A journey from crippling anxiety to freedom!

In 2020, during COVID, I was diagnosed with anxiety. I couldn’t even walk into a shop without having panic attacks. When our cell-connect groups started up again in person, I struggled to go because I would be among people, and it was the same with going to church.

Over the next four years, I slowly started to claw my life back, and during this time, I received prayer in church, which helped a lot with the process.

Just over a month ago, I was in church because I was meeting a friend for coffee afterwards. I just felt so awkward in church, like I did not belong, and I was struggling to sense God’s Spirit, which had come so naturally to me before. Even among friends at church, I felt isolated. On that particular day, I also had an uncomfortable pain in my back on one side.

That day, there was a word of knowledge about someone experiencing pain on the side of their back.

I was chatting to Lyndsay, my cell leader, afterwards and she asked how I was doing. I explained all of this to her, and she asked if I didn’t think the word was for me. I said maybe. She encouraged me to go for prayer. This was a struggle, because I felt like a stranger in my own church and I didn’t know any of the people up front personally.

She wouldn’t let me leave. With compassion, she took my hand and led me to the front, and every time I wanted to walk away, she refused because she believed God wanted to break through that day. Susan came up to us and asked whether we needed prayer. I shared the word of knowledge with her, and she and Lyndsay prayed for me. Lyndsay prayed specifically for a breakthrough over the anxiety.

When I got home, the pain in my back was gone. And over the next two weeks, I slowly started realising that I wasn’t experiencing any of the anxiety symptoms anymore. I also started sensing God’s presence again and felt a stirring to be involved in Children’s Church again.

At the last All-In Sunday, I felt—for the first time since developing anxiety—that I belonged again. I felt such joy and freedom, and such a strong sense of God’s presence during worship. I felt whole again, like me, for the first time in ages.

I also felt called to commit to Children’s Church again next year, through something God showed me while watching the kids pray. Judy also confirmed this by bringing a word for me about it.

I am so thankful to God for the healing He brought over my life! – Samantha Arnesen

*Stock image used for illustrative purposes