Shout for Joy
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I’d like to perform a little test on myself. I want to find out why from time to time I worry about something. It shouldn’t be difficult because even in the past day or so I’ve been a bit anxious about an item. So, now I’ll go over there to the mirror, look myself in the eye and try to convince myself that God is not able to handle that thing I’m anxious about. I know what will happen; no matter how big, how complicated, or how difficult it is, I’ll discover that deep down I know that God’s got it in control.
So what’s going on? We have that uneasy feeling that something won’t work out, that we’ll be late, that the check won’t come in time, that . . . and so forth. Where does all that come from? Can’t be from God, that’s for sure. So it must be from someone who likes to keep us on edge. Oh, you mean that guy? Right, the enemy of our soul. The one who made Adam wonder if perhaps God was tricking him about the tree over there. I’m no professional in the field, but I believe that anxiety is one of the major results of our fall in Adam. Left by itself it continues to grow. Each moment of anxiety tends to strengthen its deleterious role in our life. If that is a fair description of the source of anxiety in life (and I realize there are anxieties that come from chemical imbalance) let’s see what Jesus had to say about the subject. He wasn’t very far into his sermon when it came up. He tells us not to worry about “little things” such as having enough to eat, drink or wear (Matt. 6:25). God, who provides food for the birds and clothing for the fields, will certainly take care of whatever you need. For the unbeliever things like that drain the energy. They have no heavenly father to protect them in the difficult moments of life. They’re on their own, but you are cared for and free to use that time to learn of him and his kingdom here on earth. “Good theology,” you say, “but I still worry; I’m still anxious no matter how a try to get over it.” Then perhaps it will help to remind yourself that anxiety is actually a form of “practical atheism.” If God isn’t here to do what he said he would do, then perhaps he’s not here at all. I believe we should take God at his word. When he says, ”I tell you not to worry about such little things as having enough to eat,” that’s what he meant. He’s got it all in control. If you are troubled by what seems to be indifference of God to your problem, take it to him bluntly like Habakkuk who said to God, “So why don’t you do something about this? Evil men are swallowing up the righteous and you stand around and watch!” (1:12, The Message). The prophet’s words are bold, but they moved God to action and still will if you find you are anxious about something, have prayed and nothing seems to happen. Tell God about it. Remind him of his promise that if we’d take our anxiety to him in prayer that he would see to it that his very own peace, “a peace that transcends human understanding” would stand watch over our hearts and minds” (Phil. 2:6-7).
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AuthorRobert H Mounce Archives
January 2019
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