Bad Fruit: Anxiety

Anxiety is not simply “being stressed.” It’s the chronic hum of fear underneath life — the sense that if you don’t hold everything together, it will all collapse.

It feels responsible, but it is rooted in the lie that God cannot be trusted with the details of your life.

The Lie Vine

Lie: “I am only safe if I am in control.”

If I don’t plan for every outcome, disaster will strike.”
“God may love me, but He won’t protect me.”
“My worth is in solving problems before they happen.

The Counterfeit Tree: Control-Driven Identity

Anatomy of this tree

Walk through the core parts of this tree, following the fruit - what you are seeing - to the root lie. Expand each section for a short explanation and reflection prompts.

Fruit — Visible outcomes

Worry
Restlessness
Tight relationships
Exhaustion

Reflection: Which of these outcomes feels most familiar?

Leaves — Everyday actions

Endless to-do lists
Checking and re-checking
Insomnia

Prompt: Where do you feel this in your body today?

Branches — Reinforcing patterns

Overthinking
Hyper-vigilance
Perfectionism

Try: Which of these is loudest in your daily life?

Trunk — False belief

Control becomes safety

Reflect: How often do you equate planning with peace?

Root — Core lie

God won’t take care of me unless I manage it.

Reflect: Where do you secretly believe God will fail you?

Invitation

You were not made to live with anxiety as the hum beneath your life. There is another tree — one rooted not in your control, but in God’s care.

Step into the Trust Tree

See how trusting God’s faithfulness bears fruit in peace and freedom.

See the Good Tree

Anxiety