Fighting Anxiety | Bobby Chandler | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Fighting Anxiety

Authentic Church • Mar 23, 2026 • 46 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In the conclusion of the series Unfollow Fear, Pastor Bobby Chandler addresses how anxiety torments our hearts and minds when we try to carry burdens God never asked us to hold. By examining the story of the rich young ruler and the testimony of the Apostle Paul, we discover that anxiety often stems from fear of loss, misplaced security, and self-reliance. True and lasting peace comes not from having control over our circumstances, but from surrendering every worry to God and relying on His Holy Spirit to sustain us through every trial.

Themes

Overcoming AnxietyGod's Supernatural PeaceSurrender and ObedienceTrusting God vs Self-RelianceIdolatry and Misplaced SecurityGod's Grace in Weakness

Pastor's Points

1.

Anxiety is always rooted in what you're afraid to lose.

2.

Anxiety is often the result of misplaced security.

3.

Anxiety reveals a divided heart.

4.

Anxiety increases when you refuse to release what God is asking for.

5.

Sometimes anxiety doesn't always leave, but God gives grace through it.

Key Points

1.
Anxiety is always rooted in what you are afraid to lose and your attempts to secure your own future.
2.
Anxiety is often the result of misplaced security, placing ultimate trust in wealth, status, or worldly achievement rather than in God.
3.
Anxiety reveals a divided heart that desires eternal life and God's blessings without fully committing or surrendering control to Him.
4.
Anxiety escalates when you argue with God or refuse to release the weights He asks you to surrender.
5.
God's peace is not the absence of problems, but His active presence and protection in the middle of your trials.
6.
When God asks a searching question, it is designed to reveal the true state of your heart and your need for a Savior.
7.
Trying to hold onto burdens in your own strength using human methods will only leave you exhausted and tormented.
8.

Sermon Moments

“God's peace is not the absence of your problems, but His presence in the middle of them.”

“Sometimes you have to be put in the fire to see that Jesus is with you and has always been with you.”

“Fear is a liar, worry can make you sick, but anxiety can torment you.”

“Anxiety is always rooted in what you're afraid to lose.”

“You can have everything you've ever wanted and still have no peace without Jesus.”

“Jesus never condemned wealth; He confronted idolatry.”

“The weight that you won't surrender will become the anxiety you can't escape.”

“Pride uses all kinds of human methods to hold the weight you can't carry, but the Holy Spirit comes to lift you up.”

This Week

Turn your daily worries into specific prayers, thanking God for what He has already done and trusting Him with what you cannot control.

Identify any area of your life—such as finances, career, or relationships—where your security is anchored in something other than God, and repent of misplaced trust.

Take inventory of weights you are currently carrying, such as unforgiveness, fear of the future, or the need for control, and actively surrender them to the Lord.

Practice prompt obedience when the Holy Spirit prompts you to give, forgive, or let go of something, rather than arguing or delaying.

Stop trying to earn or achieve what God offers freely as a gift of grace through Jesus Christ.

When facing persistent struggles or unanswered prayers for relief, lean on the Holy Spirit's strength rather than relying on human self-sufficiency.

Speak the name of Jesus over your family, marriage, and difficult situations throughout the week, trusting His peace to guard your heart and mind.

Remember This

The weight you refuse to surrender to God will become the anxiety you cannot escape, but His grace is always sufficient to carry you through every trial.

A Challenge for You

Release control of what you are trying to hold on to, stop walking away from Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to lift the burdens you were never meant to carry alone.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.