Anxiety or Concern? Sometimes the Same. Sometimes Not.

Look at the birds of the air. Your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not worth much more than they?

Our small groups last evening were discussing the portion of the Sermon on the Mount that deals with anxiety (Matt. 5:25-34). It's always a good time to discuss any portion of Scripture, but this topic was especially helpful in light of the current Covid-19 circumstances. 

As our pastor explained on Sunday, the context of the anxiety spoken here is over what we think we lack, that we think there are needs that God is not providing for us. This kind of anxiety is borne out of distrust in God's care. Why do we not trust Him to do as He has promised throughout the Scriptures? 

Someone brought up the aspect of contentment in our circumstances. The Apostle Paul wrote that he had learned to be content in whatever state he found himself (Philippians 4:11). It's important to note that Paul said he had learned to be content. Paul went through many struggles that taught him to trust God. Our own struggles can do the same for us if we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness as we are going through them. We're told to do that in this same passage on anxiety (Mt. 6:33). When we are tempted to anxiety, God has made a way of escape--seeking Him and His righteousness in the midst of it.

Not all anxiety, though, is borne out of a lack of trust of God's care and concern. Not all anxiety is sin. For example, Paul wanted to send Timothy to the Philippian believers because he had "no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare" (Phil. 2:20). The same Greek word for anxious in Matthew 5:25 is the same word used for concern in the Philippians passage. Timothy and Paul's concern/anxiety was not for themselves, but for other believers.

Most of our anxiety, if you're like me, is not about other people, though. It's about ourselves. As Paul tells the Philippian believers, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (4:6). God wants to hear from us. He loves us with an enduring love, even when we don't feel it. 

We will sense His love more when we have a heart of gratitude for how He is providing our daily manna. Look around. His touches of grace are everywhere to be seen if we have eyes to see and ears to hear. Look for His good graces, and be thankful for them. We won't see so much of what is causing anxiety in the present moment if we're looking for the good things all around us.

Edward Welch has a new book that I read just after the Covid-19 stuff started happening. God used it to calm my spirit in many ways. It's a book of meditations on fear, worry, and trust. I recommend it to you--A Small Book for the Anxious Heart. You can read some quotes from the book here. 







Kingfisher image via Pixabay

And the Worst That Could Happen?

What's the worst that could happen? I thought about that yesterday as I put pressure on my nose after it began to bleed for no apparent reason. I was having breakfast, and drip, drip. I had had recurrent profuse nosebleeds several years ago that were difficult to stop. Had to have a blood vessel cauterized because I was about to be put on a blood thinner due to a clot. Pain doesn't usually make me cry (I realize I haven't experienced great pain, but doesn't childbirth count?!), but when the surgeon numbed inside my nose, tears trickled down my face. I hope never to have that done again.

So the nosebleed yesterday brought back memories. I'm now on a lifetime blood thinner that at present has no antidote for patient prescriptions. My hematologist said we'd probably have one within the year. But this is now and the blood is flowing. For now I'm supposed to apply pressure and hold for thirty minutes. If that doesn't work, head to ER.  

Then my mind took off into what's the worst thing that could happen? Ever done that? My conclusion was that I'd bleed to death, one drop at a time. Then what? I'd be with Jesus! What a marvelous thought! 

Sometimes reading the last chapter first is a good idea.

Image via pixabay

CCO Creative Commons

This I Recall

I finished a class paper today on a case study. Part of the assignment had to do with specific truths to share so as to give hope when we are downcast.

I recall several years ago when I was going through a grievous situation and felt pretty hopeless about it, that I had made a list of passages that gave me tremendous hope as I meditated on them. I'm glad for the course assignment that I just finished, and will keep it at-the-ready for easy reference when such a time arises again. I don't think I'm finished with occasionally feeling hopeless and helpless, and probably won't be this side of heaven, but I know where my hope lies and His grace is sufficient. 

I share a few of these verses and thoughts with you today, with a prayer that you may find them breathing fresh hope into your own soul...if you are now where I sometimes am.....

