Anxiety Again
Anxiety can seem to swamp peace. Psalm 94:19 says, "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul" (NAS).
What consolations might we have from Him?
We can look at His Word in Isaiah 51 to begin with: "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of a man who dies and of the son of man who is made like grass? That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you fear continually all day long because of the oppressor, as he has made ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?" (verses 12-13; NAS).
We need to remember this from Psalm 27: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?" (verse 1; NAS).
And this passage from Paul's letter to the Romans: "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, 'FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE COUNTED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" ( 8:35-39; NAS).
We conquer our anxieties, not in our own strength but through Him who loved us--our light, salvation, defense. When we take our eyes off Him, we fear unnecessarily, as seemed to be the case in Isaiah.
We need to continue to do what the writer of Hebrews directs: "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith" (12:2a; NAS).
We need to remember what James wrote: "Count 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 in nothing" (James 1:2-4; NAS).
Of course, we need the following words, too:
Paul, writing to the Philippians: "The Lord is near. 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" (4:5b-7; NAS).
Jesus, regarding provisions, in Matthew 6: "Do not worry, then, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall 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" (verses 31-34; NAS).
Jesus, regarding His presence, in Matthew 28:20: "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age"; in John 14:25-27: "These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you; Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful"; and John 16:33, just before His high priestly prayer in John 17: "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (all references NAS).
The writer of Hebrews reminds us of these truths: "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have, for He Himself has said, 'I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,' so that we confidently say, 'THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID; WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?" (13:5-6; NAS).
Keeping Him, His promises, His presence, in mind and heart will always help when we encounter those many anxieties and replace them with His peace.
What consolations might we have from Him?
We can look at His Word in Isaiah 51 to begin with: "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of a man who dies and of the son of man who is made like grass? That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, that you fear continually all day long because of the oppressor, as he has made ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?" (verses 12-13; NAS).
We need to remember this from Psalm 27: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?" (verse 1; NAS).
And this passage from Paul's letter to the Romans: "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, 'FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE COUNTED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" ( 8:35-39; NAS).
We conquer our anxieties, not in our own strength but through Him who loved us--our light, salvation, defense. When we take our eyes off Him, we fear unnecessarily, as seemed to be the case in Isaiah.
We need to continue to do what the writer of Hebrews directs: "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith" (12:2a; NAS).
We need to remember what James wrote: "Count 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 in nothing" (James 1:2-4; NAS).
Of course, we need the following words, too:
Paul, writing to the Philippians: "The Lord is near. 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" (4:5b-7; NAS).
Jesus, regarding provisions, in Matthew 6: "Do not worry, then, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall 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" (verses 31-34; NAS).
Jesus, regarding His presence, in Matthew 28:20: "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age"; in John 14:25-27: "These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you; Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful"; and John 16:33, just before His high priestly prayer in John 17: "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (all references NAS).
The writer of Hebrews reminds us of these truths: "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have, for He Himself has said, 'I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,' so that we confidently say, 'THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID; WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?" (13:5-6; NAS).
Keeping Him, His promises, His presence, in mind and heart will always help when we encounter those many anxieties and replace them with His peace.
Labels: Hebrews 12:2a, Hebrews 13:5-6, Isiaih 51:12-13, James 1:2-4, John 14:25-27, John 16:33, Matthew 6:31-=34, Matthews 28:20, Philippians 4:5b-7, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 94:19, Romans 8:35-39
posted by Ebeth | 10:21 AM
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