Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which is superior to every frame of mind, shall be garrisoning your hearts and apprehensions in Christ Jesus
Paul to the Philippians 4: 6-7, Concordant New Testament
I heard a pastor proclaim the other day, while discussing the words of Jesus in the sermon on the mount, that he does not deal in what ifs. Indeed, Jesus has spoken about the perils of worrying {Matthews Account 6:25-34}. I had the opportunity to speak these words to a fellow gym friend the other day who was tangled up in worry over the current political climate in our country. Now, I'm not going to sit here and bore you with stories that I have never struggled with worries of what might be, because I have. But I believe that there is indeed a reason that Jesus speaks to the truth that we should not worry. After all, look at the physical effects which worry takes on us. In the past, I have suffered from lack of sleep as well as other ailments when I burdened myself with the worries of life. This was exactly the place that my friend found himself in the other day. Tired, sick and full of worry. When he asked me how I would handle his situation I told him simply that I no longer deal in what ifs. Do I have situations in my life that I could waste my time worrying over? Absolutely! But what is the tradeoff when I do submit to worrying over that which has yet happened? Stress? Physical illness? The apostle Paul also spoke to the perils of worry in Philippians {Paul to the Philippians 4:6-7}. Paul speaks to not bothering with worry, but to "Let your requests be made known to God." Indeed, I learned a long time ago to deal with worry by submitting the worries in my life to God. As Jesus has spoken, that we are to "Take my yoke upon you, for My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" {Matthews Account 11:28-30}. How wonderful it is when we place the worries of this life on the shoulders of Christ! Once we do this, we understand that those burdens now belong to Him. What is it that Jesus did when the worries of life surrounded Him? He would often find solace in retreating somewhere to pray to the Father. Was Jesus placing His own words into practice? Was He giving His burden unto the Father as He prayed? I would think that this would be a practice of His. Why would He not have us do the very same thing He did when worried?
"Hither to Me, all who are toiling and laden, and I will be giving you rest. Lift My yoke upon you and be learning from Me, for meek am I and humble in heart, and you shall be finding rest in your souls, for My yoke is kindly and My load is light"
Matthews Account 11: 28-30, Concordant New Testament
As I said, I have known for awhile to lift my burdens of life unto Jesus. Yet knowing and actually putting this into practice are two different things. What it comes down to is, do I trust Jesus enough to deal with these worries in my life? Am I confident in knowing that I now live my life IN HIM? The truth which you will not hear spoken from any mainstream church pulpit is that my worries are His as well. For Jesus has spoken to the truth that I now live my life not separated from Him, but IN He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}. There is nothing that we will ever encounter which Jesus is not an intimate part of. In fact, when He instructs us to take His yoke, it is not hard to believe that His is a burden we already share with Him. Too many well-meaning believers have been taught that they live their lives separate from Jesus and the Father. I believe that when Jesus invited others to "Lift My yoke upon you," that He was actually inviting them to see Him for who He truly is. That we can do nothing outside of He and the Father. The false belief of our separation from God is one continually spoken by those in the church. How is it possible to take upon us the burden of Jesus if we ourselves are separate from Him? As usual, this false belief of our own relationship with Jesus has caused us much worry and anxiety. How much easier would it be if, knowing that we live in Him, that we know that our burdens are also His? This is exactly why I do not deal in what ifs.
~Scott~
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