"Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the human heart,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”"
Anxiety is often our trying to make sense of a perspective that's not ours to understand. I fight anxiety a lot because comprehension of problems is mostly what my brain does. Often "just letting it go" doesn't work. I have a multitasking mind. Quite often I have so many trains of thought that people think the wrong things about me. Perspective. Perception is right there with Perspective.
David's perspective on life came from all the little lessons of life adding up to that moment before Goliath.
Daniel's perspective on life came from the little lessons of life adding up to that moment before each incident we read of him going through.
We can fret, worry, shutdown, run the other way, or we can embrace our faith more than our sight.
The people of Jesus's day were sign seekers. Jesus performed many signs. Way more than are recorded in the four Gospels. John attests to this at the end of his Gospel. They had Jesus, His Words, His Teaching, His miracles, yet their perspective just wasn't there to receive it correctly. The very same people who threw down palm branches hailing His triumphant entry were among those crying out to crucify Him.
I have a particular anxiety that goes back 50 years or more. It has to do with my eyes. At some point I likely will need cataract surgery. It's based on a perspective from that long ago that my anxiety comes from. I have memories of my first eye surgeries. Real or not the perspective follows me in my life.
Our economy is a source of concern but it's not to be worried over. Realistically God's Word shows over and over again how during absolutely impossible times of worldly economic distress, He still made a way to provide for those living in obedience to His Word. Your perspective might be that it's a major problem or it could be a minor problem.
Separating from people isn't the cure. Separating from an environment can certainly help. We are called to be in the world but not of the world. We are called to be obedient regardless of our personal thoughts and feelings on a matter.
As Mark Lowery aptly said in one of his videos "Christ said that I have come to give you life, but not just life - life more abundant.
First of all you've got to know what life is, y'all. Do you know what life is? Whether you are a believer or you're not a believer life is life - life is a series of emotions. Life is a mountain after a valley. A wife to feed, a husband to clothe, children to raise, a boss to put up with, car notes, taxes, April 15th. Life is life.
Christ says I have come to give you life, more abundant.
If I could put the Christian life into one word you know what it would be? It wouldn't be joyous, it wouldn't be victorious, it wouldn't be sad, it wouldn't be depressing even though it has been all of those things at some point in time. If I could put it in one word, if I could put my entire Christian experience into one word it would be this - the Christian life is interesting.
You want a boring life, don't come to Christ. You want an interesting life come to Christ.
But I've got a great scripture for you, if your heart ever gets broken. This is my favorite scripture, its my life verse. I love this verse. It says this:
And it came to pass.
I love that verse, don't you? And it came to pass - it didn't come to stay. It came to pass! No matter where you are on that experience it will pass. Hey, you young 18 year old jocks who've got muscles in your earlobes enjoy them, they will pass!
You older crowd, 35 and up, you've got gray hair now, some of you've got blue hair. You know who you are. Some of you got no hair. Some of you went out and bought you some hair, didn't ya? I saw a guy on TV the other day some TV preacher he had the nastyest looking wig I've ever seen in my life. I think the thing was made out of cat hair. Everytime he scratched his head his rear went up. But enjoy it, it will pass.
Hey, you may have arthritis living in your joints, hey enjoy it. It will pass. Either it will pass or you will pass. It came to pass.
No matter where you are in your life, it will pass. Did you have a bad year last year? Hold on, it will pass. Did you have a good year last year? Hold on, it will pass. No matter what you are going through, this too shall pass."
It came to pass...it didn't come to stay.
Until storms come, they cannot leave.
Until the rains come, plants cannot grow.
Until you face adversity you cannot learn to overcome it.
Until you come to Christ for salvation, you cannot understand the things of God.
Until you go through the hard times you cannot appreciate the other times.
So much, if not everything, is perspective and perception. It matters not how big it really is or as small as it really is. As a very wise man once counseled me: everything in life is based on perception.
What I perceive as a big problem might not be to you.
The chief reason for bearing one another’s burdens is that in all of God's preparations for the lives of His people is that we would comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received from someone else. Galatians 6:2 NASB "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NASB" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
This too is another reason why it's so important to know just what it is that you who are in Christ Jesus are supposed to be doing in the body of Christ.
You can't claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus and do not do what you are told to be doing in and by the Spirit of God.
Jesus commanded us to be doers of the Word and not just hearers only. James 1:22-27.
So how am I dealing with my particular anxiety? Daily prayer. Daily. Many times many times in a day. Worry is a prayer that doesn't go anywhere. Give it a direction: up.
God's got this economy thing and whatever else you're facing under control. Remain in Christ, pray often and earnestly. Set your mind on things above and not on the things of this world. Colossians 3:2.
Anxiety hit Jesus too. Scripture says that in everything we face He already has been through it. Look at the last days of Jesus. In the garden in prayer to His Father. You don't think that wasn't anxiety in written form for us to see and know? Think again. He was tempted in every way and yet did not sin. In His hour of most stress He took His thoughts to His Father.
The more I pray the lower my anxiety. It's as simple as that. This too shall pass.
"Woke up this morning with the years I've spent Hanging heavy on my mind.
So much in me
I wish I'd left behind.
But the one thing I've learned
As the years have turned,
And they sure have traveled fast.
I don't have to stay where I am today because
This too shall pass.
This too shall pass.
And the tears that fall like raindrops now
Will finally dry at last.
This too shall pass.
And still I feel alone.
There's a place inside
Full of tears I hide
That I've only cried alone.
But I know that He's near,
And I know He hears,
And I know these tears won't last.
This pain today
Will be swept away because
This too shall pass.
This too shall pass.
And the tears that fall like raindrops now
Will finally dry at last.
This too shall pass."
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