Philippians 4:6-7 – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
In the words of theologian N.T. Wright, “every one of us has something on her or his mind about which we badly need a voice to say: ‘Don’t be afraid. It’s going to be alright.’”
Most people do not realize that the number one command of the Bible is: ‘Don’t be afraid.’ To worry about something is to consider all that could go wrong and that is out of our control, or our ability to handle it. All of us move from the warmth of the womb to the cold of a fallen world in which we worry about being unloved, alone, abandoned, looking stupid, being left behind, health, wealth and satisfaction. Behind all of these worries and fears looms the fear of death itself.
A good psychologist will tell you that there is only one way to overcome fear and that is to face it. It might be in small increments, but you must face and experience what you fear if you want to grow past it.
Jesus Christ came to this earth to reveal to us that we can face our fears and our worries with Him by our side. He wants to give us the Holy Spirit, His spirit, to minister to our own spirits that it’s going to be o.k. Jesus Christ has opened the door of heaven for us to come boldly to a Father who we can share our fears and anxieties with. God will have compassion and will provide supernatural peace to our hearts as we walk through the challenges of our lives. He will guard our hearts and minds in Jesus’ name. The next time you catch yourself worrying, ask yourself what good that is doing for you or the situation. When we transition from worry to prayer and the Word of God, with thanksgiving, we find times of peace and refreshment.
Jesus, thank you for interceding on our behalf to remind us that you are with us and you can handle it. Thank you for being our sustainer and our overcomer; that you hold the keys to eternal life. Help us today as we are tempted to worry and fear, to turn instead to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.