The Struggle of Anxiety

(ESV)

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Introduction

What makes you anxious?

Lack of control

Worrying before things happen

Losing a(nother) child

Providing for children / parents

God’s will and plan for my life

Regrets, shame, failures.

Not having anxiety ;)

Fundamentally, anxiety is the struggle to control the uncontrollable.

its a wrestling not with things that actually are but things things that MAY BE.

It is born from a limitation of our human nature - our lack of omniscience

The struggle with the unknown future should drive us to God - the One who knows the future - but oftentimes in our frailty it does not.

And, if we are not careful, could lead us to sin in other areas in an attempt to control our life.

If is true, then we have no reason to be anxious and every reason to NOT be anxious.

And if verse 32-33 is true:

your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Then the things about which we worry are not reality - they are what we perceived or are deceived to believe are reality.

The battle is for our mind to be renewed:

(ESV)

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

**Caveat**

As we discuss this emotion, and over the next couple of weeks different emotional struggles, it is very important that we remember that we are made of both body and soul and there is not a simple separation of the two.

For some of you the anxiety you experience may be the result of physiological imbalances or past trauma. We cannot neglect these sources that are the result of our existence in a fallen world. Please see a pastor, deacon, Life Group leader so we can walk with you to get the help you need.

I will be dealing mainly with the spiritual aspect of our anxiety, but because we are interconnected, healing in one area will also help the others.

Worry provides nothing. Your Father provides everything

Seven reasons we should not be anxious:

I will not be able to give each of these the treatment they deserve but I imagine there is one or two or three reasons here that the Holy Spirit might reveal to you as a source of your anxiety. I’d encourage you to dig deeper yourself.

1) Anxiety is idolatry (v 24)

I have wrong verse in the outline - should be v 24.

Context of this passage is Sermon on the Mount - Jesus is taking the way we think about life and religion and turning it on its head. He’s reshaping it from a ‘me-centered life’ to a ‘Jesus-first life.”

vvs 19-23 - identifying where we find our treasure - on earth with our wealth and possessions or with Jesus.

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Anxiety assumes God has less control than he really has and you have more control than you really should.

“Stop for a moment and think how many different sinful actions and attitudes come from anxiety. Anxiety about finances can give rise to coveting and greed and hoarding and stealing. Anxiety about succeeding at some task can make you irritable and abrupt and surly. Anxiety about relationships can make you withdrawn and indifferent and uncaring about other people. Anxiety about how someone will respond to you can make you cover over the truth and lie about things. So if anxiety could be conquered, a lot of sins would be overcome.”

John Piper, [Sermons from John Piper (1980–1989)] (Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God, 2007).

2) We are commanded to not be anxious. (25, 31, 34)

That sounds a bit simplistic, right? Stop doing the thing you’re struggling with and you won’t struggle with it any longer - brilliant!

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life. . .

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’. . .

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow. . .

In fact, we are commanded more that 366 times throughout the Bible to ‘Fear not’

This is not meant to add more anxiety (Oh great, now I’m sinning!) It is meant to show us two things:

1) If we are commanded to do it, then it must be doable.

1) If we are commanded to do it, then it must be doable.

2) If we are commanded to do it, then we cannot be lazy in working on it.

WIth the help of God’s Spirit and the truth of God’s Word, we are able to renew our minds so that we can

3) God cares more than you realize. (26, 28-30)

1C?

We are often so worried about our own needs that we fail to realize the One who is really in control cares and is able to take care of all of our needs.

Using a ‘greater than’ approach Jesus gives us 2 pictures:

*Birds of the air (You’re more valuable)

Birds of the air

If God is sure and reliable to feed the birds, then he is trustworthy enough to feed you.

You’re more valuable

provision

Lillies of the fields

Red, purple anemone flowers and blue irises grow wild on the hills above the Sea of Galilee.

Solomon was visited by the Queen of Sheba and who was astounded by his majesty. Jesus says the flowers were more beautiful than all Solomon had — and God’s care for you is even more than that!

