All scripture references taken from the New King James Version.
Greetings, fellow Anxious Ones. I don’t know about you, but I constantly need reminders to trust God. As I was staring at the draft of this post yesterday morning, I needed to talk to God about the turmoil in my heart yet again. And I find myself especially in need of these next three reminders (You’ll find the previous two in last week’s post.):
Don’t Forget to Give Thanks
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;…” (Phil. 4:6 – emphasis mine)
This hits the heart of the fear and discontent that lurk behind my anxiety. What is the opposite of a discontented heart? A thankful heart. What is the opposite of a fearful heart? A heart full of faith.
When I thank my Father for the ways he has provided for me in the past, I remind myself to trust in His faithfulness. There have been times in the past when I have been very scared because of financial uncertainties or relational upheaval in my life. But I look back and see how God took care of it all and even brought great blessing out of it. And I am encouraged to trust him now and in the future.
God owes me nothing and I owe him even my life-breath.
When I thank him for the blessings he has given me in the present, it reminds me of his goodness. And it helps to kill discontentment by reminding me that God owes me nothing and I owe him even my life-breath.
When I thank him for his character, then I remind myself who this God is whom I am called to trust. When I thank him for his sovereignty it reminds me that I have nothing to fear! There is nothing that can harm me apart from his perfect, loving will. Even the lions will have to keep their mouths shut if he so commands them. And not even the worst that could possibly happen can separate me from his love! (Romans 8:35)
When I thank him for the examples of faithfulness he has recorded for me in his word, I remind myself that he has not changed. Even if I personally have not experienced a certain aspect of his faithfulness (such as deliverance from blood-thirsty enemies), there it is for me to view and trust in.
And no matter the circumstance, I will give him glory for the gospel and the portion I have in it. I will praise him for giving me the ultimate blessing – himself. This is the foundation of all my trust.
Remember – This Life Is Not “It”
I sometimes wish it was! I am full of goals, plans, desires, and longings – things I think I must have to be happy.
The goals and plans, the desires and longings – they’re not bad in themselves. But if I allow covetousness to grip my heart, then I begin feeling the instinct of a pirate to guard my stolen treasure. I worry over my idols.
That’s when I need the Lord to lift my gaze, remind me of the eternal perspective given to me in the gospel, and set my heart on longing for him.
My purpose for existing – the reason God gave me life – is “to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”* He did not give me life, redeem me, and give me new life in Christ so that I can focus on getting what I want and enjoying it while I’m here! I must remind myself that “the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:17)
So as I type at my computer, clear a little patch of woods behind my flower bed, video-chat with a friend, help clean up the kitchen after supper, enjoy a movie, and whatever else I do — I remind myself to invest it for the Kingdom. To live for the purpose of glorifying my Savior. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)
As I realize that his glory is the purpose of my life, I begin to see that my circumstances are not of ultimate concern.
As I realize that his glory is the purpose of my life, I begin to see that my circumstances are not of ultimate concern. He has already ordained my days and the ways in which I will bring him glory as I live out those days. He has not called me to any particular level of success or happiness in this life – but to joy in knowing him and faithfulness in serving him. These truths (however temporarily) still the wind and calm the turbulence of my anxiety.
Remember the Cross
“Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten
Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days.”**
But I often forget.
When I’m crippled with anxiety, am I not forgetting the freedom he died to purchase for me? What about when I know God has my good in mind, but I certainly don’t feel it and in my heart I don’t really believe it? Then I need to remember Romans 8:32: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”
How could I ever doubt the love of the One who saved my soul when I deserved to be condemned;
Who loved me when I deserved to be hated;
Who hunted me down when I kept on running;
Who paid for me in blood when I was the one who had sold myself for nothing;
Who adopted me when I was an outcast by right;
Who made me his heir when I had despised his estate?
He has freely given himself to me with an un-asked-for kind of love that I could never deserve.
What would he keep back?
I can trust him! I often find in my heart that though I will gladly tell God my burdens, admit my need for him to work in me, remind myself of his care and promises and love in Christ, yet I still don’t really, honestly trust him, lean on him, let out a sigh and sink down against his everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27).
Jesus trusted his father perfectly, and he went to the Cross “for the joy that was set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). Let me trust my Father and endure whatever trials and sufferings he has ordained for me here because I know that through it all he is working perseverance, character, and hope in me (Romans 5:3-5), and an “eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
I’m not there yet. I need these reminders daily. Maybe you do too. As Paul says in Philippians 3:12, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”
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*Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1647; source: http://www.westminsterconfession.org/confessional-standards/the-westminster-shorter-catechism.php
**”Here is Love” by William Rees, translated by William Edwards; source: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/h/e/r/herelove.htm