The Struggle is Real: Week 6 - The Struggle Within

My daughter came home to take her check ride this weekend. It’s her pilots exam. Funny thing about that, I don't’ worry about my daughter flying…I worry about being able to pay for it all. When Michelle stresses about it…i tell her it will be fine. But inside I’m all wound up. I start having this conversation with myself, that I should be able to provide these things for my family. All sorts of unhealthy thoughts go through my head; like: “What kind of loser am I not being able to provide for my child’s education?” “If you had a real job, you would be able to afford this like you should.” “What good is all that education you have if you can’t afford their education?”

Me

My Worries

I dont’ worry about my daughter flying…I worry about being able to pay for it all. When my wife stresses about it…i tell her it will be fine. But inside I’m all wound up. I start having this conversation with myself, that I shoudl be able to provide these things for my family. What kind of loser am I not being able to provide for my child’s education?

That’s what struggles do.

They reveal our anxieties, our insecurities, our fears, even our hard heartedness.

While it may be a person, a situation, or an issue that we seem to struggle with, in reality, our struggle is with ourself. It comes from what I tell myself about what SHOULD happen.

While it may be a person or a circumstance, or a situation, or an issue that we seem to struggle with, in reality, my struggle is with myself. It comes from what I tell myself

And if I’m not careful, when I struggle with myself, it affects the way I treat others.

When I have to deal with criticism, I’ll get defensive.

anxious, insecure, fear, hard hearted,

Because I enjoyed starting more

When I'm criticized, I get defensive.

When I face a challenge, I’ll look to escape or a fight.

But the real struggle isn't with people or with my situation. 9/10 My real struggle, your real struggle comes from inside us.

I bet many of you are like me. Not all of us will have serious health problems; not all of us will face financial struggles; not all of us will face marriage problems; not all of us will struggle with raising kids; not all of us will struggle with our faith...But we will all struggle with worry. It is the one thing that is common to all of us.

Us

I bet many of you are like me. Not all of us will have serious health problems; not all of us will face financial struggles; not all of us will face marriage problems; not all of us will struggle with raising kids; not all of us will struggle with our faith...But we will all struggle with worry. It is the one thing that is common to all of us.

Even if you aren’t a Christian, you deal with this. And if you aren’t a Christian, this must might be the one thing that might convince you to give faith in Jesus chance to solve this spiritual problem.

Billy Graham "Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and his will for us."

What’s the problem with worry and what makes it a spiritual problem?

Jesus explains it this way while he was telling a story of planting seeds. Some of the seeds fall among the weeds and vines.

Jesus explains it this way:

Matthew 13:22 NIV84

22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

That’s it, worries and anxieties make our lives unfruitful as they choke out faith, and faith is just what enables us to accomplish our full potential. You see, for some of you, your worries and fears may be just what is keeping you from believing.

Anxieties make our lives unfruitful

because they prevent us from accomplishing our full potential.

Anxieties are burdens that prevent us from accomplishing our full potential.

Now, I want to be clear here. There is a difference between chronic anxiety and the more common worries, fears, and anxiousness. Anxieties can become a very real and serious problem for some people. I don’t want to make you think that you have poor faith if you struggle with anxieties. You may need some professional help to put in place the principals that Jesus teaches.

Now, I want to be clear here. Difference between chronic anxiety and general worries, fears, and anxiousness. Anxieties can be a very serious problem for some people. I don’t want to make you think that you have poor faith if you struggle with anxieties. You may need some professional help to put in place the very things changes that Jesus teaches.

Anxieties can be a very serious problem for some people. I don’t want to make you think that you have poor faith if you struggle with anxieties. You may need some professional help to put in place the very things changes that Jesus teaches.

But most people just worry. They don’t have anxiety disorder. But either way, the principal that Jesus would teach and the principals that your counselor would teach are the same.

Our anxieties are a response to an event, person, experience. A response produced by our feelings about a given situation. Feelings shaped by our existing thought patterns. In order to change our feelings and our responses, we need to change our thought patterns.

Am I saying that you can’t be faithful if you worry? Not at all. But what I am saying is that Jesus wants us to be free from our worries and anxieties. He knows we have them, and he wants to help because he loves us.

Jesus teaches us and Peter reminds us that God gives us a solution to our worries rooted in the reality that God has a purpose for our lives and our anxieties hold us from fully realizing that purpose.

God has a purpose for our lives and anxieties hold us from fully reaching them.

Am I saying that you can’t be faithful if you worry? Not at all. But what I am saying is that Jesus wants us to be free from our worries and anxieties. He knows we have them, and he wants to help because he loves us.

Now, wouldn’t it be nice if we could just read some scripture, pray a prayer, and be set free from this struggle?

Wouldn’t it be nice if we coudl just read some scripture and be set free from this struggle?

