Reflections: Anxiety, Worry, and Fear

Introduction

Good morning!

How is everyone doing this morning?

I have some very close friends in town today.

Some of you may have heard about my little encounter a few Sundays ago.

I was downstairs with the kids prepping for our Kids service when one of the little girls ran up to the doors.

She looked at me, and started waving her hand for me to follow her.

Then she said “snake! Theres a snake!”

For anyone who doesn't know, I love snakes!

So, I ran out and followed her to the side of the church where a small group and children and adults stood looking down at a little crevice by the building.

There, backed up against the building, terrified for its little life sat this little creature.

(Show picture of snake)

That, my friends, is a baby Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.

Now, as a reptile enthusiast who has worked with snakes ever since I was a wee little lad.

I had been considering getting involved with venomous snakes for a while.

Dave and Carrie were kind enough to grab me a plastic box and some tools to move him.

And thanks to Arizona law, and some bargaining with my wife, I have given this little buddy a new home with me.

(Show picture of snake)

I know that a lot of people are deathly afraid of snakes.

But as cliche’ as it is, I promise you, they are more afraid of you.

Think about it for a moment.

Every part of this creatures body is vulnerable.

The only defense they have against a threat are their teeth, and using those immediately puts their head in harms way.

A snake cant outrun you if you chase it.

A snake cant pick up weapons to keep you at bay.

Most snakes cant over power you with their size.

They don't want to kill you, they just want to not be killed by you!

So all I could think about while I was collecting this little guy was how terrified he must be!

Seven giant monsters looming over him.

Monsters that could crush him entirely just for the fun of it.

“How could this happen?” he thinks to himself

“I was just trying to get warm, maybe if I stay really still, they wont see me”

Then suddenly the fat one grows a long appendage and starts touching him with it.

“Ahhh” he yells panicking about the situation he tries to get away, but he is completely surrounded by the monsters and everywhere he goes he is being blocked in!

So he does the only thing he can, he lashes out biting at the broomstick, but its of no use.

His attack was useless against the fat monster

In an instant he is scooped up and placed in an unfamiliar semi-translucent force field awaiting his final doom.

Its kind of funny describing that situation from the snakes point of view.

But the more I thought about it, the more familiar it felt.

How many times had I looked up to see giant monsters towering over me?

Work issues, money issues, marital issues, family issues, and on the list goes.

Everything stacks up and we feel terrified. Afraid to even move.

There they are, the monsters looming in the distance, better not do anything.

Assume defensive posture and remain perfectly still, otherwise they'll get ya!

Oh no! It sees me, its coming.

The monsters differ for all of us, but the response remains the same.

First frozen in fear, then once something gets a little too close we lash out with deadly venom.

Usually to no avail.

The key word for our series is reflections.

Something to reflect on, when you’re experiencing anxiety.

So lets reflect on a story detailed in Matthew 14.

God In The Storm

Our story begins a few hours after Jesus feeds the multitude using only 5 loaves of bread, 2 fish, and a prayer.

They call it “the feeding of the 5,000” but in reality 5,000 is only the recorded number of men there.

Accounting for the women and children also present, it was somewhere between 15-20 thousand people.

A truly spectacular miracle.

After the feast, Jesus instructs His disciples to return to the boat while He disperses the crowd.

After everyone had left Jesus found a mountain where he would spend several hours in prayer, then He returned to the boat.

The NET Bible (Second Edition) Chapter 14

24 Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it.

25 As the night was ending, Jesus came to them walking on the sea.

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out with fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them: “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

There is a fantasy book that I really like called “The Wise Mans Fear”.

In it, the Author makes the statement that a wise man fears 3 things.

A moonless night.

The anger of a gentle man.

And the sea at storm.

The disciples were far at sea, in the middle of a storm.

To make things worse, “as the night was ending” translated literally from the Greek it reads “in the 4th watch of the night”

Which is somewhere between 3:00 and 6:00 AM.

The sun doesn't begin to rise in this region until around 6:10 AM

And with the cloud cover from a storm stopping star and moonlight from reaching them, its safe to say their situation was looking pretty dark.

Both literally and figuratively.

Naval navigation was done using the stars, so they were lost.

And I'm willing to bet that they had been fighting this storm most of the night.

