God's Got This
Nervousness. Anxiety. Fear. These three words paralyze and discourage many inside of the churches’ walls. Sadly, for some, this is an every day battle. For others, it is an excuse not to try; thus, giving way to a sense of apathy, and eventually, agnosticism. Forget handcuffs and jail cells. A world of self-doubt and worry is far worse than being physically chained. Thus, describes the lives of many Christians today. But (and here’s the good news), we do not have to live like this. In reality, the Believer was NEVER designed to live like this!
Isaiah 41:10 reads, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” God does NOT want us to live in fear. We were never designed or intended live in fear. But, as a result of the fall of mankind, we are now predisposed to sin. The possibility of nervousness and stress are around every corner. Does God want us to live in fear? No. If not, then, how does God want us to navigate life’s choppy waters? Does God really “have” this? If so, the Believer must have at least 3 realizations.
First, God knows our past. Psalm 46:1 reads, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” God is “present” in our memories of the past. The writer continues, by concluding, “Therefore we will not fear.” We remember how God provided the victory over His enemies in the Bible, and how He has promised give hope and a future to us in the present.
Second, God is in our present. In ways we do not yet understand, God is able to guard the past, live in the present, and prepare us for the future. Jesus, in Matthew 12:22 instructs, “do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.” Jesus knew God was walking with Him in the present. He knew it in His life. He knew it on the cross. He knew it as our resurrected Lord. Because He is in our present, there is no need for worry.
Third, God prepares us for our future. Paul, from a prison cell in Rome, writes to the churches, “Be anxious for nothing…” Next, he gives the answer to anxiety: “Prayer, supplication, thanksgiving, obedience.” In a step-by-step manner, Paul gives us answers to our most difficult concerns. We must find joys in our difficulties. The Psalmist was successful in this. In Psalm 94:19, his decision is made known to all, “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” Anxieties are removed and replaced by a loving God.
One day God will intervene. He will wipe away any predisposition to sin, fear, and anxiety. He will bring peace…real peace…eternal peace to us. Until then, peace vs. anxiety is a faith issue. Do we truly believe God is able and willing to give us peace in our lives. YES! YES, we do! We agree with John, as he writes in Revelation 1:17-18, surrounded by the marvels and questions of the unknown, “And when I saw Him, I fell as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.”
Do not be afraid. Do not be nervous. Do not fear. Do not be anxious. God’s got this.