Anxiety Has No Place In Me.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Sam shared a comment that I’d like us to reflect on today. He noted that in looking back at his own life experiences, and recalling the many ways in which God has helped him, it would be a shame if he were to approach any future life situations in a spirit of anxiety.

During Sunday’s sermon we were reminded of Daniel chapter 3, in which we have the testimony of three young men. Exiled from their homeland along with other Jews, they had lost all that was familiar to them—that is, everything except their faith. Though their circumstances had a high potential for producing anxiety, these three remained calm. Here is their response to the threat of being burned alive, a situation the world would perceive as one that would produce extreme anxiety:

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)

I wonder if any of us today are being threatened with a modern-day “furnace” situation. In the face of losing our jobs, our homes, or our lives because of our faith in God, what will we do? My prayer is that we will trust in God, and that we will be sustained by His presence, His power, and His peace. My prayer is that anxiety will never find a resting place in me, nor in you.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)

All Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.