I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m sick and tired of living in fear, of giving into anxiety and paralysis. I’m so sick of being so overwhelmed at what I can’t do that I despair and fail to do what I can do. I’m tired of living in the land of “what if…?” and being stopped by fears of something that may or may not happen.
The Bible, in multiple places, exhorts us to “Fear not.” Jesus commands us not to worry about tomorrow, and Paul exhorts Christians to “be anxious for nothing.” All through Scripture, God's people are told to rest on God's promises instead of worrying about circumstances or the future.
However, we also see that worry and fear and anxious thoughts are a part of human life. The Psalmist says “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” From the number of times God says “Fear not,” it is probably safe to assume that fear is a common element of human life.
So, the question becomes: What in the world can one do about this discrepancy between how it is and how it ought to be?
A wise man once said, “Living in fear and anxiety is like paying interest in advance on something that you may never own.” Jesus perhaps said it best: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?...Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has sufficient trouble of its own.” (Matt 6). I have spent too much time worrying about tomorrow, fretting over maybes, and allowing my soul to be tossed in the sea of anxiety. As a Christian, I was never meant to live in fear, never meant to wallow in anxiety. Paul writes in Philippians:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, 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. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Phil 4:6-8).
You see, brothers and sisters, God not only commands us not to be afraid or anxious, but He, in His great love, tells us how to deal with anxious thoughts that threaten to swallow us whole. We are, instead of wallowing in anxiety, to pray – to present our worries and requests to God, and to replace the anxious thoughts with thoughts of what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. And God will give us peace – even in the darkest or most uncertain of circumstances – this is peace that causes the world to marvel, to wonder where we get such hope and calm of spirit.
Rest assured, I am not “super Christian.” I am just a young woman tired of living in fear, tired of being overwhelmed with anxiety, done living under the exhaustion of constant worry. I am done, when presented with the opportunity to respond in steadfast faith or fear, of giving way to fear – again, and again, and again. Living in fear takes your focus off Christ and places it onto the waves, and, much like Peter, when we take our eyes off Christ, it is only then that the storm looks overwhelming, and we begin to sink. I marvel at Almighty God, Who, when I cry out “ Lord, save me!” He reaches out His hand and catches me. However, I don’t want Him to continually have to say to me, “You of little faith. Why did you doubt?” For, when I consider all that the Lord has done, in history, in those around me, and in my own life, when I consider His faithfulness, provision, and ability to do what He has promised, I see His question is legitimate. Why do I doubt? Where is my faith? And then I see: faith and fear cannot grow in the heart simultaneously. For if one is being fed, the other is starving to death.
Anxiety-producing situations are a part of our world. Being a Christian doesn’t make those situations go away. The answer to getting out of the “pit of despair” is to take hold of Christ’s promises, cling to God’s faithfulness and refuse to be controlled by those anxious thoughts. When anxiety threatens to overtake you – pray. Petition the Lord in your situation, thanking Him for all He has done and for all that He has yet to do. Leave those worries at the foot of the cross – where they belong – and replace those thoughts of fear with that which is true, noble, and right. Let God be God – allow Him to work in your life, leaving “what ifs” aside, and trusting that He will fulfill what He has promised. He will not lead you into a situation, or promise you something, and then leave you alone, or take you on a path where He cannot provide. He is faithful, even when we are not, so how much more is He able to be faithful when we choose to walk trusting that He is able to do all He has promised?
In conclusion, all I have to offer is the hope and peace found in the words of this old hymn:
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.”