ILLUST - Peyton and I looking at our Black-Eyed Susans in the backyard - noting how perfect they are. We joked about how God must think about how he plans to paint them or paint the sky for the sunset.

You’re more special than temporary flowers

blessing

4) Anxiety is false and ineffective (27, 34)

(I’ll take them in reverse)

27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Anxiety is a fear of tomorrow when we have no idea what tomorrow may actually bring

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.

Corrie ten Boom or Charles Spurgeon

You can’t be in tomorrow - But God can!

27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

5) Anxiety is an unbelieving response for a believer. (30b -32a)

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

Jesus is basically saying, “When you worry you are acting like an atheist.”

How can we call people to trust God for eternal life when our anxiety reveals we do not trust him in this life?

6) Your Father already knows your need. (32b)

After listing all the things that trouble us the most - Jesus tells us that God already knows.

He uses the title, “Father” in reference to supplying your needs.

The only other time he uses that title in our passage is when he is talking about how God takes care of the birds.

Have you ever seen an anxious bird?

ILLUST - Killdeer - looks anxious but only because a HUMAN is messing with what God has provided.

I love our dogs and I feed them. But they are not taken care of the way I take care of my children. If my children can see me care for our dogs, they should be assured I will care for them.

The negative statements about anxiety in this passage - Do not be anxious lead to a positive statement to avoid anxiety:

7) Focusing on your greatest need will provide all you really need. (33)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

There is a promise here. Jesus is saying that as we focus on God’s Kingdom, his will and his ways he will focus on our needs.

Seek = continually look for - focus on

first = not first in time but first in importance

As fully devoted followers for Jesus, our first and primary effort in life is NOT our own pleasures, comfort, life. Our joy is found in Christ and to live is Christ.

For many of us to live is “to move from paycheck to paycheck, struggle to struggle, worry to worry, fear to fear as we are focused on how I am going to make ends meet, I am going to fix this, I am going to find peace, etc.

This is a promise - test it!

This is a promise - test it!

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

For all of you whose anxiety is performance-based, this list prolly just increased your anxiety!

The key to overcoming worry is to learn how to utilize God’s strength [not ours] to accomplish what is set before us today [emph. mine], because today’s accomplishment is tomorrow’s lesson.

- NIV Application Commentary, , p. 306

Because of this, I want to give you three practical things you can do when anxiety strikes.

They come from the three main reasons Jesus is commanding us to NOT be anxious.

You can put them on the sticky note.

Three key steps to peace:

Breathe in.

First thing breathing in does is slow you down.

Slowing your breathing creates a physiological response which will calm you - reducing anxiety and allowing you to think more clearly.

The more stressed we become the more our heart rate and blood pressure rise.

This is directly connected with our respiratory system.

2. Second thing breathing in does is remind you that you are not in control.

ILLUST - My watch will alert me to breathe. I laugh because if I do went breathing I’d be dead. Exactly. Take time to breathe and remind yourself that every inhale and exhale is due to Gods goodness to you. Slow yourself.

You will have not one more breath than God allows and not one less breath than he determines.

(If the thought of God being the One who controls your life creates anxiety in you it is likely due to a misunderstanding of God - his nature and character or a misrepresentation of God by an authority in your life.) You need to rediscover God - How much your Heavenly Father loves you.

Here’s what I do - Breathe in a truth by meditating on a verse:

(ESV)

(INHALE) You keep him in perfect peace (EXHALE) whose mind is stayed on you,

whose mind is stayed on you,

x5

>>Breathe in and thank God you are not in control.

Heads up.

Anxiety thrives where the focus is small.

ILLUST - telescope or microscope - one looks to the distant. The other focuses on minutia but both are focused narrowly

This is what Jesus was doing in the two illustrations from nature that he gives in this passage.

Anxiety focuses on the 1000 bad things that will never happen which keeps you from experiencing the the actual good things that are happening in your life right now. 

Expand your focus with Truth and Thanksgiving.

>>Refocus on bigger truth and bigger life.

