How many times have we heard well-meaning counsel which often goes like this:  “No worries...God is in control...He will see you through it?” While there is truth to that statement...and we try to “mantra” it in during our anxious moments...the fact is that the counsel is merely words that only pile on feelings of guilt and self-doubt. Our “anxious moments” put us in panic mode driving us deeper into “the tyranny of the anxious.” What is needed when we are facing “anxious moments” is to step back from our anxieties for a moment...catch our spiritual breath...and reconsider again who our God is and His promises to us.

It’s during our anxious moments we need to be reminded of at least 4 truths:

1.)  Of who God is.  In the midst of horrendous anxieties, Job took a step back and considered the reality of who God is.  “I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans. You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’  I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me,  I admit I once lived by rumors of you;  I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise!  I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.” (Job 42:1-6 (The Message paraphrase)

2.)  How much God loves and cares for you.  “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  (Isaiah 4:10)

3.)  God is with you even in those times when we let anxiety rattle us. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress?  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8:31-38).

4.)  God’s purpose for you is to conform you to His Son...and that means breaking our perfectionistic, self-reliant spirit and realize what God is doing with us.  “²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,^[a] for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:28-29)

 My prayer for me and you this morning is this:  Lord, to some, these will be just words, but to those who stop their anxious scrambling...and consider who You are...and that during this very short life-time it’s all about becoming more like Christ Jesus to His honor and glory.  Remind us all...especially those who are struggling.  Amen.

 Walk with the King today and be a blessing.