Have No Anxiety

Matthew 6:25-34:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

Philippians 4:6-7:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

Anxiety is a constant companion in my life, habitually and medically. I’ve known these verses for many years. I believe them. But, I constantly fight anxiety.

 

In spite of my worries, and in spite of the hard times I’ve gone through, my life has usually been good. It is very good.

 

For as long as people have walked and sinned on the earth, bad things have happened. And they always can.

 

Where is our hope?

 

Our hope is in Jesus. I know that.

 

John 16:33:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 

I believe this.

 

But I constantly fight anxiety.

 

I thank God for what he started in me; my parents took me to church since I was a baby. In college, I got involved with a campus ministry where I learned some habits—daily Bible reading and prayer; at least weekly meeting with a church.

 

I’ve not been always faithful to these practices, but they were embedded deep. I’m reminded of them again and again. These habits prop me up.

 

Am I a bad Christian because I still fight with anxiety?

 

The Daddy, who daily holds my hand, reminded me of another verse this morning.

 

Psalm 103:13-14:

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

 

God understands my weakness. He is a father who loves me, and walks beside me. He lifts and holds me up.