Pray grateful.

(ESV)

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The prayer secures the peace and the peace guards the heart and mind.

(ESV)

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

This final step of prayer has a release to it.

>>Pray, and be thankful.

You may need to repeat this process many times a day - you may need to repeat this process many times for the same thing,

Take your stickie and place it in your space or on your source of anxiety as a visual reminder of the process of the renewal of our minds. (We’ll probably see kids running around with post-its on their foreheads after church)

*).

* When I am anxious about my ministry being useless and empty, I fight unbelief with the promise, “So shall my word that goes forth from my mouth; it will not come back to me empty but accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it” ().

* When I am anxious about being too weak to do my work, I battle unbelief with the promise of Christ, “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness” (), and “As your days so shall your strength be” ().

* When I am anxious about decisions I have to make about the future, I battle unbelief with the promise, “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” ().

* When I am anxious about facing opponents, I battle unbelief with the promise, “If God is for us who can be against us!” ().

* When I am anxious about being sick, I battle unbelief with the promise that “tribulation works patience, and patience approvedness, and approvedness hope, and hope does not make us ashamed” ().

* When I am anxious about getting old, I battle unbelief with the promise, “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save” ().

* When I am anxious about dying, I battle unbelief with the promise that “none of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself; if we live we live to the Lord and if we die we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose again: that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living” ().

* When I am anxious that I may make shipwreck of faith and fall away from God, I battle unbelief with the promise, “He who began a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Christ” (). “He who calls you is faithful. He will do it” (). “He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” ().

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Psalm 56:3 ESV

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Philippians 4:6 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

John 14:27 ESV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 94:19 ESV

19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

Psalm 34:4 ESV

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Conclusion

Take your stickie and place it in your space or on your source of anxiety as a visual reminder of the process of the renewal of our minds. (We’ll probably see kids running around with post-its on their foreheads after church)

Tomorrow will bring something that could lead to anxiety.

Worry is a false prophet

* False prophet = never comes true

* Isaiah is a true prophet - hear his words:

(ESV)

8 But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth,

and called from its farthest corners,

saying to you, “You are my servant,

I have chosen you and not cast you off”;

9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”;

10 fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

11 Behold, all who are incensed against you

shall be put to shame and confounded;

those who strive against you

shall be as nothing and shall perish.

11 Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish.

12 You shall seek those who contend with you,

but you shall not find them;

those who war against you

12 You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.

shall be as nothing at all.

13 For I, the Lord your God,

hold your right hand;

it is I who say to you, “Fear not,

13 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

I am the one who helps you.”

14 Fear not, you worm Jacob,

you men of Israel!

I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord;

14 Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

15 Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge,

new, sharp, and having teeth;

you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,

15 Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff;

and you shall make the hills like chaff;

16 you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away,

and the tempest shall scatter them.

And you shall rejoice in the Lord;

16 you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the Lord; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.

in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.

17 When the poor and needy seek water,

and there is none,

17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

and their tongue is parched with thirst,

I the Lord will answer them;

I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers on the bare heights,

18 I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

and fountains in the midst of the valleys.

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

and the dry land springs of water.

19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar,

19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together,

the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.

I will set in the desert the cypress,

the plane and the pine together,

20 that they may see and know,

20 that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

may consider and understand together,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

the Holy One of Israel has created it.

From Isaiah 41:

* What more can He say than to you He hath said—

To you who to Jesus for refuge have fled?

“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.” 

“The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,

I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

Hymn?

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”

3

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow; For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”

4

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”

5

“E’en down to old age all My people shall prove My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love; And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn, Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.”

6

“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”

— How Firm a Foundation (Hymn)

**PRAY**

(ESV)

9 . . . Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

as you start the new school year

as you make that big move

as you enter the doctor’s office

as you say goodbye for the last time

as you walk away from that ungodly relationship

as you step forward in faith and fully commit your life to Jesus

as you move toward the altar to release your children, your grandchildren, your finances, your future, their future, your control.