These two posts have been lingering in my computer files for some time, waiting for me to actually get a blog started. I hadn’t fully decided when to use them, but current events made up my mind for me. As you face this pandemic and the response to it — the like of which even most of our grandparents have not seen — may these posts encourage you to lay aside all anxiety, and instead hope in Jesus Christ.
All scripture references taken from the New King James Version.
The Problem of Worry…
I have struggled with anxiety pretty much ever since I can remember. Or maybe “struggling” isn’t quite accurate. Often, I feel like I’m giving in more than I’m actually fighting. My worries have taken some pretty crazy and illogical forms over the years. As a kid, I worried over unfounded health fears like:
“What if I lose all my teeth?”
“What if I have a deadly disease?”
And I’ve struggled with some more realistic worries, too, such as:
“What am I going to do now that I’m out of high school?”
“I’m almost thirty, how do I make sure I don’t waste my life?”
Or the big one for me: “Am I truly saved?”
At times I feel sick to my stomach because I’m so worried that God is going to withhold my good desires, or not help me be diligent when he sends an opportunity, or fail to help me carry my burdens in life, or even that I will fail in becoming more sanctified. It’s exhausting. And my sinful flesh has a million excuses for this camouflaged pride:
“But you should be worried about obeying God, right? I mean, He commands you be holy!”
Or “If you don’t worry about this, then maybe God will think you don’t really want it, and He won’t act.”
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and wonder if I’ll ever escape.
…and What to do About It
But there is hope for me in my anxiety. And it’s not learning to cope, or wallowing in guilt, or becoming anxious about the fact that I can’t seem to stop being anxious! Running to the Cross for forgiveness and help in battling my anxiety is my only hope! At the Cross I find a clean conscience. At the Cross I find the unchangeable favor of God in Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit in me who will “guide [me] into all truth” (John 16:13). By faith in the gospel promises of my Savior, I can draw the Sword of the Spirit, attack the enemy, and win.
Remember to Pray
Paul commanded the Philippians, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6) And Peter said, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all your anxieties on him….” (1 Peter 5:7) The first weapon I must wield against anxiety is prayer.
A former pastor of mine has said that prayer is by nature a humble act. When I talk to God about my worries and fears and problems, I am telling him (and admitting to myself) that I am not strong enough. That I am not in control. Prayer is how I take my burdens to the foot of his throne and find mercy.
And I don’t just take to him the circumstances that are causing my worry, I can take my very worrying too. I don’t know about you, but I am sometimes more anxious about my inability to stop being anxious than about whichever circumstance is behind it. In my pride, I want to be in control of my worrying and show God (and myself) that I can handle it. But the truth is that I can’t handle it. That’s why Jesus came to pay for my sin and set me free to walk by faith.
So whatever I am anxious about, let me bring it to God my Father.
Remember to Whom You’re Praying
In the Gospels, Jesus teaches his disciples not to be anxious, and he multiplies arguments as to why worry is futile and quite frankly, stupid. One of those arguments is the caring, knowing nature of my Heavenly Father. “Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ” (Matthew 6:31-32)
My Father in heaven feeds birds that have no pantry and no savings account. He clothes lilies that flower for only a day. He keeps track of every hair on my head and every hair on yours. (Matthew 10:30) Because I am united to Jesus Christ by faith in him alone, God loves me with an everlasting love. Whatever he does, it will be for my good and His glory. He has promised to provide for my earthly needs (that’s needs), and he never fails in even one of his promises. And if I wonder, “Is God really going to do good to me?” then I must remember how he gave his son to save my soul!
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
More about the trustworthiness of his love at the end of next week’s post. Till then, take heart, fellow Anxious Ones, and hope in the God of our salvation.