Anxiety

Is anyone else out there experiencing the pressure that life can sometimes create? Sometimes my life falls right in line with the lyrics of that Alabama song, "I'm In A Hurry And Don't Know Why". Now is one of those times. My first Greek test is tomorrow, and I can assure you that it is going to leave me humbled. I never know what is going to be waiting for me me in my inbox when I walk into my office every day. I am taking on the responsibility of leading a small group Bible study at my church. My trip to Italy in December is requiring a lot of planning. It has just been one of those days where I relied too much on myself, and I felt the weight of anxiety. As a result, my ministry to other people suffered.

Why do we feel anxiety? I suggest that it is due to the fact that we are looking inward rather than Christward. We lose sight of the freedom we have in Jesus. We dwell on our earthly situation rather than our eternal destination. We feel the burden of indebtedness to Christ, when we should know that we have nothing but filthy rags to offer Him. It is a free gift. The only way to glorify God is to accept it and SAVOR IT. "It is finished." may be my favorite verse in the entire Bible.

People, anxiety is NOT from above; it is from below. Paul charges us to "not be anxious about anything" in Philippians 4. In Psalm 94, we see that the consolations of God delight our souls when our anxious thoughts multiply within us. What this means is this:

IF WE ARE LIVING WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE WORD OF GOD, WE ARE WITHIN THE WILL OF GOD. AND THIS FREEDOM SHOULD DELIGHT OUR SOULS! It is not rocket science. Yet we are so good at making the simple things that God enjoys a hybrid of complication and anxiety.

It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not allow yourselves to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. --Galatians 5:1

Below I have pasted a passage from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening. I first read this last year in the middle of the woods in Alabama as a camp counselor. It is one of the most refreshing things I have ever read. I believe that Spurgeon does a stellar job of pointing us to the elite cure for anxiety in the face Jesus, the Christ. Enjoy!

“Looking unto Jesus.”

Hebrews 12:2

It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan's work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of his children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus.”

All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that “Christ is all in all.” Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul.

If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by “looking unto Jesus.” Keep thine eye simply on him; let his death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to him; when thou liest down at night look to him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee.

“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness:
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”