Moving Beyond AnxietySample

Have Faith!

Jesus said not to be anxious about anything in our lives (Matthew 6:25). Later, in this same section of Scripture, he chided his disciples and said, “O you of little faith” (Matthew 6:30). Apparently, Jesus believed that the cure for anxiety is faith. 

What is faith? The only biblical definition is the evidence of things not seen, the assurance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1). Followers of Jesus must learn how to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Paul adjured his followers, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). In other words, we all need to develop an eternal perspective when we gaze upon this life’s problems. 

My wife Marilynn and I once went parasailing. In a few brief seconds, we were lifted several hundred feet in the air to look down upon the water. Two things immediately struck us. First, how small everything seemed from that height. Second, we were glad that we couldn’t see the stingrays and sharks when in the water like we could from above.

When our thoughts have an eternal perspective, and we look on all our problems from heaven’s point of view, we first realize that they are indeed small. Second, we realize that Jesus sees the dangers surrounding us here on earth and is carefully guiding our lives through them all.

That’s what faith is. Faith is believing that God oversees all our problems and situations - including the coronavirus pandemic. Faith believes that Jesus is not only overseeing, but guiding us through all potential trials and snares.

Remember: Faith is the assurance of things not seen. We are assured that the invisible God of the universe is in control of everything. That’s why Jesus could say not to be anxious about anything.

Jesus’s disciple Thomas doubted for a while that Jesus had been raised from the dead. After he finally observed the resurrected Jesus, the Lord said to him, “Thomas, you have seen and now believe. Blessed are those who have not seen yet still believe” (John 20:29).

Do not allow your heart to be troubled. Don’t let negative, anxious thoughts dominate your mind. Choose to have faith. Believe! Cling to Jesus. Know he oversees all and is in all. He knows what you are going through.

Jesus cares. He loves you.

Trust him today.