We have an example of this in Peter. “And in the fourth
watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw
Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And
they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take
courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You,
command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out
of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the
wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save
me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to
him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the
wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are
certainly God’s Son!”” (Matthew 14:25–33, NASB95)
In another instance we find Jesus and the disciples on a
boat during a storm. Jesus is asleep and the disciples grow more and more
fearful as they see the storm build and the boat is tossed. When at last they
wake Jesus and question Him about His concern for them, He responds, “”Why are
you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and
the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, “What
kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”” (Matthew
8:26–27, NASB95)
The disciples knew Jesus, they had seen His miracles, and
they were amazed again when He stopped the wind and calmed the sea. Yet in the
midst of the trial, they looked to the size of the trial and not to the size
and faithfulness of their Lord. And for all of us this is the real issue that
leads to anxiety. We see something as big and imposing and it begins to capture
our mind and our emotions, and we become anxious and even fearful. Yet the
answer for the disciples in the storm is the same answer for us, it is to set
our eyes firmly on Christ.
We read in 2 Corinthians, “For though we walk in the flesh,
we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of
the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are
destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge
of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” (2
Corinthians 10:3–5, NASB95)
We have a tendency to see all of our challenges on a flesh
level. The storm is big, so we need protection from the storm, and we become
anxious when we cannot find that protection. The bills are due, and we need
funds to pay them, yet there seems to be no answer. A child is sick, and we
cannot do anything to make him or her better and we might even fear for the
child’s life. These are all battles we fight on the flesh or real life level.
Yet we have a God who is eternal in the heavens and who is absolutely powerful
and sovereign over all of these earthly concerns, and who has promised to limit
these trials to that which He is also faithful to enable us to victoriously endure
(1 Corinthians 10:13). Sure the trials are often huge and as we look around we
cannot see anything physically bigger to deal with them. But, while the Son of
God took on the form of man and understands the struggles of man, even He has
returned to the right hand of the Father, and we are called to worship our God
in spirit and truth.
“You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know,
for salvation is from the Jews. But an hour is coming, and now is, when the
true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people
the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him
must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:22–24, NASB95)
Paul wrote in Ephesians 6, “Finally, be strong in the Lord
and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you
will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle
is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers,
against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of
wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so
that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to
stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having
girded your loins with truth, and having
put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and having shod your feet with the
preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the
shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming
arrows of the evil one. And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with
this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the
saints,” (Ephesians 6:10–18, NASB95)
In Philippians “…The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all
comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:5–7, NASB95)
The answer for our anxiety is consistently looking to Him
who is not seen as our answer for that which is seen. So when we become anxious
over something closing in around us, we are to look to Him who is our protector
and defender, the One who encloses us before and behind and who has His hand on
our shoulder.
“Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed
me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too
wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.” (Psalm 139:4–6,
NASB95)
Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (10/17)
Anxiety is a result of envisioning the future without Me. So
the best defense against worry is staying in communication with Me. When you
turn your thoughts toward Me, you can think much more positively. Remember to
listen, as well as to speak, making your thoughts a dialogue with Me.
If you must consider upcoming events, follow these rules: 1)
Do not linger in the future, because anxieties sprout up like mushrooms when
you wander there. 2) Remember the promise of My continual Presence; include Me
in any imagery that comes to mind. This mental discipline does not come easily,
because you are accustomed to being god of your fantasies. However, the reality
of My Presence with you, now and forevermore, outshines any fantasy you could
ever imagine.
“And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to
you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body,
as to what you will put on. “For life is more than food, and the body more than
clothing. “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no
storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than
the birds! “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s
span? “If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about
other matters?” (Luke 12:22–26, NASB95)
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20–21, NASB95)
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20–21, NASB95)
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