Did you know that "Don't Worry" is one of the Bibles most commonly ignored commands? And one of the most common command that I can find in scripture is to "not fear" or to "not be afraid." The Bible tells us not to worry or to be afraid, but you take a look at the world that we live in and you see how closely we should hold onto these commands from God's Word. While we might use different words to describe this feeling it is simply explained as "fear." And being "unafraid" is something that is easier said than done. We all worry about different things and fear affects different people in different ways. We worry about our relationships, finances, our health, our future, and our kids. We stress out over our work. The list is endless.
We all have lots of different fears. We all carry within us a deep seeded fear that, if we are honest with ourselves, we know we will never be able to master. I often feel like my mind is a "worry factory" coming up with new ideas and worries all the time. If not kept in check worry and fear can produce mass anxiety twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.
Over and over God tells us in His Word not to be afraid. he commands us not to worry and Jesus doesn't say, "Don't worry without good reason or don't worry if it makes you feel better." We are like children that won't listen to their parents when they say, "Just don't." Stop it!
If we get into God's word we find the command is pretty cut and dry. Luke 12:22-29 reads this way, "And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." What I think Jesus is trying to relate to us here is that is a battle that we were never meant to fight alone never mind win alone. And for many of us giving over the anxiety and the worry is beyond our control. It so consumes our daily lives it is cancer that holds us back and makes us sick. Sometimes all it takes is a trusted friend or counselor to help unburden these fears and anxieties but ultimately it takes a daily walk with the Holy Spirit and nailing them down to the cross every day.
I am saying this from personal experience, Men, there is nothing wrong with admitting that we need help. There is nothing wrong with asking your brothers to help you carry the load. There is nothing emasculating or feminine about going to a counselor and asking for help. Again I say, we were NEVER MEANT to FIGHT this battle on our own.
But when you are able to live a worry free life, you gain the full truth of who God is. You are living under the knowledge that God is in TOTAL CONTROL and YOU AREN'T!
So when you start to worry and fret over a situation, stop and pray and ask God to give you the courage and the wisdom that He so freely offers up. And remember that He often puts us in the valley so when we are on the mountain we can look back and see where we came from.
We all have lots of different fears. We all carry within us a deep seeded fear that, if we are honest with ourselves, we know we will never be able to master. I often feel like my mind is a "worry factory" coming up with new ideas and worries all the time. If not kept in check worry and fear can produce mass anxiety twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.
Over and over God tells us in His Word not to be afraid. he commands us not to worry and Jesus doesn't say, "Don't worry without good reason or don't worry if it makes you feel better." We are like children that won't listen to their parents when they say, "Just don't." Stop it!
If we get into God's word we find the command is pretty cut and dry. Luke 12:22-29 reads this way, "And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." What I think Jesus is trying to relate to us here is that is a battle that we were never meant to fight alone never mind win alone. And for many of us giving over the anxiety and the worry is beyond our control. It so consumes our daily lives it is cancer that holds us back and makes us sick. Sometimes all it takes is a trusted friend or counselor to help unburden these fears and anxieties but ultimately it takes a daily walk with the Holy Spirit and nailing them down to the cross every day.
I am saying this from personal experience, Men, there is nothing wrong with admitting that we need help. There is nothing wrong with asking your brothers to help you carry the load. There is nothing emasculating or feminine about going to a counselor and asking for help. Again I say, we were NEVER MEANT to FIGHT this battle on our own.
But when you are able to live a worry free life, you gain the full truth of who God is. You are living under the knowledge that God is in TOTAL CONTROL and YOU AREN'T!
So when you start to worry and fret over a situation, stop and pray and ask God to give you the courage and the wisdom that He so freely offers up. And remember that He often puts us in the valley so when we are on the mountain we can look back and see where we came from.
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