“Do not Fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, adn so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace]which transcends all understanding shall arrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philipians 4:6 Amplified).
One Wednesday night, I stood up in my living room with a notebook filled with envelops of bills and debt. Overwhelmed with all of my unmet needs, I began marching slowly in the living room singing a song, one that most of you might have heard or have become familiar with it: THE WHINNING SONG THAT GOES ALONGSIDE OF THE PITY PARTY WITH THE GLOOMINESS THAT COMES WITH FRIENDS OF FEAR AND CONFUSION . Here are the lyrics:
“Life is not fair! Well that is life…Oh nothing will change just keep doing the same old thing and old thing….lalalala
…And the song goes!
Then my pastor observing my movement from afar, interrupted and asked me what I was holding and I told him they were my bills. “Good!” He exclaimed, “It is good to hold them. Is it your business to worry about how they are going to be paid or God’s?” It was there that the eyes of my understanding was enlightened to the truth :
it is not my place to wonder and figure out what and how I was going to survive but rather, as a child and daughter of the Most High God, the Creator and Great Provider of my life, He is responsible for my existence and upkeep!
How careless and foolish of me to think that I was capable of taking care of all my needs when my very existence alone is out of my control, ” (For from HIm[GOD] and through Him and to Him are all things. (All things originate and come from Him. All things live through Him and all things center and tend to consummateand end in Him] To Him be glory forever Amen” (Romans 11:36).
How many people are so frustrated in life that they have familiarize themselves with the same defeative tune day in and night out, hopeless and buried with the dust of life’s problems? Overwhelmed by their daily needs, they find themselves questioning the reality of their faith and trust in God? As a matter of fact, the majority of people in the world today regardless of race, gender, socio- economic status are stuck deep in a mud of anxiety: unpaid bills, student loan debts, credit card collect phone calls, unstable economy with no hope for the future. How many times have you become accustomed to the normalcy of events in your life and concluded that nothing will change or will it, you have left your decision in the hands of luck.
Well I have news for you, you are not alone! God, your Heavenly Father cares and HE wants to intervene, “behold I have not left you as orphans” (John 14:18).
From the above scripture, God is telling us not to be anxious. Miriam Webster Dictionary defines anxious as “extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency.” In other words, it means to be disturbed, stressed, having no sleep, wondering, unstable, uncertain about now, your future & even your past events that you are still regretting and refusing to let go.
However, this is not the kind of lifestyle that God wants us to have. He wants us to surrender to Him our cares, anxieties and worries. As we are doing that, He promises to give us His peace which the world cannot attain.
Anything means from Tom Dick to Harry to your nail to your hair; even your very hair on your head are numbered and He knows & He cares.
Imagine the relationship of a parent and a little child. It is the responsiblity of the parent to cater for the needs of the child’s upkeep: food, shelter & clothing. The child is stress free, living life one day at a time because they know that Mom & Dad will take care of their needs. Thus Jesus admonishes us to do likewise:
“stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality]than food, and the body [far above and more excellent than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heaven ly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?”
In other words, focus on the moments and trust God to determine the outcome of your life because He loves you and will provide for you. Life is too short to be wasted on problems but rather embrace life though fragile but as a precious gift to be enjoyed and cherished, determined to live daily purposefully. Many times we are caught up with the needs and problems we faced that we lose the essence of our existence and the blessings of God for our lives.
The next time, your mind begins to wonder and stretch you to your issues and problems, say to yourself:
“My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus” (Philipians 4:19).
Don’t Worry….Be Happy!
By Felicia Asomaning[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]