These words appear in God’s Word dozens of times. Over and over from the mouths of prophets, angels, apostles, and our Lord himself, comes the invitation to cast off fear, anxiety, and worry in all their pernicious forms. Acting out of anxieties we often do things that create more problems instead of less. Worry can make us sick, steal our joy, drive us to self-medicate in all kinds of ways, and turn us into people nobody wants to be around. “Fear not,” says God to the beloved ones (that’s us). This is not a suggestion; it is both a divine commandment and a gracious invitation. We cannot by force of will keep fear and worry from coming into our minds. We do have a choice, however, in how we handle them when they come. We can continue to let anxiety rule our lives or we can turn to Jesus.
I vote for turning to Jesus. Instead of flailing around trying to be in control of things we have little control over, why not give our torments over and over again in prayer to the One who can really do what needs to be done? Intentionally and habitually claiming God’s promises in scripture for our problems is more productive than lying awake fretting. Will the worries come back? Probably. Will the discomfort go away immediately? No. But all spiritual victories begin from the kneeling position.
Try this approach if how you are dealing with anxiety is not working for you. Let handing off worries to God become second nature even if you have to give them back a thousand times a day. The spiritual discipline of putting things where they need to go instead of trying to control the uncontrollable is powerful. Let me know how it works for you.
Thank you, Joan. True and blessed words!
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Hi, Joan!
That’s absolutely true.
I give anything troublesome to me over to the Lord because I know I cannot handle it. Effective? Yes, perfectly. Issues and problems I have to deal with everyday as solo-pastor are overwhelming. Administrative work, pastoral care, dicision making at the elders meeting, and of course preparation for preaching and Bible study. I should be soon depressed to burn-out without the Lord I turn to.
I pray almost every morning that the Lord work through me and do best for me and for people around me as I do not try to do myself. Sounds lazy? Perhaps. But the fact is that the day I pray such a way is far more productive than the day I do not.
God is faithful. The One who has called me to ministry and sent me to the church I am now serving has been and will continue to be carrying me to the end of His plan for the church.
During the fiscal year of 2015 God allowed our church to administer baptism to three adults. Right now one woman is going to be baptized on the day of Pentecost and two others are preparing for immersion. The Lord constantly leads seekers to our church. A couple of weeks ago one man visited our Sunday worship service and e-mailed me serious questions about life and Jesus Christ. I gladly answered to him. He appeared again and said was trying hard to understand what i wrote.
The Lord is blessing Tamade Church.
I expect His plans be accomplished with deep gratitude.
Mariko! So good to see your reply! You have been in my heart and prayers lately, as I have just met a delightful Japanese woman at my new church, Stockbridge Presbyterian. Her name is Marida Lin, and when I talk with her I think of you. May the Lord continue to bless you in your life and ministry! ~ Dorothy