Anxiety, Discernment, and the Voice of God

• By candidasullivan
• January 5, 2026
• No Comments

Do you ever feel warnings in your gut that let you know something is not exactly right?

When the alarm bells sound, we can lean in a little closer and pray about the unsettling feelings, or we can dismiss them. If we ignore the warnings without fully exploring and consciously examining them, we are dismissing the Lord’s guidance.

Some anxiety is a warning. If we ignore it, try to pray it away, or take medicine to make it go away without first examining it, we may be missing a vital piece of the puzzle.

Primarily, if we focus on the anxiety instead of what it is trying to teach us, we miss the invitation God is offering.

Anxiety can be a cue to pray. When we call on the Lord amid fear, we can learn and grow through the process.

Years ago, I struggled with debilitating anxiety. The more fear I had, the smaller I made my world. I was afraid to go into stores, scared to drive, and afraid to go to sleep because some nights I would wake up in panic, with my heart racing and struggling to breathe. I feared something would happen to my children while I slept, so I would check on them multiple times a night.

During that time, I lived so deep in the clutches of fear that it was all I could see or think about. I took medicine for years to stop the anxiety, but it seemed to magnify.

As I look back now, I realize I was ignoring my Lord’s warnings.
I don’t believe anxiety always means disobedience, but in my case, God was trying to get my attention.

I ignored the calling He had given me. Instead of writing what He wanted me to write, I did my own thing. God beckoned to me, and I ignored Him.

Walking in disobedience and sin is a fearful thing. God was dissatisfied with me, and I could feel it. It was a battle between my soul and my flesh.

Now I’m learning to listen to the anxiety. When it rears up in my life, I know it’s an invitation to pray—not for God to remove it, but to show me why I am feeling it and help me get back on track.

When something feels off, I want to pay attention to it. The enemy is raging. He wants to destroy us. We can’t be dismissive.

Matthew 24:24 (KJV)
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

We are living in times I thought I would never see. Things are different. People are different.

We can get swept away by the differences and accept them as our new reality, or we can inquire of the Lord.

When we inquire of the Lord, we let Him know that His ways and truths are important to us. When we sincerely desire to follow Him alone, He reveals deeper truths.

My soul knows the voice of the Lord. It’s the only voice that can truly teach me and comfort me. Therefore, I want to seek my God. In Him, I find absolute truth—not someone else’s version of it. God lets me know when I’m right and when I’m wrong.

Sweet friends, if your soul feels unsettled, inquire about it. If something doesn’t feel quite right, ask Him to reveal the truth to you.

When I slow down amid the panic and anxiousness, God can teach me. Otherwise, I stay embedded in the fear and pain.

Jesus is the way. He is the truth. And the life. We can’t live well without Him or find God without Him. We need Jesus. He is the direct connection to God.

John 14:6 (KJV)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

God is not afraid of our questions. He is waiting for our attention.