AnxIous? Try the “We” Partnership
Notice the letter in the middle of the word “anxious”? It’s an I. When I am solely handling MY affairs, when I am the one in charge, when I rely on myself for the outcome of MY decisions and plans, then I can easily get ANXIOUS about every-thing! I often fail to remember this walk of faith is about WE – God and me – and WE can handle anything.
Philippians 4:13 says: “I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength!” That is the WE partnership.
Another WE partnership scriptures is Joshua 1:9 that says: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be WITH you wherever you go.”
Yesterday, I practiced those words, “Be anxious for NO-thing” when I had a little health issue of concern. I had a little talk with my Partner. After praying about it, rather than make a doctor appointment, I promptly had the idea of Tele-Health that my doctor’s office provides. Two hours later, I was visiting with my doctor’s APRN via face-to-face video. After a brief conversation, my concerns were put to NO-thing.
My mind was eased, but even more so, is the ease we have when God is our go-to for peace of mind and assurance that no-thing is bigger than our God. It is possible to handle life’s stuff that comes our way with freedom from anxiety when we remember our partnership with God.
Here’s some very good teaching from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians. He gives us one of those “DO NOT” commands (certainly NOT a suggestion) to be anxious for nothing (no thing). By the way, let’s put his words into perspective. He wrote this letter from the dingy, wet, cold confines of a prison cell but rather than be whiny, wimpy, cranky, and sulky, he dismissed his reasons for anxiety and was able to find the peace of God.
How could he do that when he had all the reasons in the world to be anxious about every-thing? If we would apply Paul’s words to our circumstances, whatever they are, then we would get the results he had. This is what we can expect for ridding ourselves of the anxiety issues that stress us out, make us angry at others, and keep us from joy and peace.
Paul said in Philippians 4:6-8 “Do not be anxious about ANY-THING, 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.”
Paul lived by example for you and me and he gave us the prescription and the tools and the wisdom to show us how to trust God in all things….even in a prison cell or on the side of the road because of a flat tire or when realizing we missed an important appointment, or when receiving a negative health report.
He said “Do NOT be ANXIOUS about any-THING!” When we have the mindset “It’s nothing but a thing,” we take on a heavenly perspective and eliminate needless anxiety and can settle into our confidence in God’s words in Romans 8:28 – “ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”
So today I’m declaring “These THINGS may be just things, but in God’s grand scheme of THINGS, they all have purposes for blessings ahead!”