So on top of being lost at sea with only a small fishing boat in pitch black whilst fighting off a raging storm

They are also sleep deprived.

Then they see it.

A figure gliding across the water.

Now, Id like to think that I would react to this situation differently than they did.

But in reality, I don't think any of us could blame them for being a little on edge.

This is quite possibly the most terrifying experience they have ever had.

Look, I don't know what makes you anxious, or fearful.

I don't know what giant monsters lay before you.

I don't know how intense the storm you are sailing in is.

What I do know is that...

In the midst of the Disciples panic Jesus makes a very interesting statement.

“It is I.”

This is another instance where the English language fails us a little.

In the Greek, those words are “Ego Eimi”.

Now, those words have plenty of instances where they are completely ordinary.

Several people say them, with absolutely no weight behind them.

But when they are associated with a miraculous event, they become something very far from ordinary.

The words are the Greek equivalent to the response Moses got at the burning bush when he asked for the name of God.

It means “I AM.”

“Have Courage! I AM. Do not be afraid.”

Now, I've looked at several commentaries on this passage.

And something that all of them, seem to agree on.

Is that when the disciples see Jesus and panic, His response to them is a deity claim.

Why would Jesus be making a deity claim right now?

Whenever we feel fearful, worried, and uncertain about the future.

When anxiety tries to close that grip around our necks.

We seem to forget that Jesus isn't just a god.

Jesus is The God!

Jesus is YHWH.

We follow the God of creation!

We are adopted by the One who hung the stars.

Who breathes Galaxies into existence.

See, we toil and trouble over the storm at hand.

Because We think that we might find peace and comfort when the storm ends.

We seek peace in the absence of the storm.

When in reality, peace is only found in the presence of YHWH.

Who is God over both the calm and the storm.

Look, when the storm is raging.

With the winds and waves tearing you to and fro.

When you're backed in the corner staring at the monsters that loom over you.

And the fear begins creeping in as the darkness settles.

Jesus is calling out to you with a reminder that He is God!

That you serve the High King.

That the winds and the waves are subject to Him.

And He will not let them overtake you.

We need to remember that our God is present in the storm!

And find peace in his presence.

Asking and Obeying

The NET Bible (Second Edition) Chapter 14

28 Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”

29 So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

I find Peters response to Jesus fascinating.

You see, Earlier in the gospel of Matthew.

In Chapter 8

We read about a very similar situation.

Jesus and the disciples are in a boat and Jesus falls asleep.

While He is sleeping they get caught up in a storm that is about to sink their boat.

Panicked the disciples wake Jesus up asking for Him to save them.

Jesus quickly chastises them for being cowardly and lacking faith.

Then He stands up, rebukes the storm, and to the disciples astonishment, the storm ceases.

Peter knows that Jesus commands the winds and the waves.

So why doesn't he ask “Lord, if it is you, command the storm to stop.”

Peter doesn't ask for Jesus to stop the storm, He asks for Jesus to command him in it.

He asks for the power only YHWH can give.

He asks for Jesus to call him, and Equip him for that call.

This is where I think we usually falter.

When I run into turbulent times.

I usually ask God to remove me from the situation.

I ask Him to quell the storm.

I ask Him to face the giants.

But I've found that God doesn't usually work that way.

For whatever reason, God likes to demonstrate His power through his followers.

God could have parted the red sea without Moses stretching out his hands, yet he didn't.

God could have toppled the walls of Jericho without the Israelites marching around it for 6 days, yet He didn't.

God could have stricken Goliath down without David, yet He didn't.

God could have spread the gospel without the disciples, yet He didn't.

God could have brought down golden tablets detailing scripture for all to possess and read rather than working through humans inspired by Him to detail His word to us, yet He didn't.

God doesn't want us asking Him to fight our battles while we lazily sit around.

God wants us to ask Him for the strength, courage, wisdom, and power that only He can provide so we may accomplish His will.

I wonder how different the world would look if Christians stopped asking for an easier life and started asking for commands in the storm.

Then acted on those commands!

Years ago, when I was a student at Youth camp.

Our speaker was talking about a friend he met on mission in Africa.

This friend of his was born in the states and felt called to serve Christ.

He sold all of his belongings, and used what little money he had to buy a plane ticket.

