March 19 2018 – Click here to listen
I spoke with a lady recently that was in a word, panicking. She came up to talk to me after I gave my testimony at a church service and was crying and blurting out words fast as an auctioneer. I finally got her to calm down and explain what her problem was and discovered that though she had experienced a traumatic event, none of the things she envisioned were going to happen next had transpired.
She was just worried that they would.
She’d experienced a terrible marriage and her alcoholic husband was dumping her for another woman. She told me that he’d promised to support her, but she said, what if he didn’t? What if she saw him, how would she act? What if she saw him with her?
The “what if” scenarios she conjured up in her head were endless. I asked her what
if none of those things happened? I also mentioned that Jesus Himself said that
worry is a sin. The only thing accomplished by worry is stress. It solves no problem and only serves to harm one’s body and mental state. Anxiety is obviously one of Satan’s most treasured tools.
I tried to recommend that she get involved with a good church. She said what if they condemn me? I told her the Bible tells us to cast all our anxieties on Him, because e cares for us. After all He sent His only Son to die for our sins. I told her that she needed to have faith that God loved her and would take care of her. She told me that she did have faith in God, but . . .
Ugh . . . Faith but not really faith. Either we trust God, or we don’t. Part of my talk that day included my life’s verse, Phil. 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Interestingly that verse doesn’t say, Christ will do all things for me. It states that
“I” can do all things through Christ. In other words, she needs to do her part too.
She told me that she didn’t work and if he failed to support her, she would be in dire trouble. I suggested that she get a job. Occupy her mind with working somewhere and interact with other employees.
Unfortunately, I don’t think she was convinced or helped by my advice.
Faith is an elusive thing to many people. I can honestly say I don’t worry. I know God has me in the palm of his hand and there is nowhere I’d rather be. With that said I realize that I will endure pain in this life and I don’t look forward to it. I just know that God will see me through it.
The best advice I gave her was explaining that if she took the time that she spent worrying about “what if” scenarios and spent it on coming up with ideas of how to solve problems, she would be far better off. In the end I told her to pray about it and ask God to help. He’ll do it!
Phil. 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.