I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope (Psalm 130:5). I framed this verse and kept it where I could see it daily. I found that I was waiting and hoping for the wrong thing--for my wish to come true. The less probable that became, the more hopeless I became. As I began to be in the Word more, my affection began to grow for God and His ways. My hope turned to His grace working in my life, to be filled with gratitude for His sufficiency. My situation wasn't changing, but my heart was.

... Jesus Christ, who is our hope (1 Timothy 1:1). Without Jesus, we have no hope. 

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13). I found that being in the Word daily prepared my mind to resist the temptation to dwell on what I did not have and wanted so badly. As I look back on it now, what I wanted would not have satisfied. Instead, God gave me a severe mercy and fixed my hope on His grace.

I will exalt you Lord, for you have lifted me out of the depths. (Psalms 30-34) These are recently fresh psalms to me that we've been studying in our women's Bible study group. They have increased my understanding of the character of God and continue to build my confidence and trust in Him.

.. through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:2-3). Oh, what amazing grace! We exult in hope of the glory of God! Hope doesn't lie in our feelings, but rather, in what God does in and through the tribulations we face. Perseverance in working through life's difficulties build character, increasing hope as we move forward with God's enablement. And so we....

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4). Our various trials test our faith and produce many beneficial results, when our focus is changed from we lack to what we have gained. 

This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,

"Therefore I have hope in Him."

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,

To the person who seeks Him.

It is good that he waits silently

For the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:21-26

Therefore, you too, have hope, dear one. If our paths do not cross this side of heaven, may we meet when we get there and rejoice together in the hope we have found in Him. If you aren't sure that you'll be going there, you can learn how to go at ReviveOurHearts.com. I do hope you're going.

Image ~ The Letter, Haynes King 1831-1904 

public domain via Wikigallery

So Much Like Me

Time passes slowly in a waiting room. They can be an incubator for anxiety. I was there this morning, and a little girl about four years old was also waiting to see the dermatologist. Apparently, this was her first visit, and she was visibly disturbed about it. Her mommy was telling her not to fret or be upset, that it was going to be okay. But the little girl was worried not knowing what the doctor would do. "You're stressing about nothing. You'll see. You'll be okay. I promise."

My heart went out to this precious little girl because I'm so much like her. I oftentimes stress because I've not passed this way before. I don't always know what's going to happen or how a spot will be diagnosed, and I need reassurance as well. God says He cares for me, to cast my anxiety on Him. Everything is going to be okay. Even if it doesn't feel like it at the moment. Even if it doesn't feel like it later.

I know that this little girl's next visit to the dermatologist will find her much less anxious because today's visit gave her reassurance for the next. Her countenance was very different as she came out of the office to go home. And so it is with faith and anxiety. I can recall God's faithfulness in caring for me in the past and know that whatever happens in the present is ultimately for my good and His glory. Even if it seems grievous at the moment, He will strengthen me in my spirit and I will be the better for it.

It'll be okay. He promises.

Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 

Image ~ Young Mother Sewing

Mary Cassatt, 1844-1926

public domain via WikiArt

A Changed Vantage Point

When my mind begins to spin with anxiety, one of my go-to verses of scripture is Philippians 4:8--Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Oftentimes this is helpful because, for example, I may be thinking wrong thoughts. I'm imagining things that may not be true about a situation, and my imaginations bring about my anxiety.

But oftentimes, and today was one of those times, there is more that is needful. I could not think my way out of my anxiety. Sometimes when I feel anxious, I need to back up to verses 6-7: Be anxious for nothing, 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. There are times when I need to do more than cling to a Bible verse for my anxious thoughts. I need to talk to Father God about it.

I struggled today with something that I was asked to do, a situation that I thought would be stressful. I was anxious and uptight about it. I've been growing some in this area, to just do what needs to be done as if I'm doing it for Jesus, to give that cup of cold water. And I pray and ask God to strengthen me. 

But today he did more than that. He asked me if I would be a willing instrument in his hand to show his loving care to someone, if I would work alongside him to meet that need. That cast an entirely different light on the situation. What a privilege! My thoughts were no longer on what I was about to face, but rather on working alongside Father God. The situation was still somewhat stressful, and I came home tired, but He had changed my vantage point--from mine to his. 

Painting ~ Girl Reading in An Interior, Carl Holsoe 1863-1935