At the airport he lost his ticket.

Panicked he turned to prayer and said “father everything I had is gone, I want to serve you, but I lost my ticket, what do you want me to do.”

He said God directed him to the bathroom where he would walk into a stall and close the door.

When he opened the door he was standing in the bathroom of an African airport.

You see there are 2 people on this planet who have walked on water.

One is Jesus who is YHWH in the flesh.

And the other was Peter who asked God to Equip him to follow.

And because of his faith In the truth of who Christ is, the power that Christ holds, and the ability of Christ to give that power when necessary

Peter stepped out of that boat and he walked on the waves.

Peter gets a bad wrap for what happens next.

But Jesus didn't say “Peter come”

Jesus said “Come”.

Peter is just the only one who stepped out of the boat.

The faith that Peter had in that moment, however short lived, was stronger than my faith has ever been.

What if instead of being worried or anxious about what might happen next-

We trusted in the reality of who Christ is.

The author of all creation.

What if we asked that Jesus would instruct us in the challenges ahead.

Instead of asking that He remove them.

What if we asked that He would equip us to preform His commands.

And then followed them.

I imagine it would feel a lot like walking on water.

Keep Your Eyes Fixed On Christ

The NET Bible (Second Edition) Chapter 14

30 But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

This is where things become really difficult.

See Peter has this rush of faith.

He is walking on the water eyes fixed on the King

He is following the command.

Trampling the turbulent deep below.

When he suddenly realizes that the wind is harsh.

The waves are high.

The storm is raging.

Peter diverts his gaze to observe the madness surrounding him.

He becomes afraid!

And he begins to sink.

There are so many distractions in life.

So many worries, and fears to be had.

Anxieties just waiting to be birthed.

Financial troubles.

Marriage problems.

Familial tension.

Political division.

Past failures.

These things are placed before us as waves we must tread.

Monsters we must face.

The enemy wants you to look at these things.

He wants you to worry about them.

To fret over them.

Because fear diminishes faith.

Fear will cause you to sink.

And the enemy wants you to drown.

The enemy wants you to look anywhere so long as it isn't at Christ.

“Look at the state of the world, isn't it awful, aren't you concerned about the future of your nation?”

“All these medical issues, how are you going to pay for that?”

“Look at all these time you messed up.”

“Look at all the problems in your marriage.”

“Look at this, look at that”

“and be afraid, be worried, be anxious”

“Sink, so I may cripple the army of Christ! Drown, so you can no longer pour effort into furthering the Kingdom.”

I would never advocate being ignorant to the problems of this world.

I'm simply saying that whatever waves may come, don't let them distract you from following Christ who has called you out upon the waters.

Fear and faith stand in contention with each other.

And the one that you feed your attention to, is the one with the advantage in the fight.

Has anyone here ever heard of Thomas Cranmer

Born in 1489 Cranmer was the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Cranmer was working during the reformation.

He felt that the catholic church placed too much authority on the pope, and felt that catholicism taught many unbiblical things.

Cranmer supported translating the Bible into English because he believed that common folk who couldn't read Latin should be able to read the scriptures freely.

He wrote the first two editions of the “Book of Common Prayer”

And contributed to the creation of the “Book of Homilies” which was a collection of teachings that followed Protestant theology.

Cranmer had plenty of shortcomings and flaws, but I don't think anyone could deny that he wholeheartedly sought the will of God.

Then Queen Mary the first took the throne.

This is the one we call “Bloody Mary”.

Queen Mary was a devout catholic who sought to crush the Protestant reformation.

Immediately Queen Mary had Cranmer along with some of his fellow theologians arrested.

Cranmer's friends, Hugh Latimer and Nichols Ridley, were tried for treason and burned at the stake while Cranmer was forced to watch.

During this situation one of them cried out begging for them to add dryer wood to the fire, as the wet wood wasn't burning as hot and wasn't killing them fast enough.

After witnessing this Cranmer privately recanted his life work.

He said he was wrong, that the pope was the mouthpiece of God, that his life work was a farce.

He was given the papers to sign as official and he signed them.

Cranmer saw the waves, he saw the wind, and he allowed the fear to grip him.

He turned his eyes from Christ and began to sink.

And who could blame him?

