NW Valley Times

Josh Watt, lead pastor at Redemption Church North Mountain, addressed students during a Chapel service at Grand Canyon University on Monday. The event took place at the Global Credit Union Arena, where Watt spoke about anxiety and its role in people's lives.

Reflecting on his own experiences as a student two decades ago, Watt noted that mental health has become a prominent topic of discussion. He highlighted how society is now more open to discussing mental health issues and seeking professional help. He also mentioned the film "Inside Out 2," which focuses on a teenage girl's anxiety.

Watt expressed concern about discussions around emotions that exclude God from the conversation. Citing Matthew 6:25, he encouraged incorporating God's Word into conversations about anxiety: “Anxiety is His most important gift to us other than His son, Jesus."

Watt emphasized that anxiety is not just a modern issue but a human one. He referred to biblical texts such as the Sermon on the Mount to support this view. According to Watt, Satan aims to disconnect people from the Bible and portray anxiety negatively.

He suggested that anxiety can act as an alert system for potential dangers, comparing it to fog that can become overwhelming but serves a protective purpose. Watt reassured students by saying, “No problem is too small for God, not even anxiety.”

He acknowledged that some GCU students feel left out socially and reminded them that God understands their struggles. Drawing from biblical stories like those of Paul, he stated that caring for others inherently involves experiencing anxiety.

Watt advised students not to worry excessively about the future and cited Matthew 6:26: "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them." He encouraged focusing on God's care rather than material concerns.

In conclusion, Watt described anxiety as a gift from God meant to direct individuals toward Him rather than remaining internalized. He urged students to seek God's Kingdom for reassurance in their lives.

The next Chapel speaker will be Jason Fritz from Illuminate Community Church on October 14th at Global Credit Union Arena.