What To Do With Anxiety

Philippians 4:6–9

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

We all struggle with worry and anxiety. Yet Paul gives us a command here to not be anxious. This is not a new command; Jesus gave the same imperative in Matthew 6:25: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

Yes, this is an imperative. To worry is to lack trust in God and to not believe His promises. Romans 8:28 tells us that “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

If we believe that God is sovereign—which the Bible fully teaches—then we can trust that what He says, He not only can do, but He will do. He promises that all things are being worked out for good for His people.

Yet we all wrestle with anxiety and worry. So Paul gives us the solution: “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Pray to God and tell Him your worries and concerns—and then believe His promises. Once we give it to God, we must let Him have it. We cannot hold on to what we just gave to Him.

When we do this, His peace—which is incomprehensible—will guard our hearts and minds.

There is one more thing that Paul adds to this equation: this is all conditional.

Philippians 4:8–9
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

The conditions for the God of peace to be with us are that we think about the things that are true, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. This is a pretty good description of Jesus.

Paul commands us to practice the things that we have learned, received, heard, and seen in him. In other words, read your Bible and do what it says. Then the God of peace will be with you. Then your faith will grow. Then you will believe God.

This is the disconnect many of us have: we believe in God, but we don’t believe God. We don’t read His Word, and we don’t make it what drives our thoughts. Instead, we fill our minds with the things of the world, and we let the world dictate how and what we think.

We do not need to be anxious or worried. But we must saturate ourselves with His Word and spend our time in prayer, always thinking of Christ. We must surround ourselves with other believers who will encourage us in this. We must sit under sound, biblical teaching. We must be in Christian community more than we are in worldly community.

There is peace to be found—but only in Christ.

The Answer to Worry and Anxiety

When one takes the name of Christian, he ought to be careful how he lives. I have noticed in my own life that I have a propensity to worry and be anxious, yet clearly there is a Biblical command to not do so. The phrase “Do not worry” can be found twenty-three times in scripture and there are countless other teachings in which we are called to live without worry as the very opposite of faith is the idea of worry. Jesus specifically tells us not to worry and made this a salient point in His great sermon we call The Sermon on the Mount.

Yet, worry and anxiety seem to knock on our doors daily. And many of us, I know I do, keeping opening that door and letting worry in. As God’s children, this is unnecessary. He has promised to be with us through whatever we face. The problem is though, He never promises to remove all the things in life that we don’t want to face. He only promises us to be with us in the storms of life, not to always stop them. We remember Jesus stopping the storm in Matthew 8:23-27. So, we expect Him to do the same whenever the waves get a little high.

But the truth is, God allows storms into our lives. They are for our own good. Yet, we struggle not to be worried that we might drown. The fact is, this is a lack of faith on our part.

There are many beautiful verses in the Scriptures that offer us comfort in our times of fear and uncertainty. But there is one verse, that if we will commit to memory and to believing, that is the foundation of our faith. I share this verse often. Listen to what God says in Romans 8:28 which 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.”

Do you believe that verse? Do you believe that God causes all things to work together for good? Do you believe that it is all things? All of them? Cancer, death, accidents, and every other event that happens in your life?

You see, for those who have received Christ, been born again to new life, God is working out everything for good. Everything. Not just the things that we enjoy and like, but every bad thing we can barely stomach, is going to have a good result when God has finished working in it. That, my friends, is a fact. It is not arguable. You cannot interpret this passage any other way.

So, do you believe this? If you do not believe it, then you have a problem. To deny this truth as found in Romans 8:28, is to call God a liar.

I believe this verse. Yet, I still struggle with anxiety and worry. The problem lies in my faith. It just hasn’t yet reached its full potential. But I need to keep moving forward in growing my faith. How do I do that?

Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.

We must be in His Word. Not just by going to church on Sunday, though we are to do that. But everyday we must be intentional about reading, studying, and memorizing His Word. This is how we build our faith. We must have fellowship with other believers, who will remind us and encourage us in the promises of Jesus.

Whatever you face today, if you are in Christ, you need not worry or be anxious. Instead you can trust God in the situation. It’s okay to pray about it. It’s okay to ask God to remove it or change it. But at the end of your prayer, let it go to Him. If after praying and praying and seeking His intervention, He still allows it to happen, you can trust that He is causing it to work out for good. We know this. Commit to memory this verse and then rest in faith the God who is with you always. Rest in Jesus. Believe Him. Let Him be God. We know God is working it all out for good. We know this. Why? How? Because He told us.

Romans 8:28
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.

