by David Brenneman
"For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.
Read this passage several times my Dear Reader. Then read it again.
We aren't all that different in spite of over 2,000 years separating us from the Apostles.
Gee this really does let us know with all confidence and certainty that the Bible is completely relevant to today's world.
You stress, I stress, we live in a world of stressed people who spend money they don't have to go on vacations to escape stress.
A comical picture says that in the 80's people went to the internet to escape the world. Now we're trying to find out how to stay out of the internet to get back to the world.
We are in good company with those who are saved in Christ Jesus. Look closer to the well known faith chapter in Hebrews 11. Go find each person mentioned to see their story.
I was describing my, as I referred to it - flavor - of social anxiety to a group of people yesterday. My anxiety level depends on my uncertainty level of how things might turn out. Even if I know those people in attendance at the time.
The unknown strikes at the heart of most anxiety. Compress the passages we read this morning and it becomes "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.
Read what is in the introduction to where we find ourselves in this letter to the Corinthians.
"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. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.
It may take some time but comfort comes from God in various ways. Sometimes we see it coming sometimes we don't. Sometimes, as it was in Daniel's case, help has been dispatched but will take some time to arrive due to the Spiritual war we are in.
I also have a confidence problem at times that adds to my anxiety. If I am not confident enough then I struggle greatly at processing my thoughts at the moment.
In my heart of hearts I know what the Bible says concerning never being alone. Look closely at what we have read so far. The Apostles knew and believed that too. That Jesus and the Spirit would be with us wherever we go.
Our finite minds are not perfected yet. We're going to muddle through this life at times. Clarity of thought can and will be fleeting at times. Only in Heaven and Hell do people have no trouble having clarity of thought. Their sin nature is no longer in the way.
These same Apostles are the ones trying to reassure themselves and others of their need to remember what Paul told Timothy about the truth of Scripture that it is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. To keep our minds on things above and God's purpose for our lives even if we don't understand it.
Paul's anxiety had much to do with his concerns about all the churches he planted. Anxiety over them was his thorn in the side he referred to. A messenger of Satan is a demon. To be in a constant state of concern that he couldn't escape because Jesus said His grace was sufficient for power is perfected in weakness. So Paul didn't hide his weaknesses about his concerns for others in Christ.
This time of year anxiety rises to greater levels than other times of the year. People stressing over people pleasing. People stressing over what foods to eat.
In reality millions would like those things to be their problem. They are among those trying to make ends meet. Trying to find a place to stay. Trying to find their way.
Our society is lost and is in need of a Savior who is Christ the Lord.
Jesus said to cast our burdens at His feet. No matter what they are or how we arrived at them.
Suffice to say my anxieties aren't well founded. Faith history shows that always the precisely right time Jesus has always showed up.
It's this battle with our sin nature that caused the chaos.
Pray on, pray over, pray through whatever you are facing. That's what worked for them that's what works for us.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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