Anxie-tree
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to
God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7)
It's 3:00 a.m.
You can't sleep. You pound your pillow, adjust the blankets, roll on one side
then the other. Nothing works. Your spouse is in dreamland. The dog’s curled up
in a lump at the foot of your bed. Everyone’s asleep. Everyone, that is, except
for you. In five hours you'll be walking into a new job, new office, new
chapter, new world. You'll be the rookie on the sales team. You’re wondering if
you made the right decision. The hours are long. The competition is fierce.
Besides, you’re 22, fresh out of college and starting your first job; or 33,
with two kids to feed and a family for which to provide; maybe you’re 43, the
latest victim of a layoff, staff reduction, or a conglomerate consolidation; perhaps
you’re 53, not the ideal age to be changing careers; or 63 thinking, What happened to those retirement plans and
time with the grandkids? But here you are, starting all over again. And now
with very little sleep.
No matter the
age, questions fall like volcanic ash. Will I make enough money? Make any
friends? Have a cubicle? Will I be able to learn the software program, the
sales pitch, the way to the restroom? You feel a twitch in the back of your
neck. Suddenly, a new strand of anxiety worms its way into your mind: Oh no, a tumor. Just like Grandpa. He spent
a year in chemotherapy. How will I endure chemo and a new job? Will my new insurance
cover chemo? The thoughts rage through your mind like a tornado through an
Oklahoma prairie. They suck any vestige of peace into a blackened sky. The
green numbers on the clock are the only lights in your room, and the only
lights in your life. Another hour passes. You cover your head with a pillow and
feel like crying. What a mess. What does all this anxiety mean? All this fear?
Trepidation? Restlessness? Insecurity? What does it mean? It means you’re human.
It doesn’t mean you’re
emotionally underdeveloped. It doesn’t mean you’re stupid, demon-possessed, or
a failure. It doesn’t mean your parents failed you, or vice versa. And it doesn’t mean you’re not a Christian. Christians
battle anxiety. Even Jesus did. In the Garden of Gethsemane he prayed three
times that he wouldn't have to be murdered on a cross by haters. (Matt.
26:36-44) His heart pumped with such ferocity that capillaries broke and
rivulets of crimson streaked down his face. (Luke 22:44 – take it from a doctor.)
Jesus was anxious. But he didn't stay anxious. He entrusted his fears to his
heavenly Father, and completed his earthly mission with faith. He will help us
do the same.
There’s a
pathway out of the valley of fret. God used the pen of Paul to sketch the map. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will
say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be
anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are
noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there
is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things. (Phil. 4:4-8) A person
would be hard-pressed to find a more practical, powerful and inspirational
passage on the topic of anxiety. The passage has the feel of a "decision tree."
A decision tree
is a tool that uses a tree-like graph to show decisions and their possible outcomes.
Paul's counsel has a similar sequential format. You already know about the anxie-tree. We've spent more than our
share of time dangling from its wimpy branches, whipped about by the winds of
change and turmoil. But the anxie-tree
is not the only tree in the orchard. There’s a better option: the tranquili-tree. It’s sturdy, shady and
has ample room for you, and here’s how you use it. Begin with God by celebrating
God’s goodness. "Rejoice in the Lord
always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4)
Turn your
attention away from the problem and, for a few minutes, celebrate God. It does
you no good to obsess yourself with your trouble. The more you stare at it, the
bigger it grows. But the more you look to God, the quicker the problem is
reduced to its proper size. This was the strategy of the psalmist. I will lift up my eyes to the hills – From whence
comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Ps.
121:1-2) Do you see the intentionality in those words? "I will lift up my
eyes." In other words, don’t meditate on the mess. You gain nothing by
setting your eyes on the problem. You gain everything by setting your eyes on
the Lord. That’s the lesson Peter learned one pre-dawn morning on a stormy Sea
of Galilee.
Peter was a
fisherman. He knew what ten-foot waves could do to small boats. Maybe that’s why
he volunteered to leave the craft when he saw Jesus walking on the water
through the storm. Peter said, "’Lord, if it’s really you, then command me
to come to you on the water.’" Jesus said, ‘Come.’ And Peter left the boat
and walked on the water to Jesus. But when Peter saw the wind and the waves, he
became afraid and began to sink. He shouted, ‘Lord, save me!’" (Matt.
