The Westside Podcast—featuring Jonathan Hansen - The Westside Podcast | Summer on the Mount • How to Find Peace When Anxiety Feels Overwhelming

How to Find Peace When Anxiety Feels Overwhelming What do you do when anxiety feels overwhelming, and your mind won't stop thinking about everything that could go wrong? Anxiety has a way of pulling us out of the present and into a future filled with worst-case scenarios. We carry tomorrow's worries today, replay conversations, anticipate problems, and find ourselves asking an endless stream of “what if” questions. But in Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus gives us a different way to approach anxiety. He doesn't dismiss the reality of life's difficulties or simply tell us to stop worrying. Instead, He redirects our attention from “what if?” to “who?” Who is your Father? Who is the One who is good, sovereign, faithful, and already present in the future you're worried about? In this episode of The Westside Podcast, we explore what Jesus teaches about anxiety, worry, fear, and finding peace in uncertain times. Through Jesus' teaching and the story of God's provision of manna in the wilderness, we discover that God has always invited His people to trust Him one day at a time. We'll also talk about practical ways to respond when anxiety begins to take over—from honest prayer and speaking truth over anxious thoughts to gratitude, slowing down, staying present, and finding trusted people who can walk with us. And at the center of it all is the gospel. Our confidence in God isn't based on wishful thinking. It is rooted in His character and demonstrated through Jesus, who was rejected so that we could be received and forsaken so that we would never be forsaken. Peace doesn't come from knowing what tomorrow holds. It comes from knowing the One who holds tomorrow. Whether you're exploring faith, struggling with anxiety, carrying the weight of an uncertain future, or simply looking for encouragement, this episode offers biblical truth, practical help, and the hope of Jesus. In this episode: What Jesus teaches about anxiety and worry in Matthew 6 Why anxiety keeps pulling us into the “what ifs” What it means to trust God one day at a time What the story of manna teaches us about God's provision How prayer and Scripture can interrupt anxious thoughts How to speak truth over fear and worry The role of gratitude and staying present Why trusted relationships and counseling can be part of a healthy response to anxiety How the gospel gives us a foundation for lasting peace Matthew 6:25–34 | Psalm 42 If you've been searching for Christian answers to anxiety, biblical peace, ways to overcome worry, ways to trust God, or ways to find faith in difficult seasons, we hope this conversation encourages you. Westside Family Church