Undoing Anxious Thoughts
- Valerie Offutt
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
What do you think of when you hear the word “wire”? There are many ways our brains can go with that word, but where yours went probably has something to do with the way it is, well, wired. I won’t pretend to understand the intricacies of the brain, but I have learned that we have the ability to “rewire” our brains. I’d like to share a little bit about this with you because it changed my life, and I hope it will change yours too if you struggle with anxious thoughts.
Renewing Our Minds
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NASB
I struggled with chronic anxiety for about 10 years. I found myself ashamed by the thoughts that plagued me so much so I often doubted my salvation. I could probably write 100 blog posts about what God taught me through those struggles, but the thing that changed my life the most, was understanding the concept of renewing my mind, or as I like to say, undoing the wonky wiring. While there are medical conditions and substances that can cause anxiety, many of our anxieties stem from bad thoughts that are ingrained in our minds. Those are the ones I’m talking about today. Dr. Caroline Leaf once said, “If we have wired bad thoughts in, we can wire them out. This is = neuroplasticity; the science of “renewing the mind.”’* During that difficult decade, my sweet Father was revealing the bad thoughts in my mind (or soul) that needed renewing.
How to Undo Wonky Wiring
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians. 4:8 NASB
There is much science out there to back up the biblical concept of renewing the mind. Not that we need it. But it’s always nice when science validates scripture. I found a model that really worked for me. But prior to that, the whole concept was foreign to me. See, the key to rewiring our brains and undoing our mental mess, lies in what we focus on. Dr. Leaf tells us in her book Switch on Your Brain, that what we focus on grows. When we focus on bad thoughts, they literally become stronger in our brains. We reinforce the thoughts in our minds (good or bad) the more we dwell on them. Paul essentially tells us in Philippians 4:6–8, don’t be anxious, pray, and focus on good things. Why? Well, again, when we focus on good thoughts, those thoughts get stronger in our brains, and the bad thoughts begin to weaken and eventually die. Mind blowing, right? Mind changing? Definitely!
Embrace the Journey
I’m so thankful to God for ultimately healing me from anxiety. And while I never want to experience that again, I’ve come to a place where I can appreciate the journey, and all that God taught me through it. In some cases, God heals people instantly from anxiety. But in many cases, it takes much counseling, prayer, and heart work. If you are experiencing chronic anxiety or bouts of anxiety, you are not alone. God cares deeply. I encourage you to seek God, godly community, and godly counsel to support you as you renew your mind.
What bad thoughts are you struggling with right now? Take a moment to write them down, and then find biblical truths that you can focus on to counter those thoughts. Ask God to give you a picture or symbol that represents those scriptures. And then, when anxiety strikes, think about those things. May God’s peace be with you!
*Leaf, Dr. Caroline. 2013, "If we have wired bad thoughts in, we can wire them out. This is = neuroplasticity; the science of," Facebook, September 23, 2013, https://www.facebook.com/drleaf/posts/if-we-have-wired-bad-thoughts-in-we-can-wire-them-out-this-is-neuroplasticity-th/10151617247371078/L.