How To Live 2019 Without Worry, Anxiety, and Fear

Isn’t it amazing that we Christians say that we trust God with our eternal destination? We say we believe in the Jesus of the Bible. We say that we trust that that the Bible is the very word of God, though written by the hand of men, we believe they were supernaturally inspired by the Holy Spirit to write it. We say we trust in the story of Jesus as the Bible records it, that He was born of a virgin, healed the sick, raised the dead, was crucified on the cross, died, was buried only to be raised from the dead three days later, to then finally ascend back to heaven, where He now sits at the right hand of God, having made the way for us to enter into the very presence of God upon our death, where we will live for eternity.

We say we believe all that. That takes faith, a lot of faith. By faith we trust God has saved us unto eternal life, yet we worry and get anxious over the physical elements of life on earth.

Cancer scares the daylights out us. The possibility of losing our jobs petrifies us. The stock market, the price of gas, and the rising cost of medical insurance weighs heavily upon our minds. The crime, violence, drugs, and the possibility of our children becoming kidnapped into the hands of child pornographers, has created a culture that is afraid to even let their children play outside or walk the dog, unless we are within reach of them. The list of things that bring fear and anxiety has no end.

Yet, the message of the same Bible that tells us that we have a sure hope of eternal life, rails against worry, anxiety, and fear. It makes no sense to live in the belief that our eternal life is secure, but our earthly one is in such constant peril that we worry and get anxious.

2018 is over. If you are reading this, you survived another one. If you are a Christian and you died in 2018, you are in the presence of Jesus. Either way, the Bible spoke the truth. As we begin a new year, what if we made it our life’s passion to make one change? What if we followed through with the faith we are called to have and actually believed God?

Let’s take a quick look at the Word of God and see what He has to say about worry, anxiety, and fear.

Matthew 6:25-34
 "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.  "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

In case you don’t remember, that was a quote from Jesus. Let’s sum up what He said. Don’t worry. God will feed you. He will clothe you. It makes no sense to worry, it won’t change anything anyway. Oh, and one more important thing; each day will have trouble. That’s just simply life. Instead of making money, getting healthier, trying to stock up food, or making anything else your goal in 2019, simply seek first His kingdom. Make God and His kingdom the most important thing in your life. Do that and trust in Him to get you through the troubles of the day. As Christy Lane sang so well, take it one day at a time.

Here is another reminder form God’s Word.

1 Peter 5:6-7
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Are you anxious? Give that to God., because He cares for you. But to do that we see we must humble ourselves before Him. This means simply admit to Him that you just cannot handle all this. But take note here, it says He will exalt you at the proper time. Giving our anxiety to Him and living by faith means we need patience.

Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.

The secret here is to stay in His Word, for that is the good word that we can believe.

And then what about fear?

Luke 12:4-7
 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Again, Jesus speaks. He tells us there is only one person to fear. It’s not any man or woman on the face of this earth. They can do nothing to you that our sovereign God doesn’t allow. And if they do happen to kill you, you go straight into the arms of Jesus if you are a Christian. If you are not a Christian, then you need to fear God, for He can and will use His power to throw you into hell. God is the only one with that power, so He is the only one to fear. And the Bible also tells us that perfect love casts out fear. Jesus is that perfect love.

The real question we need to ask ourselves this very day, as we start this new year, is do we really believe God? If we do, then we can know that even though we serve a powerful God, who has the power to cast us into hell, He has sent us His son, whose perfect love will cast out our fear of death.

Will there be times in 2019 in which we face difficult and trying times? Probably. But we can know with certainty that Jesus will be with us through it all if we humble ourselves before Him. We do have an enemy that fights against us. So, do as 1 Peter 5:8 commands us, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” But remember what God has told us from 1 John 4:4

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

2019 is upon us and we have no idea what we will face. But Jesus was clear on what this life will be.

John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

In this world we will face troubles and tribulations. But we do not need to worry, be anxious, or be afraid. In the midst of it all, is the truth that Jesus has overcome the world, God is sovereign and still in control, and in Him we can have peace.

Make 2019 the year you believe God. Do that and it doesn’t matter what comes to be, you will have peace. It won’t even make sense, but when the people around you see it in you, they will want to know Jesus too.

Here is the plan for us Christians in 2019.

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Do that and it will be a happy, peace filled, worry free 2019.

Dealing With Anxiety and Worry

Most have of us have probably told someone to calm down. As someone once asked, has anyone ever calmed down in response to being told to calm down? Usually the reaction to this statement, is a violent response, such as, “Don’t tell me to calm down!”  And most of us have been on that side as well, in the midst of a catastrophe, one just does not simply calm down. Yet in the Bible, we find Jesus essentially telling us the same thing.

Matthew 6:25
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

 That is the Biblical version of “Calm down.”

