You're Gonna Make Itনমুনা

WINNING THE BATTLE AGAINST FEAR AND ANXIETY

Today I want to do something a bit different. I want us to start with a little self-assessment. Why? Because all of us struggle with fear and anxiety. Every one of us.

It has been said (although I have never counted it for myself) that the Bible says “do not be afraid” or a derivative of that phrase 365 times. Once for every day of the year!

The Lord knows that we struggle with fear and anxiety. He sees us and knows us. He loves us and cares for us. He has numbered every hair on our heads and understands our thoughts afar off. And he knows we struggle with these things.

So how are you doing with fear and anxiety?

Answer these questions:

1. On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate your level of feeling of fear and anxiety?
2. What creates the most fear in your life? Why?
3. What about the future troubles you the most? Why?
4. How secure do you feel in your relationships? Why?
5. What do you wish God would change about your life?

In just five simple questions, we can see that fear and anxiety are ever-present parts of our lives, but how can we experience them less?

I love how in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us that we shouldn’t worry. He said “do not worry” three times in Matthew 6:25-34! I always tell people that something is repeated multiple times in the Scriptures because God knows we are a bit thick-headed and may have missed it the first time! Jesus said it three times because He really wanted it to sink in.

My friends, Jesus encourages us not to worry but to look at God’s provision and protection of other aspects of His created order. And when we look at how God cares for the littlest parts of the natural world, we realize that we can trust that He will also take care of us. Do you believe that today? You should! And it should help us reframe the worries that try to overrun our life and steal our peace and satisfaction.