Saturday, August 31, 2013

Anxiety And Faith

Everyone feels anxious at one time or another. It is a normal part of life. It is our body’s way of telling us that something might be wrong - that we might be facing some potential danger or are feeling symptoms of an illness. If we had no feelings of anxiety, we might put ourselves in all kinds of danger that could end up in disaster.

Anxiety for the Christian however can be more. It may be an “early warning system” that God has put in our hearts, through the Holy Spirit, to get our attention to let us know that something may be going wrong in our walk with Him and He wants us to make things right with Him.

God has many ways to use anxiety to get our attention. He may trouble our hearts when we read His word, listen to a hymn, hear a sermon, speak with Him in prayer, see a picture of His children suffering or when we are having a conversation with a friend. His Spirit is always at work in our hearts and it is good to be troubled with anxiety that comes from God.

The writer of Psalm 94 was having a huge problem with anxiety. He must have been deeply troubled by many things that were overwhelming him and seemingly beyond his control. Note his words: “When anxiety was great within me” - not simply a minor incident, but something very, very troubling.

Then note what happened: Your “consolation” or perhaps better understood as “comfort” – “brought joy to my soul.” It is like Jesus saying, “Let not Your heart be troubled. Believe in me. This is my plan for You. Trust Me.”

Prayer:  Help us, Father, to realize that You love us so much You often trouble our hearts to get our attention. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

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