Resources/Articles
Keeping Your Faith Alive (19)
Nothing keeps your faith from increasing as much as worry. Worry causes us to take our eyes off of God as quickly as any worldly attraction. The list of things over which people worry is longer than the space on this page, but worry does not change anything. All worry does is tie up things in knots…
When our lives are tied up in knots, fear takes residence in the heart. Are we afraid God is going to catch us doing something we should not do? Are we worried about when our life will end or when Jesus will return? Are we afraid and worried about what could, might, did, or is going to happen? Someone defined worry as “inefficient thought moving in a circle around a pivot of fear.” It is true that we worry about what we fear and are afraid of the things in which we worry. Fear and worry are like a magnifying glass. They make seemingly small objects and circumstances seem giant and insurmountable. Whether it is worry or fear, both have replaced the faith we should demonstrate in our lives. Rather than saying, “I believe,” worry brings us to say, “What if…” This is how Satan wants you to feel. Rather than basing your life upon the troubles of the future, turn your attention to Matthew 6:26-34 and Hebrews 13:5.
Jesus said, “And which of you being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?” (Matthew 6:27). What can you do to change the course of this life? What you can do is not murmur or soak yourself in anxiety. Accept and follow the work God give s you to do (Philippians 2:12,13). Whatever you cannot change, have the wisdom to let God handle it (1 Peter 5:7). The burdens we have become lighter in the Lord’s hands. Make sure you leave those burdens with Him. Do not take them back…
The reason you leave the difficulties of life, which you cannot change, with God is because He hung the stars. He raises the sun. He causes the wind to blow. He gives you air to breathe. He is more than able to handle your most troubling worry. He is eager to take it. What you need to do is trust Him with it and be comfortable doing so. When you do, watch your faith grow, your strength increase, and your love abound. As that happens, watch how dependable God can be.
