Podcast Summary: "i really want freedom from anxiety"

Christ With Coffee On Ice
Host: Ally Yost
Date: November 1, 2024

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ally Yost dives deeply into the topic of anxiety as a Christian, combining vulnerability, Scripture, practical encouragement, and personal stories. The episode is aimed at listeners who struggle with anxiety and are seeking Christ-centered strategies for freedom and peace. Throughout, Ally maintains an honest, empathetic tone, sharing practical steps grounded in the Bible and inviting listeners into authentic communion with God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Communion and Heart Posture

• Ally begins by inviting listeners into a virtual time of communion, reflecting on the importance of examining one’s heart and repentance before taking the Lord’s body and blood (04:00–06:00).
• Quote:

  "Before taking the body and the blood, it's always good to just ask the Lord and say, Hey God, is there anything I need to repent from?... It's just a really great time to slow down and really appreciate him and just hear him, surrender to him." (03:53)

2. The Prevalence and Nature of Anxiety

• Ally observes that anxiety and depression are rampant in this generation—“in overdrive”—and points out that anxiety, defined as “worry and fear,” stands in opposition to what Scripture teaches (09:45).
• She stresses that while Christians are not immune to anxiety, it is not God’s intention for them to live with it.
• Quote:

  "Anxiety and being a Christian just do not—they're not supposed to live in the same house. But...even being a Christian, we fall to anxiety at times." (07:13)

3. Scriptural Reflections on Worry and Peace

• Key Scriptures shared include:
  • Matthew 6:25: Do not worry about your life—God provides for you.
  • Philippians 4:6–7: Don’t worry, pray about everything, be thankful, and God’s peace will guard you.
  • John 14:27: Jesus offers a kind of peace the world cannot give.
  • Psalm 55:22, 2 Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 46:1, and Matthew 10:31 among others, emphasizing God’s protective, loving nature.
• Ally highlights the "formula" in Philippians 4:6 for receiving God's peace:
  Feel anxious → Pray → Thank God → Experience peace (15:50–18:30)
• Quote:

  "God has always made it very clear that instead of worrying, when we find ourselves wanting to start worrying, that should actually be used as a situation signal...to start praying." (13:34)

4. Anxiety vs. Gratitude: How to Respond

• Ally likens breaking out of anxiety to the effort of working out—sometimes you have to push yourself out of inertia (15:52).
• Gratitude, she shares, has no room for anxiety; focusing on God's past faithfulness recalibrates the heart to trust and peace.
• Quote:

  “Sometimes we just want to sit in that anxiousness...But what we actually have to do is we need to get up and force ourselves to have a grateful heart and to pray and shift our hearts.” (15:52)

5. The Futility of Worldly Solutions for Peace

• Ally shares personal moments of seeking peace in things like wine, admitting those solutions are always temporary and sometimes make anxiety worse (20:30).
• Quote:

  "Why do people smoke weed? Because they want to chill...But the difference is that those things don't last...after my buzz was gone...my anxieties came right back." (21:30)

6. Scriptural Discernment: Testing Your Thoughts

• She encourages listeners to test anxious thoughts against Scripture:
  If the thought doesn’t align with God’s Word (e.g., that He’ll care for you), then it's not from God, but from the enemy (24:12).
• Quote:

  “If it goes against Scripture, it's not from the Lord. If God is telling us in the Word, do not worry, do not be afraid...then two plus two equals this is a lie, which means it's demonic...” (24:12)

7. Fear, Authority, and Spiritual Warfare

• Ally reiterates that the spirit of anxiety is not part of a Christian’s inheritance, and Christians have God-given authority to reject it (29:48–32:10).
• “Put your foot down through the authority that Jesus has given you...You have already stolen enough minutes of my life...” (31:10)
• She challenges listeners to use Scripture and the power of the blood of Jesus to “bring the receipts” and actively rebuke anxiety.

8. Scientific Perspective: Most Worries Don’t Come True

• Ally references Cornell University research: “85–93% of what people worry about never happens” (32:05).
• She draws on this to further affirm God’s command not to worry, highlighting the futility and untruth of most anxious thoughts.

9. Identity in Christ & Practical Application

• Ally insists that “anxiety is not something you identify in...it's a spirit, honey. It's not embedded in your DNA.” (34:44)
• She urges memorizing anti-anxiety Scriptures, using God’s promises as a sword.
• “Promise me...after today, you are no longer identifying in the spirit of anxiety.” (36:27)
• The episode closes with Ally praying for an “anxiety-free week” and encouraging listeners to spread the peace and love of Jesus (38:20).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On changing posture during communion:

  “Taking communion is also a really great opportunity to just surrender and really allow the Lord to work on our hearts and reveal things to us that maybe we weren't able to see because we've been moving too fast.” (04:13)

• On scriptural clarity:

  “If you believe in God and you believe in His goodness, you need to know that you are protected...Jesus is your identity.” (34:44)

• On spiritual authority:

  “A little bit of it, too, y’all, is really learning to stand in our authority and saying, I'm not doing this right now. I'm not doing this today.” (31:10)

• On practical strategy:

  “That’s why that first piece of scripture...was like, slow down. Ask the Lord for the things that you need. But also be grateful, because it’s...allowing us to wake up and be grateful and present in where we're at right now...” (32:05)

• On the statistical perspective of worry:

  “A Cornell University study found...over 90% of what people worry about never happens...If that does not give you full body chills...” (32:05)

• On identity and freedom:

  “I’m not going to be a child of God, but then also an anxious person. That doesn't work. No, I'm simply a child of God. And I know the promises of the Lord. And I know that he has not promised me anxiety. He's promised me peace and a sound heart and a sound mind.” (34:44)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:12–03:10: Episode welcome, gratitude, and intro; setting a heart posture for the episode.
• 03:53–06:30: Communion and the necessity of honest repentance and surrender.
• 07:13–09:45: Defining anxiety and introducing its incompatibility with Christian identity.
• 13:34–18:30: Scriptural guidance—Philippians 4 “formula” for replacing worry with peace.
• 20:30–22:05: The futility of substitutes for God’s peace (wine, substances).
• 24:12–25:39: How to test thoughts against Scripture.
• 29:48–32:10: Exercising spiritual authority and rebuking anxiety.
• 32:05–33:39: The science of worry; most anxieties never come true.
• 34:44–36:27: The call to see anxiety as outside of Christian identity.
• 37:00–38:20: Prayer for listeners’ peace; challenge to love like Jesus.

Song Recommendation

• “Fear and Anxiety” by Elevation Rhythm and Abby Gamboa is recommended as a resource to reinforce biblical truth through worship (36:53).

Final Encouragement

Ally wraps the episode with love, prayer, and encouragement for the week, reminding listeners that the promises of Christ mean freedom from anxiety is available for all believers. She challenges them to operate in authority, anchor themselves in Scripture, and share Jesus’s peace with others.

For anyone seeking relatable, biblically grounded encouragement in the battle against anxiety, this episode offers practical hope, firm truth, and genuine compassion.