The last few weeks have made many of us anxious. Whether you are worried about getting sick, losing your job, getting stuck inside with your family, or finding toilet paper, we all are experiencing some serious upheaval in our lives. I read last night that 2.6 billion people, over 1/3 of the world's population, are under movement restrictions due to Coronavirus. Wow!
What does the Bible say about anxiety? Let me share with you two helpful passages that show the contrast between trusting the Lord and not trusting the Lord:
Deuteronomy 28:65-66 is a warning from Moses to the Israelites. If they don't love, trust, and obey the Lord, they will be cast out of the Promised Land. Instead of peace and rest in the presence of God, they will experience this: "Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart. You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life."
Compare this with what the Apostle Paul tells the church in Philippi in Philippians 4:4-7: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 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."
What a difference! Instead of having an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart, the Christians in Philippi are marked by rejoicing! The Lord is near to them! Rather than being anxious, they are told to bring their requests to God in prayer. The result: the peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Is your heart or mind anxious today? The Scriptures promise that when we bring our cares, concerns, fears, and anxieties before the Lord in surrender and prayer, God's peace will protect your heart and mind.