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Question for the worried person
Song: 1. My soul worry not, the Lord Jesus knows the way (2x) 2. God is not man, His word will surely come to pass He is not a man, He will never, never fail. 3. My God is a miracle God (2x) "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:25-27). A story was told of a woman and her daughter Doris (not real name), Doris who had just finished preparing lunch and set the table and called on her mother from the bedroom. The mother would not come but rather sat motionless on the bed; gazing at nothing, lost in thoughts. Bewildered Doris left the dinning and joined her mother in the room, she was speechless for a while wondering what the matter was. Little did she know that her mother had fallen once again into worry and anxiety, a burden that has culminated in high blood pressure and almost claimed her life the previous year. After much entreaty, the mother burst into tears and began to lament her misfortune in life. As far as she was concerned, life has not been fair; neither did it hold any promise of good. Financial crisis, inability to make ends meet, settled her debt, first son Charles (not real name), who left for abroad tem years ago but no news from him, Doris was in her late thirties yet no husband, her other two children in higher institution who will take care of them? Will her children ever make it and will her husband who deserted his matrimonial home about 20 years for another woman ever return to her? The list of woes appears endless. This is a true picture how some of us, if not even all of us worry today. But Christ is asking you: ‘what have you achieved by worrying?’ ‘Can you add extra year to your age by worrying?’ Instead of us to worry out a problem, then face it courageously and try to get over it, we allow these problems to worry and weigh us down. Little wonder that because of worry a lot of people have become hypertensive, sick in hospital and some are getting older than their age and worst still, some have been sent to their early graves. So what is your problem you bachelor, you spinster, you married people and all youths? Christ has a question for you if you are still living in anxiety. Generally, we worry about the past, present and future. Consequences of worrying 1.We magnify the problem as if it is above the power of God and beyond the possibility of solution. It is like building a mountain out of a mole hill. "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). “For nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:37). 2. We are subjected to fear and uncertainty. Consequently the blood circulation, the heart, the glands and the entire nervous system are negatively affected. Jesus said to us not to be afraid and the statement: ‘Do not be afraid’ is repeated 365 times in the scriptures. 3. We become suspicious of everybody and take friends for enemies. Our peace of mind and access to God is hindered. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3). "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1). “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16). 4. We anticipate the worst in life, even when God’s will, love and wisdom will not allow such to come our way. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11). “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” (Psalm 34:10). I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2). 5. We live like orphans who have no heavenly father. We are turned into momentary atheists, that is, those who do not believe in the existence and absolute power of God. "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15). The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. (Psalm 14:1). “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18). 6. We are uprooted from where God has planted us, thus altering His plan for our lives e.g. Abraham ran down to Egypt because of the famine: Abram in Egypt 10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, "I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you." 14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels. 17 But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. 18 So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!" 20 Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12). “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 16:25). 7. We are forced to run ahead of God in the bid to find solutions all by ourselves. For instance Abraham indulged in self-management because of his wife’s childlessness even though God promised that he would be the father of many nations. She listened to the counsel of Sarah and slept with Haggai his housemaid who later bore him Ishmael and we all are sharing from this trouble to day. Read Genesis 16: 1 – 16; 21: 9 – 14. “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” (Psalm 127:1). He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails;” Exhortation: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12). “There is surely a future hope for you, and your (expectation) hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:18). “Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.” (Psalm 112:6). “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” ( Proverbs 12:25 ). “A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly. A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” (Proverbs 14:29-30). God bless you Evang. Oseh J. B |