podcast:https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/496eb38d/choosing-light-over-anxiety-november-3-2024
As chaos abounds, so goes our anxiety. No matter where you are in the world, you cannot help but feel the uncertainty of so many things. We do not help ourselves by
checking our devices every little while for updates on the election, the Middle East, the market, etc. Twitter, TikTok and the 24-7 news cycle serve to stoke even those who are usually peaceful into a state of anxiety; for some, depression.
Is there a remedy? How do we choose wellness, how do we choose joy?
How can we order our minds so that the message gets to our nervous systems, especially we who endeavor to place our trust in God?
There is no greater source than God and his words to center us...
to set our feet on rock,
to remind us who we are…
to assure us that One sees all
and that we can put our trust in Him.
All will be well.
The Bible is tangible proof that there is a God. Its story holds together as it weaves a history that proves God’s love for us--culminating in the life and redeeming death of our Savior, Jesus. While we cannot physically reach out and touch Jesus, we can learn from his life as we are doing from Luke's gosopel, and take his words into our hearts and minds... his great love never fails.
Impetuous Peter knew that to be true. He had fresh memories of being with Jesus combined with the precious truths he grew up knowing. Look how he weaved both together in Acts chapter 2, citing David’s precious words from Psalm 16:
->“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.”1 This is true today for us! God is our true north, the source of joy.
STOP! Please do not rush over those words. Do you realize the claims David was making in that last verse? God alone will show us the right path for our lives, and what's more we can know joy when we are in his presence. Friends, these truths ought dictate our choices daily.
What other truths from Scripture remind us where we ought keep our focus, if and when all around us seems to be spinning out of control?
->"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You.”2
I have a particular affinity for birds -- their beauty, behaviors and freedom in flight. Check out Jesus’ words; apparently, he liked birds too.
->”Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”3
->“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”4
->“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”5
This next verse was my go-to verse in 2020:
->“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”6
I memorized it, realized my part - placing my trust in God. When life was overwhelming someone I encountered, I prayed those very words over them; actually, I still do! Paul had it right - we trust in the God of HOPE because he alone can fill us with joy and peace, but we. must. trust. him. And then, through the power of the Holy Spirit which is in us, we can overflow with hope. Man, that is good stuff.
Why do these verses bring hope, why do they breathe life? Because the word of God is ‘alive and active’,7 Scripture is able to penetrate where no other light can gain entrance.
Invitation for you: look these verses up in your Bible or on your phone. Write them out and memorize them; heck, pray them! They will breathe life into your day, and hope and promise and assurance. These truths remind us that we have a powerful, loving God who is worthy of our trust. God is rock solid, outside of time and space, greater than anything that is happening around us. Trust Him.
And the words of God are life in an uncertain world.
Love this band: Let There Be Light, Third Day, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Rp7b8HGF4
Trust in God alone,
Christine
1 - Acts 2.28, citing Psalm 16.11
2 - Isaiah 26.3
3 - Matthew 10.29-31
4 - Deuteronomy 31.8-9
5 - Psalm 27.1
6 - Romans 15.13
7 - Hebrews 4.12