"In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!" --Psalm 94:19 (AMP)
Anxiety can get the best of us. Whether it be health concerns, financial concerns, relationships, or other matters, many of us are prone to fret over situations outside of our control.
I often think about that great man of faith, Abraham. Interestingly, the Bible shows us that he didn't always act in faith. He ran to Egypt, he lied about Sarah being his wife, and he acted in the flesh regarding Ishmael.
These passages give me hope. It's encouraging to think that, in spite of our lapses in faith, God will continue to work on us. He sees the belief that we have, and imputes righteousness. He calls us faithful in spite of our momentary unfaithfulness. After all, our faith comes from him in the first place (Rom. 12:3).
We know that "without faith, it is impossible to please" God (Heb. 11:6). Paul tells us that "the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." And yet Jesus rewarded the man who confessed, "I believe; help thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24). This is my constant prayer for all of us: that Jesus continue to build our faith.
Anxiety often comes when our problems become bigger than they actually are. If we have an eternal perspective, nothing is bigger than God. The Eternal, Omnipotent One who created the universe by the word of His mouth is in our corner. Do we believe that? Do we believe the words of God recorded in Jeremiah, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?" (Jer. 32:27).
The enemy will not only enlarge our problems, but he will lie about the nature of God. He will tell you that you aren't important enough to God. I ask you to remember Luke 5:12-13:
12While He was in one of the towns, there came a man full of (covered with) leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You are able to cure me and make me clean.
13And [Jesus] reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed! And immediately the leprosy left him.
And now a word from our Sponsor:
Psalm 55:22 (Amplified Bible)
"Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail)."
Psalm 139:23-24 (Amplified Bible)
"Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Proverbs 12:25 (Amplified Bible)
"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad."
Ecclesiastes 7:14 (Amplified Bible)
"In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider that God has made the one side by side with the other, so that man may not find out anything that shall be after him."
Matthew 6:28-34 (Amplified Bible)
"And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the liles of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence, [excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble."
Luke 10:41-42 (Amplified Bible)
"But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; there is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is the her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her."
Luke 12:22-23, 25, 26 (Amplified Bible)
"And Jesus said to His disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious and troubled [with cares] about your life, as to what you will [have to] eat; or about your body, as to what you will [have to] wear. For life is more than food, and the body [more] than clothes. And which of you by being overly anxious and troubled with cares can add a cubit to his stature or a moment [unit] of time to his age [the length of his life]? If then you are not able to do such a little thing as that, why are you anxious and troubled with cares about the rest?"
Phillipians 4:6-7 (Amplified Bible)
"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hears and minds in Christ Jesus."
2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified Bible)
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control."
1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified Bible)
"Casing the whole of your care[all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."