14:28-30) As long as Peter focused on the face of Christ, he did the
impossible. But when he shifted his gaze to the force of the storm, he sank
like a rock. So, if you’re sinking, maybe it’s because you’re looking in the
wrong direction.
Is God sovereign
over your circumstances? Is he mightier than your problem? Does he have answers
to your questions? According to the Bible the answer is “Yes,” “Yes” and “Yes.”
God . . . is the blessed controller of
all things, the king over all kings and the master of all masters. (1 Tim.
6:15) So, if God sustains all and controls all, don’t you think he has
authority over the situation you face? And what about his mercy? Is God's grace
great enough to cover your sin? Again, “Yes.” There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
(Rom. 8:1) Rejoice in the Lord. That’s step one. Don’t rush past it. Instead, face
God before you face your problem. Then you’ll be ready to ask God for help. That’s
the second step. "Let your requests be made known to God." (Phil.
4:6)
Fear triggers
either despair or prayer. So, choose wisely. God said, "Call on me in the
day of trouble." (Ps. 50:15) Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given
to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
(Matt. 7:7) There’s no uncertainty in that promise. No “maybe,” "might,"
"perhaps," or even "possibly will." Jesus states
unflinchingly that when you ask, he listens. So ask. When anxiety knocks on the
door, say, "Jesus, would you mind answering that?" In fact, reduce
your request to one statement. Imitate Jesus who taught us to pray, "Give
us this day our daily bread." (Matt. 6:11) Engage in specific prayer. And
engage in promise-based prayer. Stand on the firm foundation of God's covenant.
"Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence." (Heb.
4:16) Then, having done so, leave your concerns with God. Let him take charge.
Let God do what he is so willing to do: "Guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:7)
Have you ever
left an appliance at the repair shop? Maybe your toaster broke, or your
microwave oven stopped working. You tried to fix it but had no success. So you
took it to the specialist. You explained the problem and then . . . offered to
stay and help him fix it? Hovered next to his workbench asking questions about
the progress? Threw a sleeping bag on the floor of the workshop so you could
watch the repairman at work? If you did any of these things, you don't
understand the relationship between client and repairman. The arrangement is
uncomplicated. Leave it with him to fix it. Our protocol with God is equally
simple. Leave your problem with him. "I know whom I have believed and am
persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."
(2 Tim. 1:12)
God does not
need our help, counsel or assistance. So, resign as the ruler of your universe.
When God’s ready for us to reengage, he’ll let us know. Until then, replace
anxious thoughts with grateful ones. God takes thanksgiving very seriously
because gratitude keeps us focused on the present. Interestingly, the Bible's
most common word for worry is the
Greek term merimnate. The origin is merimnao – a compound of both a verb and
a noun. The verb means divide, and the
noun means mind. To be anxious, then,
is to divide the mind. Worry takes a meat cleaver to our thoughts, energy and
focus. Anxiety chops up our attention. It sends our awareness dozens of directions.
We worry about the past – what we said or did; we worry about the future –
tomorrow’s assignments, or the next decade's developments. Anxiety takes our
attention from right now and directs it to "back then," or "out
there."
When you aren't
focused on your problem, you free up available brain space. Use your new space,
and freedom, for good. Meditate on good things. "Finally, brethren,
whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of
good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy –
meditate on these things." (Phil. 4:8) Don't let anxious, negative
thoughts take over your mind. You can’t control the circumstances, but you can
control what you think of them.
Ever heard the
expression, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade?" It’s folksy,
corny and homespun, but it’s a reminder that we can make ourselves miserable,
or we can make ourselves some lemonade. Life gives us lemons, and maybe mine
are nothing compared to the lemons you've been handed. Life gives lemons to
good people, bad people, old people, all people. Life comes with lemons. But we
don't have to suck on them. So, resolve to live – today. Yesterday has passed.
Tomorrow is not yet. You’re left with today. So, live today. The sun has yet to
rise on tomorrow. Tomorrow deserves a glance and nothing more. You can't change
tomorrow until tomorrow comes. But you have today. Face today's challenges with
today's strength. Dance today's waltz with today's music. Celebrate today's
opportunities with today's hope. That’s why today is called the present – it’s a
gift.
A new day awaits
you. A new season in which you will worry less and trust more. A season with
reduced fear and enhanced faith. Can you imagine a life in which you are
anxious for nothing? God can. And, with his help, you will too.
Grace,
Randy
Anxie-Tree - Audio/Visual
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