How many of us have doubted and thought that God was not in charge? How many of us have panic in the midst of our situation as BELIEVERS IN CHRIST and thought God was not watching our back? How many of us loss sleep worrying about life circumstances? How many of us worry how we will retire and where we will live and how much money we will make? How many of us worry about our current financial situation, thinking that we just are NOT GOING TO MAKE IT?
So let me start of off by stating that I’m guilty of all the above as most of us are. My articles are not intended to make people feel bad or to “guilt” you into repentance. That is not my style because …. I’m the worst offender and sinner of all the above.
The basic problem is not because we doubt, but that we are sinners and we live in a sinful body with sinful thoughts. If we didn’t exist in this sinful condition, we would simply follow Philippians 4:6,7 and not worry but pray and trust God in all situations.
Philippians 4:6,7 (Don’t be Anxious but Instead Pray)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:9-12 (We are ALL Sinners)
What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
This is the actual reality for believers in Christ. God has already promised to take care of us as stated in bible verses above. The problem is us ! Our sinful nature tells us not to believe in anyone except ourselves. That we are the solution to the problem, not God. Our sinful nature tells us that our wisdom (and maybe the wisdom of friends) is what we need to overcome our problems or situation. The natural man does not rely on God.
To rely on God means that you release the outcome to God. It means that you not only acknowledge but that you believe and trust God to guide you through the difficult journeys of life and get you to the other side. Remember this; to trust is to not worry. When we trust God, we don’t allow our sin nature to worry and non-belief to surface. Sure, there will be times when we doubt, but as Christians, we are commanded to put our trust in God. So, when doubt surface, we need to actively put it away and remember that God is in charge and will deliver in his time. Now the key word is; deliver in his time.
I can recount so many times in my life when I thought God was not there for me only to realize that he was always there and that God does not deliver on my time, but in his time. As I look back, my only duty was to live my life day by day, one day at a time, knowing that God in in charge. When worry surfaces, I need to remind myself that God will handle the situation for me and I should actively dismiss my worry. We should also not fall into the trap of saying “God Help Those Who Help Themselves” which is another way of saying “I’m the real one in charge not God” even though we may not be aware that is what we’re doing. Beware of laziness as we should put out our best effort in life each day even though we will fail miserably on many days. We are not to live like a scarred rabbit but like the CONQUEROR that God says we are.
Roman 8:37 (We are more than conquerors)
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us
As I look back on all my troubles, God’s wisdom is so much more superior than my puny understanding. God has the big picture of life while I only have a snapshot. I now realize that going through trials and tribulations is part of the growing process. God is not a magic genie who instantly delivers us from all our worries. He promises to be there for us in the battle and ultimately deliver us out of trouble (read proverbs) but keep in mind that trials are also learning tools for us. Trials also serve as part of the purification process.
Psalms 66:10 (God test and refines us)
For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us like silver
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we live by faith, not by sight (Live by faith not by what you see or circumstance)
God wins our battle. Our mission is to take refuge in him. Wait on the Lord. Our biggest challenge is to not worry about tomorrow or anything else but to live each day to the fullest. Wake up in prayer and meditation. Stay connected with Christ. Pray often, just short prayers through the day. When worry surfaces, immediately give it to Christ and force yourself to stop worrying. Yes, I said force yourself to stop worrying because as I pointed out in the beginning of this message, our natural sinful tendency is to worry. Though we are not aware of it, worry only says that we are in charge, not God. Therefore, worry is a sin to those who believe and put their trust in Christ because worry says to CHRIST …. “YOU DON’T LOVE ME AND YOU WILLL NOT WATCH OVER ME THEREFORE I MUST WATCH OVER MYSELF”
How many times has the Lord delivered me out of trouble? Too many times for me to keep score. As I look back, should I have worried? The answer is absolutely NOT. The minute worry surfaced, I SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATLEY REBUKE THE WORRY AND GIVEN IT TO CHRIST. In the end, it all turned out for my good just as the Lord promise
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
So, my question is; will we worry and have doubt on the situation life brings to us? Of course, we will …. WE’RE HUMAN (SINNERS). What is the correct response to worry? REBUKE THE WORRY AND GIVE IT TO THE LORD BECAUSE HE LOVES US AND CARES FOR US.
Will deliverance happen in our timing? Of course not, it’s God’s timing that is best, and not our timing. We have no idea of what God is trying to teach us in the circumstance. Our job is to be righteous and holy each day. Praying, reading scripture, fellowshipping with Christians and living our life day by day knowing that the outcome will be good even though we may fail daily in our Christian Walk. God does not use our failures against us. He knows we are like babies who take 2 steps forward and 3 steps backward. It’s only important that we keep trying, committed to live each hour and each day as God has given us and to make the best use of the time he has given us; not worrying about the outcome of our present issues.
So yes, when we worry, we sin against God but after all we are SINNERS ! Doubt and worry will be a constant battle that we will wrestle with until God takes us home to his wonderful kingdom of heaven where all these things will pass away. In the meantime,
REBUKE THE WORRY
GIVE YOUR ISSUES TO THE LORD
REMEMBER HOW GOD HAS DELIVERED YOU OUT OF THINGS IN THE PAST
GIVE GOD PRAISE
Live your life day by day to the best and fullest of your ability remembering that some days will be good and fruitful and other days not so good and downright discouraging but through it all, God has our back and will deliver us in due time.