Maybe we could read passages like:

“Come to me you who are weak and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.”

or

Psalm 55:22 NIV84

22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

Cast your cares upon me

Peter had been following Jesus for several years. He knew these verses…but he also had his own fears and worries. The NT records a few of those...

When he walked on the water only to be overcome by the moment and sink

When he was the last to attend Jesus’s trial but overcome with fear and eventually deny Christ.

What happened to Peter? Simple. What he knew was overcome by what he thought might happen.

That’s the root of it, our fears, anxieties, and worries seem to be rooted in our fallen nature as we are unable to trust in God’s word and instead prefer to make predictions about our future. When we start to worry, we start telling ourselves stories about what will happen after we get there, do that, say this, that no body cares, that everyone will notice…what ever it is, we tell ourselves this a story about what will happen after…and usually those stories reveal the lies we believe about ourselves. Lies based on failures, mistakes, or unhealthy relationships from our past. Things we have been taught about ourselves or about “people who do that”. It doesn't’ matter if what we have been taught is wrong. As long as we hear that little voice inside us…it will create anxiety in us.

Fears, anxieties, and worries are about our predicting the future.

Those of us who are worriers should be able to put ourselves in Peter’s shoes pretty easily.

I’m walking on water…wait, I can’t walk on water, even if Jesus is, I can’t; help Jesus save me.

Or the night before the crucifiction…IF they think I’m a follower of Jesus, they may kill me like they are him...”no I don’t know him”…I don’t know him…then the rooster crows, just as Jesus predicted...cockadoodle doo

If we do this, what will happen.

IF I don’t do this right, that will happen.

If I don’t go there, what will happen?

If someone sees me there, what will happen?

In our study of 1 Peter, we know the church…the people of the church were going through difficult situations because of their faith. Their culture was set up against Christians. They couldn’t get jobs, they couldn’t run businesses, but He called them to trust God and do what was right. IF they suffered for doing the right thing, so be it.

1 Peter 5:1–3 NIV84

1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:1-

So Peter reminds their church leaders in 5:1-3 the spiritual responsibility and reward of their leadership…don’t lead because you have to, but because you are willing…don’t lead to get back what you lost from being a Christian, lead to serve…don’t lead to send others out, but you go first as an example.

If we do this, what will happen.

But it wasn’t just he leaders who were anxious about the futre. He tells the young men…those not in charge…the followers

Leaders

IF I don’t do this right, that will happen.

1 Peter 5:5 NIV84

5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

In

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.

If I don’t go there, what will happen?

It would be understandable for followers to think there was a better way right? Think about it. I’ve heard stories about how over the last 20-30 years, pastors have made suggestions about how your church can more faithfully steward the resources of this community....and many of you have balked at it. Some pastors have been run out of town because of it. They told you about a hard thing and instead of saying let’s do it! You said, oh no…we can’t.

The Holy Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984. Print.

If someone sees me there, what will happen?

The last time a pastor gave you an idea about the future of your church many of you balked at it.

Peter has spent this entire letter telling them, you are going going to have difficulties....but don’t listen to that voice inside you…don’t listen to the I can’t, we can’t. Remember what Jesus told us.

Peter says, you are going going to have difficulties....but don’t listen to that voice inside you.

Isaiah 43:1–7 NIV84

1 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Isaiah 43:1–7 NIV84

1 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

It’s what Jesus taught us in the Sermon on the Mount?

Matthew 6:31–34 NIV84

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matt 6:3

but humble yourselves before God...that's the key.

How do we do that? How do we not worry about what might happen…what could happen?

Jesus said dont worry about tommorrow...God knows what you need...he sees what you are going through.

The church knew this teaching....but they were still struggling with worrying about the future.

WE do too right? Many of us.

Will we have enough to last our retirement?

Will our kids finish college?

Humble yourself.

Will our grandchildren survive their parents…especially that inlaw?

God

Peter says it this way

----

Source of our anxiety

1 Peter 5:5–7 NIV84

5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

New Living Translation Chapter 5

And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

“God opposes the proud

but gives grace to the humble.”

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 Peter 5:5-

Anxiety is a response to what's going on in our lives, our situation, the people around us; not knowing what to do, how to do it, and when to do it.

Did you hear that cure to our worries? Humbling ourselves under God’s power.

Humbling our self under his power, knowing that we might not be able, but God is more than capable to handle any problem we might have.

The church in Peters day would have known this, but we need to be reminded of God’s power. Listen to the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 43:1–7 NIV84

1 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

You see when we can remind ourselves of what God has done. Maybe not for the Israelites, but make these promises for you.

You are precious and honored in his sight.

I don’t have to fear for He is with me. he will bring me and all his children home.