It takes far less than the threat of being burned at the stake by a murderous tyrant for me to start panicking.

I would say that I'm not a very fearful or worrisome person.

I love the fight, the chaos, the challenge.

I feel comfortable in the unknown.

I like danger and risk.

Yet the search for a home that my wife and I can afford has left me feeling… Terrified.

Unsure, frustrated, and anxious.

I see the wave, the wind, the monster of “How will we make it?”

And I panic. I sink.

I was in prayer the other day, frustrated because a house we toured that seemed affordable ended up getting in a bidding war.

The price was going up, and even if it wasn't, we would barley be able to afford it at below asking.

So in my prayer I’m expressing my frustration and exhaustion and how I'm just tired of this whole process when I finally say “God, how long are you going to ask me to depend on You?”.

And as soon as I said it, I knew the answer “always”.

“You will always be dependent on Me.”

“I AM the only one who is self existent”

“I AM the only one with the inherent power to walk on the water.”

“I AM”

So when you feel yourself beginning to sink, redirect your gaze to the one who was, who is, and who is yet to come.

Cry out like Peter “Lord, save me!”

In spite of the wind, in spite of the waves, I am dependent on You and You alone.

Cranmer was taken to the University Church in Oxford to make his renunciation public.

I don't know what happened between his initial renunciation and this moment.

I don't know what prayers he may have said, or how the spirit spoke to him.

But when he stood up in that room he publicly denounced his recantations.

He denied papal authority and stood firm on his protestant teachings.

And when they dragged him out to the pyre that had already been lit

He stuck his hand in the fire and held it there till it burned off.

He announced to the crowd that he wanted the hand that betrayed his Lord to burn first, then he climbed atop the fire to finish the execution.

As he died, his last words were “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit… I see the heavens open and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”

If you fix your gaze on Christ,and cry out for His help, He will pull you from the water.

And give you the courage to climb atop a pyre.

Purpose To The Storm

The NET Bible (Second Edition) Chapter 14

32 When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

I want to think back on my little buddy at home.

as terrified as he was when I caught him.

All the fear with little to no way of protecting himself.

Poor guy was probably only a few days old when I caught him.

Baby rattlesnakes have a lot of challenges in their lives.

Most of their hunts fail.

Its rare to find water.

and they have a lot of natural predators.

Of all the baby rattlers born, only 17% of them survive the first year.

83% die from either starvation, dehydration, or predation.

And that brings me to my final point.

You see, other people had worshiped Jesus at this point in His ministry.

But the disciples had not.

During the storm in Matthew 8 when Jesus calmed it, the disciples response was “Who is this? that even the wind and sea obeys Him?”

But they did not worship Him.

They witnessed several miracles already, but they did not worship him.

The disciples thought Jesus was a great prophet.

They probably thought he was the promised messiah.

But the Jewish people had a different understanding of the messiah at that time.

They didn't think the messiah was going to be YHWH in flesh.;

They thought it would be another great prophet like Moses or Ezekiel.

Someone who interceded between God and man, but still just a man.

This whole situation had a purpose. A reason for the disciples undergoing the storm.

Because this is first time that the disciples bow down and worship Jesus, not just as a great prophet, but as God.

This is when they start to realize the true identity of the one they are following.

We serve a God who works all things for good.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells us:

The NET Bible (Second Edition) Chapter 29

11 For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the LORD. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.

12 When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers.

In Matthew 6:25 Jesus says:

The NET Bible (Second Edition) Chapter 6

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?

26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are?

This snake I caught went through the most terrifying experience he has ever had.

But he will no longer face predators.

He will no longer be thirsty.

He will always have food ready.

The experience was frightening.

But he is better off because of it.

However dire the situation.

However scared you may be.

Whatever monsters you may be facing

Take peace in knowing that Jesus is with you in the storm.

That He is God over all creation.

Ask Him for His commands and for the ability to follow them!

Keep your eyes fixed on Him and know that even if you begin to sink, that if you cry out for Him he will pull you from the waters.

Find solace in knowing that Jesus has a purpose for the storm.

A purpose that brings Him glory!

So let fear give way to faith and glorify He who conquerors the wind, the waves, and death itself!

Praise Him who works all things for good!

Worship Him in the calm and in the storm!