FEELING STRESSED? ME TOO.

What do you worry about? What makes your stomach hurt and your heart pound? Here’s a few things that I must claim:

• Health
• Finances
• Future
• My kids and grandkids
• How I spend my time
• This crazy world

Trust me, I could go on. But I think maybe these things are fairly universal? My health is rotten, there’s a good reason to feel anxious. Our finances, along with retirement plans, are a bit messier than expected. My kids and grandkids are all fine, don’t worry (ha) – but I’m starting to realize that we will forever worry a bit about our kids. My time? I waste a lot of it, and I’m also tired, and it’s hard to sort out how to manage my schedule well. And current events – no matter our opinions, things can feel unsettling.

In fact, if we combine that list (and maybe add a few more of our own particulars) we will for sure live in a state of constant anxiety, fretting and worry. And then what happens? Our thoughts are consumed with our concerns, our physical body is affected, and we lose sight of what really matters.

In church last Sunday, the message was on Matthew 6:25-34 (towards the end of the Beatitude chapter), and Pastor Jeremy said it perfectly: Worry dominates, devastates and distracts. And it crowds out today.

Because worries are about the future, are they not? Which means we are occupying ourselves with things that may or may not happen at all. In fact, how many times have we worried about something, and it never came to pass?

What about worrying over the inevitable things? OK so even if our concerns do prove true eventually … they are not true today. Even worry about things that will surely happen steals from us – it  steals time, sleep, joy, connection with others, and it steals PEACE.

There is no peace in anxiety. None. They are mutually exclusive.

So what is the antidote? Where do I find my peace?

Three times in this passage Jesus tells us not to worry. In other words, JUST DON’T! And He also tells us why:

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 ESV)

He reminds us of all the ways He cares for flowers, and birds, and then asks why we think He wouldn’t do the same for us. Why indeed? So many times I’m worrying about things that are not even in my hands.

Which means we have to add another “D” word to the above list. This is a tough truth – when Pastor Jeremy said that ultimately, anxiety is Distrust in God, I will admit I cringed. And I had to process it. But he’s absolutely right. If we believe that what He tells us is true, we have no reason and no room for worry in this day. We can trust Him for provision, and for His plans to be accomplished. For they will be … and we remember also that He works all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

There’s a song I love, Oh My Soul by Casting Crowns, and it has this one line that always grabs me by the heart:

There’s a place where fear has to face the God you know.

So here’s the challenge: STAY IN TODAY. Refuse to worry. Instead, lay your fears before the God who loves you, and rest in the peace that comes from knowing He is fighting your battles while you stay silent.

By silent, I mean keep your mind quiet. Empty it of anxiety about tomorrow, and fill it instead with the truth of Today – God loves His children and He will care for us perfectly (whether it feels like it or not – but that’s another post for another day). His grace was there yesterday, and it will be again tomorrow – but it IS here today.

I’ve noticed lately that when I’m watching for reasons to be grateful I am focused on God instead of looking at myself in the mirror … and anxiety recedes.

Staying present. Being grateful. Remembering true things. THIS is a formula that adds up to peace.

Love,

Angie