 If we search the scriptures we will find that we are commanded to not be anxious, some translations use the word “worry” in lieu of anxious, in several places. Listen to what scripture has to say about anxiety and worry.

 Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down

 Isaiah 35:4
Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

Mark 13:11
 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

Luke 12:25
 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

1 Corinthians 7:32
 I want you to be free from anxieties.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Clearly God does not want us to be anxious or worry. The flip side of this is that scripture is filled with the admonition to not fear or to be afraid.

But in truth, we all struggle with this, especially in the middle of the storms of life. Telling us to calm down and not to worry or be anxious just isn’t that simple. What are we to do?

The answer lies in faith. Because the hard truth of this is, for the Christian, worry and anxiety is a sin. It might be the worst sin of all, because what worry says to God is that I really don’t trust you.

I don’t write these things to make us feel condemnation because we all lack faith. If we turn to the Book of Romans, we can find the comfort we need even in the honest admission of our faults.

Romans 8:1-2
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

If we are in Christ, then we are not condemned, but we rest in the righteousness of Christ. Yet, we must strive to grow in obedience and this can only come if we grow our faith. How do we grow in faith? We look again at Romans.

Romans 10:17
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

We simply must immerse ourselves into our Bibles. We must know the Word of God, for in it are the promises and when we read His Word and we ask through prayer for the Holy Spirit to help and teach us, then we grow our faith. We also need to be in fellowship with other believers by attending church, going to Bible studies through being in a small group or Sunday school classes. God’s design for His people is that they encourage each other. All believers have the Holy Spirit indwelling their hearts and this is where we derive the strength and the wisdom to counsel each other. We also need close fellowship. Jesus had twelve men that He spent most of His time with and within that group, He was even more intimate with three of them. We need someone we can speak openly with. The term used most often is accountability partner.

Ephesians, chapter six, teaches us that we also have an enemy and we are at war spiritually with this enemy. Listen to the equipment God has provided us with to stand in this battle until Jesus returns.

Ephesians 6:10-18
 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

Notice that we have been given a shield to deflect the arrows of the enemy. If we are prone to anxiety and worry, then these are the arrows Satan will fire at us. We must use the shield of faith. I ask you this question; How big is your shield? The bigger the shield the more effective you will be at not letting the arrows of worry hit you. We simply must be strong enough to wield a huge shield. As this verse begins, it is in the Lord we must be strong in. Not ourselves. We are not strong. So, stop trying to be. Let Jesus be your strength.

We must get in deeply in faith through God’s Word. We must encourage each other to believe God’s Word, for it is true. This is the answer to the command to calm down and to not be anxious.

I have one more suggestion that I am convinced is an oft missed idea of God. He is sovereign. When you read the history of Israel, take careful note of how He protects them by His sovereign control over man and kings. Stop worrying about this argument that you have free will. Yes, we do have free will, but in a mystery of God we can simply not understand, God is still controlling the events of our world by His sovereign will. Romans 8:28 is a good place to start. But the facts of His sovereignty are all over the pages of the Bible. God is in control and He has the complete power and authority to make true, all His promises. The key to faith is believing God really is sovereign. And if one is sovereign over something, this means complete control.

So, this very day calm down. Do not be anxious. Do not worry.

Instead, believe God.

Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 15

How To Not Be Shaken

This life can sometimes seem so tenuous. How often anxiety and worry consume our lives as things in our lives seem always to be shaky. Our jobs can be cut at any moment. A car accident could change your life in just a second. One day we feel great and the next day the diagnosis of cancer can show up on a routine exam. How do we find solid ground to stand on, when things of life can change so quickly? Psalm 15 is a look at how the Christian should live and the conclusion is that if we live as God calls us to; we shall not be shaken.

First the question:

Psalm 15:1

O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill?

Understand that this Psalm is not describing the way to salvation. The Bible is clear that faith in Christ is the only way to salvation. Instead this psalm takes the idea of obedience to God’s commands and brings them down to some simple behaviors that Christians will follow if they are Christ’s.

Psalm 15:2
He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.

The Jews had 613 commandments they were supposed to follow. But the psalmist speaks more to spiritual salvation here in anticipation of the coming messiah and in this psalm, are three basic principles to follow.

Walk with integrity, work righteousness, and speak truth. Follow these principles and everything else falls into place. You will not be shaken, even in the tenuous nature of life.

Psalm 15:3-5
He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honors those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own hurt and does not change; He does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Worry and fear in the mind of the Christian need not be. Jesus gave us a simple formula.

Matthew 6:33-34
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The answer is simple. Focus on Jesus and seek to be like Him each day. Do that and you shall not be shaken.