Anxiety Cuts The Mustard

[Chad]

Anxiety Cuts The Mustard - Message #376 - June 25, 2006

At root, anxiety is a control issue. We think things in our lives are out of control. On the job, we just don't seem to be able to get hold of the proper handle. At home there is a drinking problem. Mom or dad gets out of control, we're frightened. Perhaps infidelity or the death of a spouse or a child is part of the picture. It's like an earthquake hit you. Everything is shattered. The 'Richter scale of worry' is over the top.

We need to remember God. Yes, I'm talking about the Sovereign God of the Bible. Although things may be out of control from our perspective, they are never out of God's control. When Jesus came into the world, He came preaching the gospel of the kingdom. He proclaimed the Good News that the Sovereign God is King of all. He rules His universe and everything in it. We can trust God and we get to Him through Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6).

This is why we pray in the name of Jesus. These words are a seed of hope for the anxious. Christianity, faith in Christ, faith in the Sovereign God through Christ, brings stability to life. This seed of hope needs to grow and flourish in our lives. Anxiety cuts at the root of this hope. Here is how Jesus puts it. "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful" (Matthew 13:22).

You desperately need the tiny mustard seed of hope in God's promise.

For a free audiotape on this subject, call 1-800-777-0389
email: freetapes@wordfortheweek.org; or visit: www.wordfortheweek.org

 

[stephen]

Isaiah ch 46 v 1 -4 "Bel boweth down....Nebo stoopeth, their idlos were upon the beast's, and upon the cattle.......they stoop they bow down together...."

What is happening here? Bel and Nebo, the gods of Babylon were being carried along. On the shoulders of men.....on carts pulled along by beast's of burden. "Bel bows down...Nebo stoops" as the procession moves along over the rocky ground.

But "hearken unto me" says the LOrd, "house of Jacob"......"which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb......and even to your old age I am he,.....and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made and I will bear, even I will carry and will deliver you"

When we give our lives to Jesus, accepting Him as our own personal Saviour.........He carries us. Amen......As Christians we are not immune from the problems, pressure's, trials, that life throws up. But we have this sure knowledge as his word tells us "Underneath and round about us are the Everlasting Arm's" of the Lord God Almighty.

This is not mind over matter.......this is having a mind renewed by the grace and mercy of the Lord..and a life changed in the New Birth (John 3 v 14 - 21)

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Chad, thank you for a very timely post.So many of us have great trouble believing in God's promises when times are tough.

I wonder, though, if people know the true definition of "hope" - the Biblical definition. It is a mistake to depend on secular English dictionaries and thesauri to give us accurate definitions of Bible terms. The word "hope" in common English usage is synonymous with "wish" and carries with it no real power.

The Biblical definition of "hope", on the other hand, is "steadfast expectation." Using that definition, Hebrews 11:1 becomes "Now faith is being sure of what we STEADFASTLY EXPECT and certain of what we do not see."

We do, indeed, "need the tiny mustard seed of (steadfast expectation) in God's promises."



SLE

 

[andrewnicholas]

Brother Chad - thank you for this meaningful message - my grandmother always said the extent of your anxiety reflects how close you are to God.When we give ourselves to Him we can be sure our prayer is heard.Of course we being fallible we wonder if God is hearing us but it is when we say Jesus I love and trust you from the depths of my heart then we are truly commiting ourselves to Divine Mercy and then our lives are enriched knowing the Father is there to guide us. God Bless you and yours.

Nicholas.