A thought by Max Lucado from his book. Trade Your Cares for Calm (p. 2).
Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com
to buy the book.)
How will you face this day? Many will face today
with anxiety and some with fear.
Max says, “Fear sees a threat. Anxiety
imagines one. Fear screams, Get out! Anxiety ponders, What if?
Later he says, “Chances are that you or
someone you know seriously struggles with anxiety. According to the National
Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are reaching epidemic
proportions. ‘The United States is now the most anxious nation in the
world.’ (Congratulations to us!) The
land of the Stars and Stripes has become the country of stress and strife.”
He goes on, “It’s enough to make us
wonder if the apostle Paul was out of touch with reality when he wrote, ‘Be
anxious for nothing’ (Philippians 4:6). ‘Be anxious for less’ would have been a
sufficient challenge. Or ‘Be anxious only on Thursdays.’ Or ‘Be anxious only in
seasons of severe affliction.’
“But Paul doesn’t seem to offer any
leeway here. Be anxious for nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Is this what he meant?
Not exactly. He wrote the phrase in the present active tense, which implies an
ongoing state. It’s the life of perpetual anxiety that Paul wanted to address.
The Lucado Revised Translation reads, ‘Don’t let anything in life leave you
perpetually breathless and in angst.’ The presence of anxiety is unavoidable,
but the prison of anxiety is optional.”
Max then says, “Anxiety is not a sin;
it is an emotion. (So, don’t be anxious about feeling anxious.) Anxiety can,
however, lead to sinful behavior. When we treat our worries with inebriation or
angry outbursts, we are sinning. For that reason, Jesus gave this word: ‘Be
careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with . . . the anxieties of life’
(Luke 21:34 NIV).”
Earlier he said, “Could you use some
calm? God is ready to give it. With God as your helper, you will sleep better
tonight and smile more tomorrow. You’ll reframe the way you face your fears.
You’ll learn how to talk yourself off the ledge, view bad news through the lens
of sovereignty, discern the lies of Satan, and tell yourself the truth.”
He then says, “Anxiety comes with life.
But it doesn’t have to dominate your life.”
God is ready to calm you as you face
the fears and anxieties of your life.
So, will turn to him, reach out to him and listen to him so they won’t
dominate your life? Will you?
Yes, yes!
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