When I know who I am…not rely on that little voice in my head. I don’t have to deal with pride and fear. When I know who I am in Christ, I don’t have time to worry....I’m too busy living.

The OH NO thoughts never come.

PRIDE

I spoke to my neighbor yesterday, his wife died several years ago from colon cancer…she was 55.

FEAR

He said when she got it, she wondered…why not me?

Pride....Oh, no. That’s not happening to me. I don’t deserve this. God I’ve been so faithful…SPoke to my neighbor yesterday....she died at 54 from cancer…when she got it, she wonndered…why not me?

FEAR

No fear…no worries. Struggles? Absolutely. But you see she never quit trusting. She had humbled herself in all that God had done for her.

This allowed her fears and worries from becoming a foothold for the devil.

That’s what Peter was talking about when he wrote:

Resist the roaring lion...he is powerless to those under Christ

1 Peter 5:8 NIV84

8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8–9 NIV84

8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

He’s looking for someone…always looking to take someone in their struggles, to make magnify their fears, to take that little I can’t voice inside us and turn up the volume. using it to Take our worries, fears, and anxieties and make them seem bigger than what god has done and what he promises to do in our lives.

1 Peter 5:8-9

So Peter warns:

1 Peter 5:9 NIV84

9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

We think that we are the only one…no one else is going through this but us…when it’s just us…the problem is so much heavier

I remember one time when when one of our kids was sick and in the hospital. I had been up praying like crazy…then one day I went to visit them and it struck me for the first time that we weren’t the only one going through this.

1 Peter 5:

the reality is, we aren’t the only one…no matter what your problem, someone is dealing with it too. knowing that, realizing that, actually helps. IF they can endure…why can’t I?

1 Peter 5:10–11 NIV84

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

This is the truth of what happens in our suffering. No matter how bad it is, He restores us.

When this becomes our default thinking, our worries will fade away. It’s what the famous Zig Ziglar referred to STINKING THINKING

This is the truth we need to tell that little voice in our head prompting us to fear or worry. We stand on the faith that we have that God loves us and has a plan for us.

I do this by starting my days with this sort of discipline. It’s the screen saver on my computer so I see these words every day.

What we do is surrender our past, present, and future to God.

Trusting him for not only the destination...but "the way" as well.

Humbling ourselves to God is the key to overcoming anxiety.

We aren't who we think we should be.

We aren't who our friends tell us we ought to be.

I start my days with this sort of discipline. It’s the screen saver on my computer so I see these words every day.

We aren't who our family thinks we need to be.

We are who God says we are.

We come to understand that when we spend time listening to who He says we are.

Anxiety is a response to not knowing what to do in a situation...not knowing how, not knowing when, where, how...how do we learn?

TODAY

• Jesus is my first priority. I live my life for his glory as an act of worship.

• I love my wife and chose to put her before all others.

• My children will love God and chose to serve Him with their lives as I continually nurture, encourage, equip, train, and empower them to be kingdom builders.

• I love people and seek to bring out the best in others.

• I am disciplined. Christ, alive in me, is stronger than any wrong I desire.

• My family is closer, my health is stronger, my faith is deeper, and my leadership is more focused because I am growing closer to Jesus.

• I am called, anointed, empowered, & equipped to reach people far from God.

• The Holy Spirit gives me creativity, innovation, and focus to understand problems clearly and find optimal solutions.

• God uses me to empower and equip others for significant ministry.

• My words, thoughts, and imaginations are under the power of Christ. I take all my thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ.

• I begin with a clear understanding of my purpose and direction allow me to bring my best to every task.

• When struggles appear, I rejoice knowing that His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

• As I follow Jesus, people are blessed by my faithfulness.

What about you? What promises do you need to remind yourself of? What has God done in your life that you need to remember?

Let this becomes a prayer for you. As we get still before the Lord, allow him to teach us a new way to think about ourselves, our problems, and our future. Pray for yourselves, for his will, for his power, as you cast your anxieties on Him.

As we read this week this discipline teaches us “not to try harder but to trust more” We trust more when we reflect on all he has done and promises to do.

Prayer

That’s all that makes those people with amazing faith different than everyone else. Their problems are the same…God doesn’t love them any more. They don’t have a special faith. They just believe what he says IS more than what that voice says might.

Imagine what your life would look like with your worries a whisper, over whelmed by the shouts of confidence?

Through our struggle, God will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish

We

Imagine what your life would look like with your worries a whisper, over whelmed by the shouts of confidence?

Do you want that life? It’s possible.

The Struggle is Real: Week 6 - The Struggle Within

Stimulus - [Feelings / Thoughts] - Response

Don’t Worry

How do we not worry?

Humble yourself

Fear not.

Restore, Confirm, Strengthen, Establish

The Struggle Within