When the children of Israel left Egypt, they found themselves between the Red Sea before them and Pharaoh’s army behind them. In their fear, they told Moses that they wished that they had never left Egypt. Thousands of years later, anxiety continues to beset us in this world. Man-made and natural catastrophes are on every side — mass killings of man by his fellow man, as well as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes and floods. To all this is added the threat of economic collapse. From all over the world these events are daily brought to our attention immediately and graphically. Although many do not appear outwardly distressed, men’s hearts are already “failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:2626Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:26)). Can the Christian have a different outlook than those who do not know Christ?
Recently a panel of five experts sat around a table to discuss the question, “Are we more anxious than ever?” Their conclusion was an unqualified “yes,” for there is much in this world to be anxious about. It was commented that to look back only brings depression (how much nicer the world was “back then”!), while to look ahead brings anxiety (what will become of us?). The solution for many is to immerse themselves in the present. As the commercial slogan invites, “Live for now!”
The panelists also commented that in the past, in times of great distress in this world (such as during the black plague or the two world wars), many turned to “religion” to find comfort. In the same way today many are turning to what they term “spirituality,” but for a significant number this is atheism. No God! What vast emptiness!
A Product of Our Mind
Anxiety is a product of our minds and our thoughts, and some have a more difficult time dealing with it than others. This is true even among believers, for a creative mind can come up with so many matters about which to worry! In serious cases, it is recognized as a form of mental illness for which there is medication and other treatment available. For this reason, those who are not naturally of an anxious nature need to have patience and help along those who are more prone to worry through the details of life. But ultimately we must be ready to say with David, “My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (Psa. 121:22My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2)). As with every moral question, we find the answer in the Word of God, for the Lord has given us guidance and comfort through His Word.
Martha
The first example that comes to mind concerns Martha and the Lord’s words to her, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things” (Luke 10:4141And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: (Luke 10:41)). Martha was “cumbered” and her Lord had to speak her name twice in this instance, perhaps just to get her attention. Rather than sympathizing with her, the Lord rebuked her, but it is important to notice that He did not do this until she appealed to Him, thinking that her sister should help her. In the same way, the Lord did not rebuke the anxiety of the disciples when their boat was in the storm on the lake until they reproached Him for not seeming to care about their predicament. The Lord may allow us to experience the result of our worry until we are pressed to the point that we appeal to Him. Anxiety is connected with our state of soul and cannot be remedied except by closer communion with the Lord. For this reason, Martha was also pointed to the remedy: “One thing is needful” (Luke 10:4242But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:42)). She needed to spend time with her Lord and not be so occupied with the cares of this life. A similar thought is laid out for us in Colossians 3:22Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2): “Have your mind on the things above, not on the things on the earth” (JND). This takes a deliberate steering of our thought process upwards.
“Now Is My Soul Troubled”
When we consider anxiety, some might ask the meaning of our Lord’s words in John 12:2727Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. (John 12:27): ”Now is My soul troubled.” It is important to see that when the question of being made sin was before our blessed Lord, His soul was troubled about what He must endure in order to glorify the Father’s name. In our case, as with Martha, there is often anxiety and worry — something never attributed to our blessed Master. To be burdened about something, and even to shed tears over a situation, is different from worry and anxiety. When anxious, we are concerned and agitated, not only over the process, but also the outcome. For the Lord, the outcome was never in doubt. As the perfect, dependent Man, His faith carried Him through it all, and perhaps this is why Paul could say, “I live by the faith of the Son of God” (Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)). Christ was the perfect example of the life of faith.
Be Careful for Nothing
In Scripture we are never told to try to do something, but rather to do it! And so often we are given a beautiful goal or motive. A good example is found in Philippians 4:44Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4), where we are twice told to “rejoice in the Lord.” If we are doing that, how much easier it is to go on to the following verse: “Be careful for nothing.” The word “careful” here denotes anxiety and worry. In the same way, Psalm 37 tells us three times to “fret not,” but then goes on to encourage us to “trust in the Lord” (vs. 3), “delight thyself also in the Lord” (vs. 4), “commit thy way unto the Lord” (vs. 5), and “rest in the Lord” (vs. 7).
Hope and Faith
Connected with anxiety is the subject of hope. It was striking to note that the panel of experts discussing anxiety all agreed that “hope” did not play much part in our society. It has been buried in our fears, although all agreed that “hope decreases anxiety.” Hope is dependent on faith, and few today have much faith in what the future may hold. The world has lost its faith in God and is realizing more and more that unregenerate man is not a fit object for faith. But the believer has a hope that is “an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” (Heb. 6:1919Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19)). Hope also protects, for we have “an helmet, the hope of salvation” (1 Thess. 5:8). It purifies, for “every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself” (1 John 3:33Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)). In the affairs of this life and their final outcome, we have the assurance that “all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:2828And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)).
The stresses and strains of daily living can easily fill us with fears, anxious thoughts and worry; our lives can easily be full of “what ifs ... ” But in walking in communion with the Lord, Paul could say in 2 Corinthians 11:25, “Thrice I suffered shipwreck.” If we had been involved in two plane crashes, we might be anxious about boarding a third flight. But Paul, confident of having the Lord’s mind, went ahead, and he did indeed suffer a third shipwreck. It is a walk in fellowship with Him that takes away all fear. As another has said, it is better to walk in difficult circumstances but in good company than to walk in comfortable circumstances in bad company. If we look back, let us look all the way back to the cross; if we look forward, let us look all the way ahead to coming glory.
Growth
Another question may arise as to whether worry and anxiety can be used for our growth. Scripture would suggest that worry is the wrong response to difficult circumstances, for surely spiritual growth does not come out of that which is really a lack of faith. Rather, growth comes out of a right response to trying circumstances. We read in Psalm 4:11<<To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.>> Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. (Psalm 4:1), “In pressure Thou hast enlarged me” (JND). If we accept hard circumstances from the Lord and learn to cast our care upon Him (1 Peter 5:6-7), we will find that our hearts are enlarged as we go through tough times with the Lord. Through trials we learn His comfort, His patience and His love in a far deeper way than if our lives were always easy. The trial is temporary, but the experience of going through it with the Lord will bear fruit for all eternity. But we can never learn all this in a state of anxiety.
“When they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives” (Matt. 26:3030And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:30)). The Lord Jesus was shortly going to undertake the most severe testing and trial of His life here, but in communion with His Father, He can start along that road by singing a hymn. He has left us an example, “that ye should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).
Why should I ever careful be,
Since such a God is mine?
He watches o’er me night and
day,
And tells me, “Thou art Mine.”
(Little Flock Hymnbook,
#27 App.)
W. J. Prost