Darryl has before talked about an attitude of gratitude but today Pastor Reed also tied in anti-anxiety. I have discovered (to my naïve surprise) that the majority of people I know experience some kind of anxiety on a regular basis. I could sit here and say they have anxiety over silly things, while of course my anxiety is justified… As Ryan asked this morning, why is it ok for me to feel this way or to do something but not for other people around me? Yes, that’s selfishness. The idea that others need to measure up to a higher standard than I do. And yes I experience anxiety. I’ve talked a little about that in weeks past. And I believe I said then, and I’ll say it again now after hearing Pastor Reed, that the BEST antidote to anxiety is prayer. But in order to pray, we also need to have belief.
At one point, Pastor Reed said, if I remember correctly, that anxiety is active atheism. I heard someone in the congregation verbalize surprise at that and indeed it hit me in the feels too. Good sermons and Bible study should direct our minds to those things we do that draw us away from God and anxiety is one of those things. What is anxiety but trying to solve our problems by THINKING excessively about something. When in truth as the scripture in Luke 12:25 – 26 says, “And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?”
So what is atheism? It is not believing in God. If God has promised to watch over us, and we don’t believe Him, then we don’t have faith, right? Then, as logic follows, you really don’t believe in God! Now, do not despair! If you have anxiety, do not take this as an opportunity to beat yourself up and get depressed because of your lack of faith. Instead, drop to your knees, if able, and ask God to give you faith! Mark 9:24 says “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” And you know what? Jesus did help him as He will help us too if we ask Him! And after you pray for belief, pray for your troubles, pray for whatever is bothering you. As we read today Philippians 4:6-7 says “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
So what can we do to combat our unbelief, anxiety, and doubts when they creep in? Pastor Reed’s point, which coincides with Darryl’s attitude of gratitude, is active thankful praise to God. And praising God is also prayer by the way, think back to the Lord’s Prayer. It starts with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” Praising God isn’t just us thanking Him for what we have but for Him just being who He is! He is God and should be praised accordingly because He loves us. By praising God, we will counteract and weed out our grumblings. Our hearts will change and our attitudes will follow. And after all, how can God show us that we NEED Him if He allows us to fix everything ourselves at the first sign of trouble? Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The key sentence being that last one. Only through Jesus are we able to be content in all situations and to be confident in our salvation.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”