|
Worry, anxiety, fear are emotions that afflict most people in today's
fast-paced and uncertain world. People experience anxiety when the stock
market drops hundreds of points. They worry when they see the crime rates
rise, and when wars or rumors of wars erupt in various places around the
world. Many feel fear because they believe they are inadequate to do
their jobs or other tasks. They fear failure.
Many Christians experience fear and worry as an everyday shadow on
their lives. What is the result of this? It misplaces their focus.
Instead of looking to Christ as the all-sufficient source of their
strength, they look to themselves and their inadequacies, then fear and
worry swallow them just as the water started to engulf Peter when he
shifted his focus from Jesus to his surroundings (Matthew 14:23-31).
The problem is that many Christians doubt the promises of God when
they succumb to worry. They may not consciously mean to do so, but in
giving in to worry and letting it negatively affect their lives they call
God a liar. That is why worry is a sin.
Titus 1:2 and Hebrew 6:18 says that God cannot lie.
God's word says,
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are called according to His
purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to
become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be
the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He
predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also
justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What
then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is
against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him
over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us
all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is
the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus
is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right
hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us
from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just
as it is written, 'FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL
DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.' But in
all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved
us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor
powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will
be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:28-39)
Worry and fear says, "I don't trust you God. You lie."
God's Word says,
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
Worry and fear says, "I don't trust you God. You lie."
God's Word says,
"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in
glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
Worry and fear says, "I don't trust you God. You lie."
God's Word says,
"I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you ..." (Hebrews 13:5)
Worry and fear says, "I don't trust you God. You lie."
God's Word says,
"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as
to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body,
as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the
body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they
do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who
of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And
why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the
field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you
that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one
of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is
alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not
much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then,
saying, "What will we eat?' or "What will we drink?' or "What
will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all
these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all
these things." (Matthew 6:25-32)
Worry and fear says, "I don't trust you God. You lie."
"The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the
one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not
believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son." (1 John 5:10)
Do you believe what God's Word says, or do you call Him a liar by your
fear and worry?
How can one overcome fear and worry? First, meditate on the Word of
God day and night. Second, live in obedience to His Word. Third, know and
claim the promises of God. And fourth, remember previous times in life
when trusting in the promises of God resulted in victory.
Why not this day seek to trust God completely for your needs? His grace
is sufficient to deal with your anxieties and the challenges you face in
life. Place your cares on His shoulders because He loves and cares for
you. (1 Peter 5:7) Then you will experience the joy and peace of God no
matter the circumstances in which you find yourself.
|
