Tender Thoughts of the Week

Every morning is a fresh
opportunity to find God's
extraordinary joy in the
most ordinary places.
- Janet L. Weaver

The Cure for Worry

Life can be full of stress, and if you're not careful you will be consumed with worry. Are you concerned about your job? Are you having challenges in your marriage, with your children, or even with your grandchildren? Maybe you're dealing with health issues that once were never a problem.

Our lives are fraught with problems, and because these problems seem to be increasing, the tension keeps getting greater until many are out of control. The stress in our society is causing havoc among our families... violent shootings are becoming much too common... obesity among adults and children continues to rise, and many are turning to food, alcohol, or antidepressants to calm their fears and help their worry.

My friend, the answer is not in a bottle, it's in a Book, and of course that Book is the Word of God. If you have been studying along with us in Philippians (Precept for Life), you've seen that no matter how bad it gets, you can still have joy despite your circumstances!

With all the pressures that come your way, is it possible not to worry? Is there truly a cure for worry? Paul gives us the answer in Philippians. "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-7).

God says to be anxious for nothing. When it says "be anxious for nothing," it's in the imperative mood, it's a command. We are to stop being anxious. Do you wonder how this is really possible? God tells us how. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6).

The first thing you do is to pray. The minute something comes your way that has the potential to rob you of your joy, stop and pray. The Greek word for "prayer" is proseuche; this is a general prayer. With a general prayer, you focus on who God is. You focus on the fact that God is sovereign. Cling to the fact that no matter what comes into your life, God is working it out for good (Romans 8:28).

Then you move into supplication. Supplication is a specific request. Be specific in your prayers about all your circumstances. Keep seeking Him about the details of your situation. Then begin to give God thanks. Thanksgiving means that you stop and you recognize that in your trial, in your calamity, in your anxiety, you have Jesus. And if you have Jesus, then you have access to the Father. If you have access to the Father, then because of the grace of God, you have everything that pertains to life, everything that pertains to godliness (2 Peter 1:3). You have the promise of eternity. Oh, Beloved, cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you (I Peter 5:7).

Far too many are running to all that the world has to offer for their hurts and pain. My friend, keep running to Him and His Word. Then the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). What a joy it is to truly have peace, to truly live without worry, even when a storm is raging all around you.

Please join me on Precept for Life for our upcoming series Daniel - Date to be God's Messenger which starts on May 25-29. Download your free study guide and join us via Radio, TV, or Internet.

I encourage you to keep pressing on in your Bible studies. I love hearing from you. May the Lord richly bless you as you dig deeper into His Word.  - Kay Arthur