The act of being saved is a one-time event, but for me, the act of living saved is a daily commitment.
I was listening to John Piper this morning, and he said, “for believers, it is not a question of if we will face anxiety, but what we will do about it when we do.”
I can dress myself up on the outside, all the while there is a storm churning on the inside. I am in a difficult season of battling the anxieties that strike like a thief in the night without warning, leaving me fighting for breath and feeling like the weight of the world is on my chest with a hold around my neck. It is not fun, but as I have come to know, hard and holy walk hand in hand. Enduring the droughts of affliction are strenuous, but the presence of my Savior in their midst is always sacred. I am very thankful that when we drink from the cup of suffering it is two-sided, a battle and a blessing.
Anxiety is a taboo subject in our society, especially in Christian circles. We live and love in a fallen world. Therefore, it should be no surprise that even the most faithful disciples are vulnerable to anxious hearts and minds. What I was reminded of this morning as John Piper said is that it is not the if but the what that is important. What are you, am I, going to do about it?
Like any trial, we have a choice to cave or to conquer. I am not suggesting that there is a magic wand that can be waved and poof, anxiety or any other problem is gone. That would be nice, I suppose, but we would miss the fruits of refinement. What I am saying is that we are not powerless to any attack the enemy launches.
Many days in my effort to survive, I have been rendered helpless in the face of the fire. You see, when I am busy fencing God’s battles, I forget to be still and let Him do the fighting for me. Dealing with anxiety does not have to be a place of passive punishment, but it also should not be a place of polluted panic either. We have divinely designed tools available to us. Jesus knew we would need weapons for warfare, and thus supplied them. Think of one of His most tormenting times in The Garden of Gethsemane. He went to pray and took a few of the disciples with Him and said, “stay here and watch with me.” Matthew 26:38. It seems that He was leaning on His friends to unite with Him and provide support. Why should we be any different?
Looking back, it has been on the days I have reached out to a friend and asked for prayer, laid my bible on my chest, turned on worship music and actively sought the Lord and His helpers that I found the most relief. It isn’t that all anxiousness disappeared, but there was a noticeable easing of intensity and peace that paved the way for perseverance.
I have been resting a lot lately in the words of Psalm 91. The first verse is a poignant picture of the mercy God offers us in the presence of peril. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. ~ Psalm 91:1
The word dwell in this verse means to sit. It is a depiction of peaceful rest. Also, abide means to lodge or live, speaking to those who make The Lord their home.
When God is our place of repose, there are blessings, grace, and mercies available to us that I otherwise miss when I put myself, or worse, the enemy in charge. It is so easy to forget where my sanctuary is. The world offers many imitators who make a lot more noise, commanding my attention and sometimes my affection. Impostures are short-term, addictive and only leave us rattled, never restored.
Friend, I do not know what you may be walking through today. Maybe you are enjoying streams of abundance, or perhaps you are riding the rapids. Either way, we all face times when we must choose to fight or fall. As I need to remember so many days, our best defense, Our God and His abundant provisions, is a place of peace but not always passivity. Jesus invites us to Him, Matthew 11:28, come to me all you who are weary. This verse implies action on our part, and we cannot retreat to His asylum if we have relented to assaults.
I know it is easy to become a weary warrior, but Jesus ransomed us more for endurance through the difficult times than enjoyment through the delightful times. Sometimes we forget to ask for that which was secured for us. Don’t give up. Lean on the prayers of a friend. Live under the provisions of your Father.
Lord God, it is you who leads us to that is best equipped to see us through. I know that in all the hard places you maintain holy purposes. Give us eyes to see your eternal possibilities, not our earthly problems. Amen.
