A man’s wife is missing…
Man: Officer, my wife is missing. She went out yesterday and she hasn’t come home.
Officer: Okay, what’s her height?
Man: Not sure…. Maybe around 5’6?
Officer: Okay, weight?
Man: I dunno… not slim not big.
Officer: Okay… color of her eyes?
Man: Sort of blue, I think? I never really noticed.
Officer: What’s the color of her hair?
Man: Well, that changes all the time depending on the hairdresser she goes to.
Officer: what clothes was she wearing the last time you saw her?
Man: Could’ve been a red dress? Maybe a blue one? I don’t know exactly.
Officer: when she left to go somewhere, did she go by car?
Man: Yeah, she did.
Officer: What was the make of that car?
Man: it’s a high performance 560 horsepower Audi in a very specific grey silver metallic paint. It has 8 speed paddle shift automatic transition and a 6.35-liter v12 engine generating at least 560 horsepower. It has a z51 super performance package, larger than normal alloy wheels, gt bucket seats, satellite navigation. And unfortunately… a little thin scratch on the front left door handle.
Officer: Don’t worry, sir. We’ll find your car.
Worry and anxiety appears to be an epidemic that plagues many people to various degrees. Sometimes the worry is based on fact and sometimes it is based on fiction. Mark Twain once said, “I am an old man and I have known many troubles, but most of them never happened”. I often teach that worry is like a rocking chair… it doesn’t accomplish much but it keeps you busy… Our world is fast paced with almost limitless demands. We all feel pressure and responsibility on every side. The demands are great in both our personal and our professional lives. One person quipped “I have so many worries, that if anything new happens to me today, it will be two weeks before I’ll have time to get around to worrying about it!”. It is unrealistic to simply say “don’t worry about it” because worry is a predictable human response. But what we do with our worry and how we use our worry to draw us closer to the Lord is critically important.
1- The Cause of Worry
Worry is not a part of God’s good plan for the lives of His children. But in a fallen world and in the limitations of our faith we all experience the detrimental and destructive disease of worry.
The concerns and cares of this life cause us to worry. Home repairs, vocational endeavors, concerns about health, new reports about wars, global pandemics, economic uncertainties, political and social disorder to name just a few of the issues that can rob us of our peace and contentment.
Matthew 6:25-26 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Another cause for worry is when we fail to remember the character and nature of God. Darkness and despair will grip our minds and heart when we take our eyes of faith off of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
2- The Curse of Worry
Worry never makes things better. Worry typically only makes things worse. Worry is destructive in a variety of ways… a worried mind can lead to emotional, psychological, and mental ailments. There are many clients to mental health clinicians and many patients under psychological care because of unchecked and poorly managed worry and anxiety over issues of life. Worry will wage war on our spirit, soul, and body if we are not vigilant to address it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify[a] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A worried mind will always impact a person’s physical wellbeing. Medical research reveals that many physical maladies can be attributed to sustained and unaddressed life anxiety. Worry will release chemicals in the brain and will secrete juices in the digestive system that tend to break down a person’s natural resistance to disease.
Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Additionally, our worry is harmful to others. No person lives to himself and all sin splatters. It is always discouraging to listen to the woes who are chronic complainers and wearisome worriers. Friends, family, coworkers, neighbors are watching us to see how a Christian respond and reacts to the trials and tribulations of life. Our faith filled response will positively impact them but our faith less response will leave a negative impression about our confidence in our mighty God. In short, our worry is harmful to the good reputation of the Lord we serve.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
3- The Cure for Worry
The Word of God offers a Christian a life of peace- a life that can free from worry. This doesn’t mean a Christian won’t face the same challenges and stressors of life, but they have a resource and a resolve to handle these matters differently.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
Those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior can overcome worry by trusting in God’s character. One cannot trust in God and worry at the same time. Worry and faith cannot coexist. John Wesley once said, “I would just as soon cuss as to fret”. When we find ourselves fretting and worrying it is a call to run to the Lord in prayer and obedience.
Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Christians can also overcome worry by loving God thoroughly. Hudson Taylor was a great missionary to inland China. He once made this remark, “Out of a thousand troubles and worries that beset us in life, 999 of them work together for our good- and one more”.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
This verse does not mean that everything that happens to us is good… but in God’s plan and purpose He uses everything (including the bad) things to work together for a result that is good. Anything that drives us to great dependance and obedience in the Lord is ultimately a good thing. When we face adversity, we should not waste much time asking “Why me Lord?” but asked “What now Lord?”.
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Christians can counterattack worry through the power of prayer. Prayer doesn’t take any special skill and no insider information is necessary. We are simply able to talk to God, to ask Him for help, to submit to His will, and to trust that whatever then occurs He will give us the grace and the strength to overcome.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
When we pray, we have the privilege to cast our concerns upon Christ. When life is over our head it is still under His feet!
Years ago, there was a man walking along a country road, carrying a sack of potatoes on his back. A man, riding by in a wagon, invited him to ride along with him. The pedestrian climbed into the wagon and sat down, but he kept the sack of potatoes over his shoulder. The driver noticed the awkward sight and said to him “Put the bag of potatoes down in the wagon bed. You don’t need to keep them on your shoulder”. “Oh no sir,” came the reply, “It is very kind of you to offer this ride, but to make those horses carry the weight of the potatoes too, that just too much!”. Many Christians are just like that… The Lord is carrying them, but they think God in not able to carry their burdens.
1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
During World War II, German planes bombed London night after night. One aged Christian lady seemed to stand up well under the strain and stress. So, someone asked her how she managed to keep so calm day after day despite the awful danger they faced constantly. She simply said “Every night I pray and tend to worry about what Hitler is going to do during the time I am asleep- but then I remember how the preacher says that God is always watching. Therefore, there is no use for the two of us to stay awake.”
Psalm 121:1-4 I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
A child was lost in the deep dark woods. She wandered for hours, hearing nothing but her own sobs and the rustling of the leaves under her feet and the tearing of the branches and undergrowth at her clothing. At last, utterly wearied, she sat down. Then, in the stillness, she heard the calls of her father. She might have heard them before, had she been quiet, for her daddy had been searching and calling her all night.
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
However, if you are not a Christian you truly have something to worry about. Life lived separated from and out of fellowship with God is a very scary prospect and endeavor.
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more, please pursue any/all of the below options:
1- Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org
2- Check out our church website Misisonchurchlex.org
3- Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am) and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 630pm. We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington KY 40515.
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5- Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”