Church - A Haven for Anxiety

Ever since I was introduced to the idea of the "non-anxious presence" of Jesus model of living years ago, it has been a quest to achieve a little more of that in my own life year by year. I put it in those terms because I have come to find that it is such a difficult task that it is unreasonable for me to expect marked change over smaller increments. I do know that it does continue to positively impact my life.
I have been trying to pay attention as of late to the level of anxiety that most of us operate in church life. I recall many Sunday mornings opening the door of the church feeling butterflies clogging my esophagus over what might go wrong today or what so and so might say and who may be in a bad mood and how might I handle it. I ran into church members with their "must happen today" list and the collection of us all in one place was no doubt enough anxiety to fuel a turbine if it could be harnessed. This gruesome scene seemed so much the norm that I operated in it as the norm. I believe that many or most of the pastors I know or work with are doing the same, living in tension that is a norm.
But what if we didn't? What if we could approach church life with a much lower level of personal anxiety and thus tension? Even I am smart enough to figure out that life would be so much better if that were to happen. Yes, I hear you say it, so tell me how (and do it quickly) to reduce the anxiety.
The answer is going to seem an oversimplification, but trust me on this, it is the most difficult challenge of life. It is achieved by childlike trust in God. Jesus was non anxious because He had absolute confidence in the unbroken relationship with the Father and the Fathers amazing character of reliability.We do not overcome anxiety as we get better able to deal with life and it's issues. We overcome anxiety as we get better able to trust in the nature of God. Dealing with life is more about God's nature on my behalf than it is me. If I believe that principle enough to totally flesh it out, then I have no reason for anxiety. After all, what do I really have to fear, God (the one who is in control) loves me and will show himself faithful.
So when you (and especially me) come to a church gathering and feel the anxiety responders in our body start kicking in we can know right off what we have is a trust in God issue. We are anxious because we are indeed leaning far to heavily on our own understanding and on our own ability to have to deal with life and our insecurities about our ability. Check it out next Sunday, watch people around you and see if you can spot the anxiety. Maybe you can become a catalyst for calmness as you deal with your own lack of trust. "Lord Jesus, help our unbelief."