We live in a world of confusion….climate change, global warming/ global cooling, over population/under population. Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago but there are possibly human foot prints with the dinosaurs in the Paluxy river?
There is enough turmoil in the world to cause stress levels and anxiety to run rampant in people’s lives. Add to that many in our culture were not given the opportunity to learn how to deal with stress and anxiety as a child. They were not allowed to lose, to go through the struggles of needing to overcome not doing as well as someone else. There are important life lesson to be grasped in losing, in knowing you can do better, you can improve, teaching to overcome anxiety and that we can do it.
Many because our culture abandoned children, grew up without parents or other loving adults being truly present in their lives. Creating a steady “hum” of anxiety and worry in what was going to happen in their world. Social media and news media create a false narrative that people feel they can’t keep up or live up to the life social media portrays and it is impossible to have real peace because of all the negativity in the world
Jesus said, in Tim Burgan words….”Relax, I’ve got this!” (“take heart, I have overcome the world,” John 16:33)
It is more likely than not these days to find yourself stressed or anxious. Work, relationships, money, health and just trying to juggle all of the things is enough to make anyone anxious. Am I doing enough? Being enough? We live in a fallen world much different than the way that the Lord intended when He created it.
The Lord is aware of everything that is going on. He knew what would happen if people rejected Him and His plan but that is why He sent Jesus. Jesus said the peace that he would be able to give us is not like the world but better. The cure for our modern cultural phenomena of high stress and anxiety is already in place and that is what we are going to talk about today….let’s take a look at this story from Mark
Mark 9:21-24
“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (emphasis added)
We aren’t told how long the boy has been struggling, just since he was a little boy but the father saw his boy struggle every day so it must have seemed like an eternity. Seeing your child struggle every day is a great stressor. Your child might not be dealing with a demon but your kids already suffer from some stress and anxiety as a carry-over from this fallen world
1 Peter 5:6,7
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Most of our fears, and an acronym for fear is False Expectations Appearing Real, are simply that, false expectations. Many of our fears will never come to reality or their impact will not carry the weight that justifies the fear.
Our battle is not really with fear and anxiety but with trust.
Psalm 37:4,5
Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
Please take just a moment and breathe in these two verses. The context of these verses is that of dealing with the evil around us and the Lord speaking through David to not have fear about anything but to trust completely in Him
Every day you make a million decisions from what to wear, what to eat, when to leave to make it on time. You make some tough decisions too. You decide to do things you don’t want to do but have to do, you choose to say no to the negativity and sin the devil and your flesh want you to play into, you decide to do and say tough things that will make it better for you in the long run but cause pain at first. With all of these tough decisions the Lord is asking us to make a tough one about facing our fears and anxiety….instead of choosing to give in to what “might happen, what might come about” choose to put it in God’s hands, and then fight to keep it there. Choose to trust Him, choose to believe that He knows you, loves you, wants the best for you, that you yes you are important to Him.
Choose to believe these two verses and others I will share today that God really does want to bless us as we trust Him
The man with the demonized boy had seen the reality of the boys suffering for years. He had seen the good intentions of others trying to help but fail. It is tough when you expect wonderful things and the bad scenarios continue to happen instead of the good expectations, that is how we begin to lose hope. That is where belief becomes a funny thing. We can believe and hope for the best outcome or we can believe and hope for the worst. You may not say you are believing for the worst but if your expectation is not that of trust in the Lord then you are choosing to believe for the worst.
But pastor, I have believed for better and I have gotten the worst….I hear you but allow me to share with you a verse that has helped me and maybe it will help you..
John 6:66-69
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus’ other disciples, those that simply followed for the signs and wonders, left after he said some hard things. But the 12 stayed with him trusting that he was God and that despite what they heard, saw, or felt chose instead to trust Him….the fruit….the world was changed because they chose to believe in Jesus over the circumstances, confusion, fear.
When it seems that God is not meeting our expectations or that our fears are more powerful than our faith, when we feel as if it is too much for God or that “I’m not important enough for God to care!”…we must choose to believe (that is real faith, believing when everything around is crying out for us to be anxious or fearful)
Philippians 4: 4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Paul wrote this will bound to a prison guard in prison. The Church at Philippi was suffering persecution, the Roman government and local authorities were harassing them constantly, yet they were still generous in their giving to Paul but were fearful always of what was happening or what could happen….in the middle of all of this Paul explains how to handle the difficulties and woulda, coulda, shouldas of life
Choose to rejoice, not necessarily in the circumstances but that God can be trusted despite the circumstances and that if we are willing God will even use bad things to work for our good..
Romans 8:28 and the life of every person in the scripture
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Paul challenges us in the midst of our anxiety and fear to choose to be kind and gentle despite how we may feel choosing to overcome our inner freakout with outward gentleness and kindness….he gives us the “how to” to make that happen
Pray about everything….tell God what you need….thank him for what he has already done and with expectation thank Him for his accomplishing His good through you!
Then a miracle will begin to happen….the real miracle that you need…
You will experience God’s peace, it is not that things will change necessarily immediately but He will give a peace and confidence that you need to be able to expect that He has got it, whatever the “it” is that you are worried, fearful, or anxious about…..it always is a battle at first, but becomes easier with practice.
Everyone battles anxiety and fear at times it is part of the fall of man, but I understand some struggle with it greater than others….God’s heart is that you live a joy, love, peace filled life despite the circumstances…
David…Psalm 34:4, 94:19
I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
Joshua….Joshua 1:9
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Isaiah and all of Israel….Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
You are not alone in battling your fears and anxieties but you also now have the keys to begin your fight for freedom.
The world suffers with this as well but they have no hope. I hope today that you now have some hope and encouragement….you must get free to set others free as well. We must show a broken hurting, fearful world that they can have peace, not as the world gives, but only the kind God can give.
I have more scriptures that hopefully will help on the app. If you need prayer please come and allow someone to start you on your journey to peace and freedom. The world may not change but you will….then your world will change!
For the App only
Scriptures to overcome fear and anxiety!
This shows that everyone struggles with them, some people more than others!
Luke 12:22-26 “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Isaiah 41:13-14 “’For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, for I myself will help you,’ declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”
Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Psalm 118:6-7 “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper.”
Proverbs 29:25 “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”
Mark 4:39-40 “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Psalm 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”
1 Peter 3:14 “But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.”
Psalm 34:4 “I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.”
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
John 14:27 “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.”
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
Psalm 94:19 “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”
Isaiah 43:1 “But now, this is what the Lord says…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
Proverbs 12:25 “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”
Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, then, under God’s mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.”
Isaiah 35:4-14. “Tell everyone who is discouraged, Be strong and don’t be afraid! God is coming to your rescue…”
Deuteronomy 3:22 “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”
Revelation 1:17 “Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.’”
Mark 5:36 “Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe.’
Romans 8:38-39 “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.”
Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.”
Psalm 91:1-16“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”…He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you…For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways…“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him…”