The time at College this whole semester has been one big mess - emotionally and academically. I kinda lost my cool and reasoning a few weeks ago and stopped following my College game-plan and started to let things affect me. I started to let my emotion and other people's academic concern get to me and the panic set in.
I guess the situation didn't help. I was trying to deal with an ex who didn't get that it was over [and had started working at the college I'm at - What the ... ??!?!!], preparation of weekend away talks the weekend of stuvac, a sermon the night before my first exam, and a New Testament essay due somewhere in the mix. Now don't get me wrong - I'm not blaming anyone but myself for stacking talks towards the end of semester being optimistic at the start of this year that it was doable!
Nevertheless my anxiety got the better of me - especially the thought of an 'ex' floating around college that might "accidentally" run into you sort of pushed things close to the edge for me - I mean look at my twitching eye!!!!
I think my anxiousness led me to lose my perspective, to look inwardly and become more self-centred as I fought to gain control of my chaotic situation.
But on Wednesday night during Discipleship Explored in thinking through the topic of 'Rejoicing in Christ' - these verses really hit at my anxiousness and my desire to fix my own situation.
It shone a spotlight on where I lacked to trust God in my situation - this is reflected in me trying to fix it myself and not seeing God, the Creator, whose Spirit lives in me as being capable of intervening into my situation. Hebrews 4:15-16 says of Christ our saviour and God ... "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
The fact that I as a Christian continue to find myself in the lake of anxiety time and time again really speaks to my sinfulness and self-centred outlook and the lack of trusting God in the small things. If I trust God for the big things - like eternally life - which I am certain of because Christ is my Saviour, then surely and truly - I need to be trusting the God of the big things to be helping me in the little things that I get anxious about. Shouldn't I therefore rejoice that the God who takes care of the BIG things in my future (and He will) is also wanting to take care of the LITTLE things in life right now?! Yes! I should find joy in that.
It's great to read the passage to see that He wants to know when we are anxious and Paul makes that clear in Philippians 4:4-6:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
God wants us to talk to Him and to ask for His help. If He is our Father in Heaven and we are His children we should be talking to God regularly because we are in relationship with Him.
I think the amazing way that God answers our prayer is in verse 7:
7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Many times we're hoping for the quick fix, for the anxious situation to be gone the second after you pray. Sometimes it happens but mostly we're still in our stressful situation - but our perspective has changed. In prayer we are reminded of the God in whom we need to continue to place our trust in, as Paul writes in Philippians 1:6 regarding this God - "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
The danger with our anxiety as we try to deal with it ourselves in whatever way we see fit, is that we put ourselves in the very real danger of acting in an ungodly manner. We excuse our behaviour blaming the situation for giving us licence to lash out at a loved one or be rude or fall into sexual misconduct or whatever it is ... And so I think ... verse 7 ... "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" ... is great assurance that as we trust in God and give our anxiety over to Him, His peace will guard our hearts and minds from this ungodly behaviour we fall into as a result of our anxiousness. What great news, that in Christ Jesus He will guard our hearts and minds from the dangers of ungodly behaviour - great stuff huh?
Q: What then is helpful in coping with my anxiousness and stress? Where should my focus and thoughts be in combating the urge to feel sorry for myself and lose my perspective on my situation?
Well I think verses 8 and 9 address these questions in a helpful and practical way:
" Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
Need I say more? :)
What an awesome God we have, who not only takes care of the BIG things like our Eternity with Him through Jesus Christ, but the God who wants to be involved in the little things of life as well.
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