13 Reasons To Keep Goingনমুনা

GOD HAS THE ANTIDOTE FOR STRESS

Here’s a little song I wrote

You might want to sing it note for note

Don’t worry, be happy 

-Bobby McFerrin, Don’t Worry Be Happy

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Don’t be anxious about anything.” – Philippians 4:4,6, NIV

Paul wrote those familiar words. It’s the kind of thing you’ll find on Facebook posts and little refrigerator magnets. But if we’re honest, it sounds trite. And impossible.

He seems to be channeling the old Bobby McFerrin vibe: Don’t worry. Be happy. 

But there are a couple of things that make these words much more profound and powerful.

First, Paul was sitting in prison when he wrote them. Or at least, under house arrest. He implies this in the first chapter when he talks about being “in chains for Christ.”

It wasn’t a good time for him. He was captive and his future was bleak. He would eventually be sentenced to death by beheading. 

Somehow, though, he was able to encourage the persecuted Philippians with this letter 

Second, he was talking about more than just being chill and happy. Like a personal trainer working with a client in the gym, he called his readers to action: rejoice, stand firm, do not be anxious, present your requests to God, put your minds on truth... 

The Philippians must not have been joyful or steadfast or at peace. In the first chapter of the letter, Paul says they were being persecuted, and encouraged them to conduct themselves in a manner worth of the gospel – “without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.” It had been “granted” to them, Paul said, not only to believe in Christ, but “also to suffer for him.”

They must have been freaking out. That’s why Paul wrote the letter, to settle them down and get them to realize that things weren’t as bad as they assumed and, most importantly, give them the key to escaping from the fear and despair.

The answer, he wrote, was to focus on Christ and, whether joyful or not, rejoice. Whether feeling it or not, pray. Whether in the mood or not, refuse to be anxious, and meditate on God’s truth. 

These are all verbs, steps to be taken that would give them the strength and perseverance to outlast the persecution. To survive. To win.

What enemies, pressures, stresses, or challenges are you facing today? The same techniques will help. If you don’t believe it, try it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Rejoice – focusing on the good things, being thankful, trusting God. 

Pray – tell God what the problems are and why you’re freaking out about them. 

Peace – ask for Him to guard your heart.

Truth – read the Bible, think about it, fill your mind with it. 

It worked for Paul in prison. It worked for the Philippians when they were being threatened and attacked. It will work for you.

PRAYER: I’m having a hard time hanging on, God. I choose, right now, to rejoice (find joy in You), keep talking to You, allow You to guard my heart with Your peace, and focus on Your truth.