Living the Exchanged Life: Breaking Free from Anxiety and Depression
For over 20 years, I battled anxiety and depression. They were constant companions, shaping how I viewed myself, my relationships, and even my faith. But everything changed when I encountered the truth of the exchanged life—a truth rooted in Romans 6:1-14 and illuminated through the writings of many faithful teachers.. This journey led me from merely understanding the principles of freedom in Christ to living them, and it’s a story I feel compelled to share.
If you’ve struggled to break free from cycles of despair, anxiety, or self-reliance, I want you to know there is hope—and that hope is found not in striving but in surrendering to Christ as your life.
The Journey to Freedom: Knowing, Reckoning, Yielding, Walking
Romans 6:1-14 lays out a progression for understanding and experiencing the exchanged life. It begins with knowing, moves to reckoning, requires yielding, and culminates in walking by faith. Let’s briefly explore these steps:
Knowing
The foundation of the exchanged life is knowing the truth: that your old self was crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6). This isn’t metaphorical or theoretical; it’s a spiritual reality. As a believer, your identity is no longer defined by your old, sin-stained self but by the life of Christ within you.Reckoning
Once you know the truth, you must reckon it to be so. Romans 6:11 tells us, “Consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Reckoning means to count on the reality of what God says, even when your feelings or circumstances tell you otherwise. It’s a deliberate choice to believe God’s Word over your emotions.Yielding
Romans 6:13 calls us to yield ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness. Yielding isn’t about trying harder; it’s about surrendering control. It’s saying, “Lord, I can’t, but You can.”Walking by Faith
Finally, Romans 6:4 exhorts us to “walk in newness of life.” This is where truth becomes action—living as though everything God says about you is true, even when your feelings haven’t caught up yet. This step can feel like the most challenging, but it’s also where transformation happens.
Freedom Comes in Faith: My Turning Point
For quite some time, I understood the first three steps—knowing, reckoning, and yielding—but walking by faith felt elusive. Then, one evening, as I read Dr. Gillham’s Lifetime Guarantee, a single sentence changed everything: “When you act as if God’s Word is true, you’re not being a hypocrite—you’re being true to who you really are in Christ.”
That night, I made a decision. I chose to act as though I was not depressed or anxious, not to "fake it" but to align my actions with the truth of my identity in Christ. I believed that my old self, along with its despair, had been crucified, and that Christ’s life in me was sufficient for peace and joy. The result? Instant freedom. Anxiety and depression lifted, and they have never returned.
This wasn’t a matter of willpower or positive thinking; it was faith in action. I stopped waiting for my feelings to confirm God’s truth and began living as though His Word was true—and it was.
Applying These Truths in Your Own Life
If you find yourself struggling to live out these truths, you’re not alone. The process can feel daunting, but it’s deeply practical when broken into steps. Here’s how you can begin applying the exchanged life principles in your journey:
1. Understand Your Identity in Christ
Romans 6:6 declares that your old self was crucified with Christ. This is a completed fact, not a future possibility. You are no longer defined by sin, anxiety, or depression—those things belong to the old life that was crucified at the cross.
Reflect on 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Spend time meditating on this truth until it moves from intellectual knowledge to a heart belief.
2. Reckon Is an Act of Faith
Romans 6:11 calls you to “reckon” yourself dead to sin and alive to God. Reckoning means to count something as true, even if it doesn’t feel real yet. Faith is trusting that God’s Word is true, regardless of your emotions.
Think of reckoning like accepting a gift. The gift exists whether or not you acknowledge it, but it only becomes yours when you receive it by faith.
3. Yield Yourself to God
Romans 6:13 encourages you to yield yourself to God as someone alive from the dead. Yielding is a choice to present every aspect of your life—mind, body, emotions—to God’s control.
Pray simply: “Lord, I yield my mind, will and emotions to You. I trust that You are in control.”
4. Walk in Faith, Not Feelings
Walking by faith means acting on what God says is true, even when your feelings or circumstances don’t align. This is where transformation happens.
Hebrews 11:1 reminds us, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Like me, you can choose to live as though you are free because you are free in Christ.
5. Trust in God’s Strength, Not Your Own
Philippians 2:13 assures us, “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.” The power to live the exchanged life comes from Christ’s indwelling life, not your effort.
When you feel overwhelmed, remind yourself: “Christ is my life” (Colossians 3:4).
6. Repeat the Process Daily
Walking in the exchanged life is a daily practice. Over time, as you trust, reckon, yield, and walk, these truths will become more natural as your mind is renewed (Romans 12:2).
A Final Encouragement
Freedom in Christ isn’t a matter of striving—it’s a matter of surrender. As you take these steps, remember that God’s truth doesn’t depend on your feelings or performance. It’s true because He said it is.
If you feel stuck, go back to the foundational truths of Romans 6. Memorize key verses like Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Journal your journey, noting how God’s truth becomes more real in your daily life.
The exchanged life isn’t about what you can do for God; it’s about letting Him live His life through you. This is the path to peace, joy, and victory.