Anxiety. That word, alone, probably triggers a
myriad of past experiences or even thoughts about current events and things we’re
facing. The definition of anxiety is, “a
feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or
something with an uncertain outcome.”
I find it interesting that Jesus addresses anxiety in two distinct ways to caution us from letting anxiety paralyze us into ineffectiveness or to spiritually give up. Luke 21:34, Jesus said, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from … the anxieties of daily life….” Jesus is saying to trust in God and to keep our priorities in the right order.
Jesus connects two very different things in this passage: drowsiness and anxieties. Generally, anxiety would seem to be associated with insomnia rather than drowsiness. Cares and worries tend to keep us awake rather than lull us to sleep. We need to be very careful not to slip into drowsiness and laziness that says, “God will provide; I don’t need to do anything.”
This is why Jesus, in His wisdom, links anxiety with spiritual slumber. He is classifying anxiety as a drug that intoxicates us from seeking after the call for spiritual preparation, persistence, readiness, and holiness.
Jesus also emphasized this point when he told the parable of the soil, seeds, and the Word of God. He was speaking of “seed sown among thorns.” Mark 4:18-19, “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” Anxieties over temporary things of this world are a distraction that keeps us away from God.
He specifically classified the third type of soil as choked off by the “anxieties over life’s demands” and “it bears no yield.” Anxiety robs us of future possibilities, success, and fruitfulness. Realistically speaking, it leads to panic, doubt, hasty decisions, poor choices and many things that do not lead in a positive direction. Namely, it leads to failure and more issues. In other words, we will just keep digging the hole deeper.
Anxiety, like fear, is the opposite of faith. I’ve heard it said “fear is faith turned inside-out!” That is why our first priority and loyalty are to the things of God that are of eternal significance. The things of this world will pass away and will not transition into Heaven (Hallelujah!). We spend too much time in the temporary while neglecting the eternal.
If we’ll be truly honest, it is normally the things of God that are the “first to go” and to get erased from our “to do” list when faced with the challenges of life. We stop going to church. We hold back finances and give less. We back out of volunteering, participating, and joining in the life of the church. For most, when anxiety strikes, it is God who “gets the axe” and is abandoned first.
God is not the last resort nor should He be “the first to go” to lighten our schedules. Honestly, I will admit that most cases of anxiety are self-inflicted because we are too prideful to share our anxiousness and to ask for and receive help.
Asking for help and to seek out fellow believers who can come along with us to carry our burdens is not beneath our dignity nor is it signifying that we are failures and must succumb to defeat. Never exclude any option for assistance. Stop suffering alone as you were never designed to carry all the load yourself (Galatians 6:2).
Above all, don’t be so quick to blame God for everything. Let us stop grasping for all the excuses to justify the behaviors or decisions that are causing the anxiety. I have to admit that I really dislike it when people whimsically say “Well, that’s just the way I am.” We have to at least try. In fact, we must make the sacrifices necessary to live holy.
Let us not take out our frustrations out on God by withdrawing from the very things that help such as our devotions, prayer, worship, giving, and serving. The very fact that the Lord formed the church—a community of believers—reveals He did not create people for self-sufficiency or isolation.
Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Trust God to supply your needs (Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:19). Be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:11). Trust. Faith. God is much bigger than any one thing that is causing our anxiety.
I find it interesting that Jesus addresses anxiety in two distinct ways to caution us from letting anxiety paralyze us into ineffectiveness or to spiritually give up. Luke 21:34, Jesus said, “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from … the anxieties of daily life….” Jesus is saying to trust in God and to keep our priorities in the right order.
Jesus connects two very different things in this passage: drowsiness and anxieties. Generally, anxiety would seem to be associated with insomnia rather than drowsiness. Cares and worries tend to keep us awake rather than lull us to sleep. We need to be very careful not to slip into drowsiness and laziness that says, “God will provide; I don’t need to do anything.”
This is why Jesus, in His wisdom, links anxiety with spiritual slumber. He is classifying anxiety as a drug that intoxicates us from seeking after the call for spiritual preparation, persistence, readiness, and holiness.
Jesus also emphasized this point when he told the parable of the soil, seeds, and the Word of God. He was speaking of “seed sown among thorns.” Mark 4:18-19, “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” Anxieties over temporary things of this world are a distraction that keeps us away from God.
He specifically classified the third type of soil as choked off by the “anxieties over life’s demands” and “it bears no yield.” Anxiety robs us of future possibilities, success, and fruitfulness. Realistically speaking, it leads to panic, doubt, hasty decisions, poor choices and many things that do not lead in a positive direction. Namely, it leads to failure and more issues. In other words, we will just keep digging the hole deeper.
Anxiety, like fear, is the opposite of faith. I’ve heard it said “fear is faith turned inside-out!” That is why our first priority and loyalty are to the things of God that are of eternal significance. The things of this world will pass away and will not transition into Heaven (Hallelujah!). We spend too much time in the temporary while neglecting the eternal.
If we’ll be truly honest, it is normally the things of God that are the “first to go” and to get erased from our “to do” list when faced with the challenges of life. We stop going to church. We hold back finances and give less. We back out of volunteering, participating, and joining in the life of the church. For most, when anxiety strikes, it is God who “gets the axe” and is abandoned first.
God is not the last resort nor should He be “the first to go” to lighten our schedules. Honestly, I will admit that most cases of anxiety are self-inflicted because we are too prideful to share our anxiousness and to ask for and receive help.
Asking for help and to seek out fellow believers who can come along with us to carry our burdens is not beneath our dignity nor is it signifying that we are failures and must succumb to defeat. Never exclude any option for assistance. Stop suffering alone as you were never designed to carry all the load yourself (Galatians 6:2).
Above all, don’t be so quick to blame God for everything. Let us stop grasping for all the excuses to justify the behaviors or decisions that are causing the anxiety. I have to admit that I really dislike it when people whimsically say “Well, that’s just the way I am.” We have to at least try. In fact, we must make the sacrifices necessary to live holy.
Let us not take out our frustrations out on God by withdrawing from the very things that help such as our devotions, prayer, worship, giving, and serving. The very fact that the Lord formed the church—a community of believers—reveals He did not create people for self-sufficiency or isolation.
Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Trust God to supply your needs (Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:19). Be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:11). Trust. Faith. God is much bigger than any one thing that is causing our anxiety.