Devotion

What in your life causes you to worry? At some point in our lives, we have all been worried about something. Whether it be a health-related scare, experiencing nervousness about a new job situation, being immersed into circumstances outside of our control or having to encounter a situation that we had never been in before, worry and unrest can quickly overwhelm us. Worrying has plagued millions of people throughout every era of human history. There are no amounts of scientific or technological advancements that can eradicate humanity’s inherent inclination to fret over the details of life. Whether circumstances are good or bad, if one tries hard enough, there is usually something that we can find to worry about.

In 2018, Time Magazine reported that some 40 million Americans self-identify as those who struggle with pervasive worrying and anxiety.[1] Said differently, approximately 1 out of every 5 Americans over the age of 18 currently find themselves engaged in a never-ending battle over their internal disposition. In the realm of secular psychology, to worry is quite simply, to be human. It is an integral characteristic of the human psyche to worry.[2] Conversely, from the vantage point of the Christian worldview, the Bible indicates that humanity first began to experience feelings of worry after sinning against God (Genesis 3:7-10). Since the Fall, there have been few emotions more physically, mentally or spiritually debilitating for mankind to endure than that of worry. Physically speaking, intensified bouts with worry can contribute to elevated blood pressure, panic attacks and GI issues. Prolonged worrying can lead to a depleted ability to concentrate as well as cultivate severe episodes of mental depression. However, there are few things more hazardous to the Christian than the effects that worrying can have on one’s spiritual health.

To state the matter bluntly, to worry is to sin against God (Philippians 4:6). When we worry, we are setting our minds upon our real or perceived problems, difficulties and circumstances, while allowing ourselves to dwell upon them instead of the things above (Colossians 3:2). Worrying is an affront to God’s sovereign rule over every detail of His own creation (Matthew 6:25-32). It is an indicator that we do not trust God’s good and perfect purposes for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). When we worry, we undermine the absolute goodness of God’s own character and question His right to dictate the circumstances of our lives as He pleases (Romans 9:20-22). When Believers allow unbridled worry to seep into their minds, they lose sight of the comforting reality that their life is in the hands of a Heavenly Father who has set His eternal love upon them in Christ (Psalm 139:16). Because the Bible has declared that God is working together all things in the lives of His children for their eternal good, there is fundamentally no reason for them to worry about anything (Romans 8:28).

The antithesis and God-prescribed antidote to worry is peace. Peace is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit that will, by God’s grace, exist in some capacity at every point in the Christian’s life (Galatians 5:22-23). It is the overflow effect of a confidence and conviction that God knows what’s best for us at the micro and macro levels (Isaiah 55:9). The peace that the Spirit of God produces within the Believer is not known, experienced or replicable by the rest of the world (John 14:27). In fact, non-Christians will never come to experience a true peace in this life so long as the wrath of God abides upon them (John 3:36). From the moment of our birth until the moment that we repent and believe upon Jesus Christ alone for being reconciled to God, we are cognizant of our enmity with our holy Creator (Romans 1:18-32). Despite sinful man’s efforts to either suppress the truth of God’s existence in unrighteousness or create a god in his own likeness, we know in our heart of hearts that we have offended the Most High; and Judgment Day is coming (Hebrews 9:27-28)!

Without faith it is impossible to please God or to be at peace with God (Hebrews 11:6). Indeed, there are few dispositions more spiritually liberating than the realization that one has peace with God and possesses the peace of God within their own soul (Romans 5:1). Saving faith in Jesus Christ not only results in one being rescued from God’s eternal judgment in Hell, but instills an unshakeable peace in the inner man that transcends all understanding by virtue of one’s enjoyment of God’s favor in Christ (Philippians 3:8-11). The shallow devices that are advertised by the world to make us “happy” will only leave us longing for more. The superficial attractions of this temporal sphere are altogether empty and cannot satisfy the human soul in themselves. Yet, the peace that comes from God produces a heartfelt tranquility and trust that is anchored in the overwhelming consciousness that one’s life is in the hands of the sovereign, omnipotent and omnibenevolent Creator who loves them.[3]

Do you have this peace today?

Weekly Passages For Meditation:

Monday- Matthew 6:25-34

25 For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Tuesday- Philippians 4:6-9

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Wednesday- John 14:16-31

16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. 28 You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. 30 I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; 31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me.

Thursday- Psalm 3:3-8

3 But You, O Lord, are a shield about me,

My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

4 I was crying to the Lord with my voice,

And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.

5 I lay down and slept;

I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!

For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.

8 Salvation belongs to the Lord;

Your blessing be upon Your people!

Friday- Colossians 1:19-23

19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Saturday- Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

[1] https://www.google.com/amp/s/time.com/5269371/americans-anxiety-poll/%3famp=true

[2] https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/toward-less-egoic-world/201803/why-people-worry-much-more-they-need%3famp

[3] John MacArthur, Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth, Page 375.