and stress. And why does it do that? Because God knows we’re. If we’re made in the image of God, he knows that the stresses that we have are real and he’s acknowledging. So there’s no reason for us to suppress it, lean into it and acknowledge it and do not hide it from your wife.

She deserves to know cause you know what, that may be a moment for you as husband and wife, that brings you together because she hears your heart. She hears you being vulnerable and you know what she loves you. She does. So she’s going to do what she can to support. You know what that may be praying together.

And you know, what you may find by being vulnerable with her, that there are stressors in her life that there’s things going on in her life, her anxiety may be up and then you’ll be able to be able to help her deal with her situation as well. So don’t hide it. Do not be ashamed of it guys. So, I mean, it feels.

As again, as men, we can feel like we have to have this facade up there, we got it all figured out. We’ll go out in the woods, a we’ll we’ll go do a big workout or whatever, whatever it is, something masculine and the feelings would go away. And sometimes they do exercise has been proven to, to lower your stress.

But you know, what, if you’re actually dealing with something and is continual acknowledge it, don’t be ashamed. And talk to your wife about it. It’s so important because I feel like too many times we feel like we have to be this superhero to her, which we are many ways, but we are, don’t have to always have it together.

It’s okay to be vulnerable. I think that actually shows strength in a man when he recognizes that he doesn’t have it all. It’s I don’t have this all together and you know what, babe, I got this going on and I can use. That’s shown a real true heart. And there’s something to be said about that. I got five more.

Let’s take a quick break. We’ll be right back.

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All right, guys, we’re back. So it was the first five to recap, acknowledge it. Attacks are temporary. Be open to help recognize your triggers and do not be ashamed. Okay. Number six. Breathe. You’re not crazy. Get centered, move around some but breathing. There’s so many ways of just doing deep inhales. Hold it exhale slowly.

Hold it deep. Inhale. I usually do a count of five or six, you know, so do a count of five or six on a inhale, hold it four or five or six exhale on four or five or six. And then inhale again and do that three, four times. You’ll find, just do the act of breathing and, and controlling your breathing that were lower.

Your heart rate, that stress will start to subside. And this is something you can do in meetings. You know, sometimes I used to get stressed out in meetings a lot, so you can breathe at a meeting, right? You don’t have to make this big announcement. Hey, I’m stressed out. Hey, I’m feeling some anxiety. No, just start.

Just breathe in counting to six hotel six, then breathe it out there, do it again. You know, you can do that. That’s a trick to really lower that stress level. Okay. So that’s something that you can really think of. So breathe is so important. Number seven, and this may sound silly guys. So hang with me, visualize a safe place.

Now in 2010, when I was going through that original stress, the lady I was working with actually had me visualize. The safe place now, for me, it was just this cabin in the woods. I knew what the inside looked like. I had all this stuff figured out, but it was just a safe place. I could close my eyes and go to my mind while doing the breathing exercise.

And it really helped, you know what, so some of you asked maybe hitting the 30, you know, the four 32nd on the podcast. Do you want to get past this silly part? And that’s fine, but you know, There’s something about visualization. We all have places that we, that we like that we go. Maybe it’s the woods. So maybe it’s just simply closing your mind, your eyes and thinking about being in the woods.

You know, I’ve been in several meetings where I closed my eyes and I wanted to be somewhere else. And probably you have to, but when you’re dealing with anxiety, when it’s hitting you, visualization can really help. You know, it takes you out of the attacks that are coming and puts you in another place in your mind and makes you really focus on what that place is.

And when you’re focusing on that, the attack scene, the subside, so visualization number eight, fight or flight. Okay. You’ve probably all heard that, but fight or flight is real. So what is that? It’s in a situations in life that come at us, we are faced with a couple of scenarios. We can fight through them or flight.

We could get the heck out of there. Right? The Bible has examples of both to where, you know, we, we have these strong warriors who, who stood up. They fought for God at the same time. There’s sometimes where the Bible says, you know, we need to flee, we need to run. We need to get out of that situation. Right.

So just understand what do anxiety fight or flight is a very real response. And it’s okay to ha to have either, right. It’s okay. Sometimes you may need to just get out for me sometimes. I just need to get out. I need to get outside. I need to go clear my mind. Sometimes I just need to fight through it and say, you know what?

This is not happening. You’re not winning, but just understand. You may hear therapists. You may read books and if you see that fight or flight, I didn’t want it to be something new for you. If you’re dealing with anxiety. That is real. Okay. Number two. Used the armor of God, the armor of God is there for a reason.

So it’s in Ephesians chapter six, 10 through 20, finally be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might put on the full armor of God. So she’ll be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil for our struggle is not against flesh and blood. I guess, rulers, I guess the powers against the world forces of darkness against the spiritual forces of weaknesses in the heavenly places.

