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. (Philippians 4:6-7) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded;be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him,firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace,who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore,confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11 Recently, some friends have been concerned that I might be suffering from anxiety. Between hives and indigestion, it sounds as if they're pretty close to the truth. I'm working on being healthier, physically, but I'll be quite honest with you, the most unhealthy habit I have is internalizing everything, and trying to handle all of my issues on my own. Being a preacher has a lot of stress. People look to you for leadership, and you don't want to mess it up. There's mouths to feed, bills to pay, and while the bills don't stack up quite as they used to, at times it feels like we're juggling finances. Many times, I internalize things, as people have betrayed my confidence in the past, and it's difficult to make myself that vulnerable again. I also have a hard time being still, taking time to sit in quiet, and meditate on the goodness of God. What am I saying in all of this? It's my own fault that I am anxious. I let the world and its cares get to me, and rather than trust God and the people He has brought in to my life, I try and handle it on my own. I'm not sure if you can relate, but I am certain that many of us have anxiety and other unhealthy issues because we are not dependent upon God, and try to handle things on our own. The word in 1 Peter 5 "cast" is a fishing term: it means lob, throw hard, send flying towards. God wants us to cast those anxieties on to Him. The world troubles us, politics trouble us, bills trouble us. Yet what does Jesus say on this matter? He says "Stop worrying, seek God, and the things you need will be provided" (see below). Trust in Him. He's the designer, builder, and manufacturer of life. Check His manual (the Bible), and put it to use! Cast your anxieties on Him, He cares for you!
“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? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:25-34)
