Anxiety Surrounding Tax Day
Do you struggle with anxiety when you think about April 15th lurking in your future? Much anxiety has its origins in fear of outcomes (or possible outcomes). As a result, a date like April 15th can evoke fear in many people. The date itself is pretty benign. But in the US, the fifteenth of April has carried much weight since it was first designated as “tax day” back in 1955.
If you’re one of those folks who gets a little anxious, battles anxiety, or maybe has a full-blown anxiety attack, leading up to tax day, here are three Biblical perspectives that I believe will help you get through tax day more effectively this year.
Turn to God’s word for the right perspective
Certainly God created humans to work. And to earn a wage to provide for our needs and the needs of others. He also promises though, that He provides for His children even more than the birds of the air. Find rest and inner peace in what God says to you:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life. And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:25-34 NIV
Don’t fear what mere man can do to you
God makes it clear throughout scripture that we should see our lives the way He sees them — through an eternal perspective. That means to not get wrapped up in the minutia of life in this world and the constructs of man, but to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and allow Him to be our strength, our identity, and our hope.
“In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me… It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.”
Psalm 118: 5-9 NLT
God instructs you to return a portion of your finances to the government
There is nowhere in scripture where God instructs or commands us to go against the authorities or governing bodies in our land. We are to stand FOR the truths and principals of God and His word. That doesn’t mean we are to stand AGAINST any force that we disagree with. Jesus had much to say about our responsibility to give back a portion of our income to those who govern us.
“The Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap Jesus in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher (Jesus),” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Matthew 22:15-21 NIV
We can help
If you or someone you know struggles with anxiety, the counselors at Life Training are highly experienced in providing Christ-centered solutions to the struggle. Please contact us today to learn more.