Therefore. Take up the full armor of God so that you will be able to resist the evil to end the evil day and having done everything to stand firm stand firm. Therefore, here you go. Gird your loins with the truth, having put on the belt plate of righteousness and having shod your feet with, with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

In addition to all take up the shield of faith, which you’ll be able to extend all the flames of the arrows of the evil. And take the helmet of salvation and disorder, spirit, which is the word of God. Tell you what I can visualize that armor right now, right? The belt of truth, right? The breastplate of righteousness.

I can just see myself putting it at breastplate. All right. The feed of the gospel, right? The shield of faith. That’s a big one. The sword of the spirit. The helmet of salvation. I really think about that helmet a lot because that helmet protects what your head what’s in your head. It’s your mind, your brain.

So visualize putting on the armor of God, go to Ephesians six, maybe have it typed out, laminate it by your bed wherever you need to do. Get this one in your heart. You need to have this one. Okay. So that’s the ninth tip. So tip number two. Scripture and prayer are key. Now know that sales simple, but I will tell you what guys, the more scripture you have in your heart, the more prepared you are to fight anxiety.

I am confident in this. Because where worship is worry, cannot be there as well. So if you have that scripture, you’re having that attack go to some scripture in your mind. If you don’t know it, pull your Bible out and start reading. It’s okay. I’ve had to do that a lot and you know, Go to prayer, commune with God.

Talk to him, let him know what’s going on. Let him know the stressors that your ass you’re having. Ask for the blood of Jesus to cover you to F to bind up the attacks that you’re under to cast them to the gates of hell, where they belong all in the name of Jesus Christ, guys, prayer prayers, real it’s powerful.

It’s impactful. What did Jesus do when he had the temptation? He went straight to script. Straight to scripture and he has God that’s Jesus’ way to attack the temptation. Shouldn’t it be ours? I think it should. Scripture and CA and prayers key. So let’s recap our top 10 areas of encouragement, uh, ways to deal with anxiety.

Number one and knowledge. It. Number two attacks for temporary. Keep that in my number three, be open for help. Number four, recognize your triggers and manage them out. Number five, do not be ashamed or hide it from your wife. Number six, breathe. Number seven. Visualize your safe place. Number eight, understand that fight or flight is real.

Number nine, use that armor God at Ephesians six talks about, and number 10, scripture and prayer are key. Okay, guys, I know this is a lot. This is a heavy conversation. Probably shared more than, than I planned with you guys, but you know what? I gotta be. I don’t know anybody out there listening to the line with Anna’s to think that, you know what Chris has got this all figured out.

He’s got it all together. I’m just a man. I’m a man figuring it out. I’m trying to leave my family. Well, got three little girls, depending on me, a beautiful wife. Who’s always there to support at any time to pray with me. You know what? I want that for you guys. So for me, it’s just part of life. You know, anxiety comes, anxiety goes, I’m going to keep serving.

I’m going to keep moving forward. I’m going to keep working to fulfill what God wants me to do. While I’m here on earth and that’s it. And I know stress is out there. Stress is real money problems, right there they’re real family problems, all sorts of issues that Satan started us with our kids and parenting.

It’s all real. So I’m not trying to hide behind the fact or, or, or make light of any stresses out there guys, but we’re here. It has to these kinds of conversations that we really want to help you guys. So, you know, what, if this conversation brought you any value, let me know, send a comment and you know, what, if there’s someone out there scratch that, send this to some brothers.

Cause a lot of our brothers out there, I’m not going to tell us when they’re dealing with stress. They’re not going to tell us the things that he’s attacking them. So just say, Hey, you know what? This is pretty cool message. This is listen to this old country board. Talk about it. You know, that’s a simple step and you never know warranty steps that I just laid out could be something that really saves and helps a brother in Christ as he’s dealing with some anxiety or panic attack or stress or whatever that is.

Right. Cause we got to do this together. Guys. We have to band together as lions in this battle and we can do it. I know we can be successful. And that is what the lion with Anissa is here for. And that is. So share with others guys, check out our coaching process, go to the line with the aunt.us, to see what we’ve built.

We have a lot of resources. We have Bible studies, we have a coaching programs. We have communities that we’re putting together. We are trying to serve the Christian man out there. Cause we know you’re leaders. You’re predestined to do great things. We just want to be that encouragement. We want to give. So encouragement and be there too, that iron, that sharpens the iron, that challenged issue that helps you, that puts you at a good state of mind to lead your.

So go to the line within.us to check all that out. If you like it, please give us a five star rating, write a one sentence review that really does help to engage with us on our social media platforms. I’m really trying to lean in to do more of that, to be there for you guys to respond to comments, things like that.

So respond, be part, follow us, connect comment, things like that. I’ll do my best. The guys lions and anxiety. This is a real conversation. I hope it has brought you a lot of value. If there’s questions hit us up, we are here. We’re here support. We’re here to be a rock that you can count all that you can go to for support, for help for guidance and guys at the end of the day, we’re all in this fight trying to serve God, trying to live the way that he has predestined for us.

So now go out this week. And unleash the lion within.