What bank have you deposited your money in? When the news of failing banks first appeared, I wasn’t too concerned. They are far away. No problem for me. But then I saw an article this morning about other banks that were starting to have trouble and, lo and behold, there mine was. No!!! Instant stress. What do we do?
Stress, anxiety and worries are a part of life. It’s not all bad, and can motivate us to make good changes in our lives. However, we know they can actually take over and be detrimental to our health.
I had an anxiety lesson the other day when I was driving my car. I have a hybrid with all those mpg indicators on the dashboard, but as I was going along the road I realized I didn’t need to think about them anymore. I instantly felt more relaxed, and I was amazed. No more fretting about getting one more mile, per gallon of gas. I’m free and it feels great!
There are two main things we can do to decrease our anxiety. First involves our own minds. We need to rearrange the priorities of our lives. Jesus said in Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (NKJV).
Sometimes what we think is most important, plainly shouldn’t be. Isn’t life more than stuff? Jesus pounds home the point by noting that some of the things we are anxious about can’t be changed, anyway. “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (6:27). It makes us look rather foolish, doesn’t it?
The second thing we can do to relieve anxiety is to involve God. Matthew 11:28-30 is well known, but the truth spoken by Jesus here is quite interesting. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” We see the rest Jesus offers from our worrisome burdens, but it comes from adding more burdens. Say what!
Taking on Jesus’ light burdens helps decrease our own, perhaps most of all, by drawing our attention away from our own selfishness, again to a much higher priority: our relationship to God and His service. Nifty!
Though we might not be able to explain how this exactly happens, we know we can trust God’s almighty power to help us. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). It’s important to remember that God actually wants to help us. “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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Do you want peace of mind?
Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