Trusting God With Worries And Fears
Here is an area common probably to every human being. But having created us God is intimately aware of our needs, worries, and fears, and so has provided much instruction and care in his Word about worry. One of the things I have learned in my nearly 75 years is that things are almost never as bad as I think they are. That’s not to say I don’t struggle with this issue. I have several friends who lean toward the conspiratorial side of things and they think I am foolish to assume struggles usually will work out for the best. That’s not to say I don’t go to the negative when troubles arise. I often think of the worst possible outcome, but seldom does that outcome actually happen.
Consider this: We don’t live in isolation. When we have worries and fears they usually are the result of some action which has come our way. But sometimes our worries and fears are the result of what we think might happen in which case they are totally imaginary and of our own creation. That doesn’t make them any less real though. Have you ever been in the place where you are faced with a decision and find it difficult to do? When in that place I simply have to ask God to guide me.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
James 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
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.
In addition to our ‘vain imaginings’ when struggles come my way, I have come to understand they arise from one of three common sources. One is as a consequence of our own actions. One of the reasons God calls us to be holy as he is holy (1Peter 1:16, quoting verses from Leviticus), is that holiness makes life easier. Of course we want to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and so be as holy as we can. But there are practical outcomes from holy living. For example when a person is intoxicated much of the time that person can expect struggles in the form of incarceration, finances, and public embarrassment. So God calls us to live holy lives, yes to offer our lives as worship to him, but also so that things will go well with our lives.
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Galatians 5:19-25 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God.
Another way struggle comes to us is simply the result of living. None of us are ‘islands’ but human beings living in close proximity with other human beings. That means the sharp edges of our lives poke into each other in ways that can cause difficulty and struggle. When your spouse, or friend, or neighbor is failing in one of the areas of the above verses we can be impacted in a negative way. Our part of the life of holiness is to consider how we should we respond to the difficulties imposed by that friend. While the world would say we need only love the lovely, God would say we should love the unlovable. Remember God loves that person just as much as he loves you. So when that person’s discord, or ambition, or envy impacts your life, your response should not be similar, but be expressed in love, kindness, and gentleness.
The third way struggle comes our way is through the intrigues of our common enemy Satan. This is the area most blamed but least common. I think the only time Satan cares about any specific individual is when his kingdom is threatened by that individual. If a person is actively involved in worldly living he is living opposed to God and thus doing exactly what Satan wants him to do. That person is no threat to Satan. On the other hand a believer seeking to live in a holy way, endeavoring to lead others to Jesus, and praising and worshiping God is definitely a threat to Satan. That person may receive attacks attempting to ‘turn’ him. But please understand: The sorts of behaviors such as in the ‘The Exorcist’ are extremely rare. That’s mostly just Holly-weird. The attacks mostly used by Satan are in the form of lies and deceptions. If you find your mind going toward the negative, critical, or condemning consider that it might be Satan trying to turn you from God.
James 4:7-8 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Ephesians 6:10-14 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.