Eighth in the series of Fear Not in an age of fear and anxiety.
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Mark 4:39-41, NKJV
This is too much!
Good. Everything on my list of things to do is, in some way, good, necessary or normal. Why am I stressed? During waking hours the anxiety of too much to coordinate stays in the shadows. When I get ready to fall asleep, the tyranny of the list whips up distress and my brain starts arranging the things that are left to do or organize. The more I entertain the next day's tasks or engage in figuring out how to make things work, the less I sleep. In fact, it tends to trigger adrenaline and anxiety. Believe me I know it's silly. Experience tells me the issues that keep me awake usually dissolve in the light of morning. Besides…I believe in Jesus. I talk to Him. Nothing is beyond Him. The wind and the waves obey Him…He can handle my list of things to do.
Overwhelmed by good
What am I worrying about? The truth is I have a great family, meaningful work, a worthwhile ministry, a genuine church community, a great home, fresh eggs from our own chickens, good food to eat, loving friends, a supportive small group, a relationship with Jesus, and much more.
Jesus told His disciples:
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:27-34, NKJV
This is my prayer, "Jesus, please teach me to trust you fully and not to worry about anything including tomorrow. Help me to rest in you and to Fear Not. Thank you, Jesus. Amen."
#FearNot
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