The Anxiety Battle
(I Peter 5:7)
1. Webster defines anxiety as a painful or apprehensive uneasiness of mind usually over an anticipated or impending situation or a strong fearful concern
2. Supposedly the average person’s anxiety is about…
40% on things that will never happen
30% on things that have happened in the past and cannot be changed
12% on criticism of others that are usually untrue
8% on real problems that will have to be faced
3. I am skeptical about those percentages: how could you ever conduct a scientific study to determine that?
4. George Mueller was a great man of faith whose orphanage in England was sustained by one answer to prayer after another. But I do not agree with Mueller, who said, "The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety."
5. The standard sermon on anxiety runs something like this: it is a sin to worry, we shouldn’t do it…so now let’s add guilt to our worry…like that really helps! Neither does the implication that we like to worry and all we need to do is decide to stop it.
6. Anxiety is not all bad. I’ve known people who could use a little more anxiety.
7. Some parents do not watch their children properly….not worried that anything will happen to them. We label people without anxiety “reckless.”
8. In verse 8, Peter tells us to be on the alert for the devil’s tricks. That alerted and heightened sense of caution could be defined as a form of anxiety.
9. God gave us anxiety and fear for our own protection. In a fallen world, we are surrounded by danger; if we are always at ease and oblivious, many of us would not be alive today.
10. How would you like to have surgery if the surgeon’s motto was, "I don’t worry. What will be will be?" So let’s address this subject with intelligence and reasonableness.
11. Our text today is addressing worry that is either unreasonable or reasonable, but beyond our control – or perhaps a situation that we sense we can influence, but we wonder about our adequacy or wisdom.
MAIN IDEA: Adding guilt to anxiety makes nothing better; instead, we need to have a positive spiritual approach toward dealing with surplus anxiety.
I. CAST All Your Anxiety on Him
Many people cope with life’s fears by developing PRIDE and self-dependence, but the Christian is supposed to use an alternative approach.
A. CAST
1. Used for throwing a blanket on an animal before riding
• When you make a bed, you "cast" the sheet and blankets
• It takes time for it to register that you are anxious…
2. Probably a quotation from Psalm 55:22, " Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
3. We typically do this by prayer (Philippians 4:6-7)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
B. ALL
• God cares about all our needs
• Nothing is too small to bring to God…
• The idea here is that we have done what we can; we have been responsible, hard working, given matters thought…. now we need to cast matters upon God…
C. ANXIETY
1. All worry is not sin –
• Note how comfortable Paul was in expressing themselves; try doing the same to a legalistic Christian, and you’ll end up as minced meat…
• Paul in I Thess. 3:1 – “So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.”
• Or how about I Thes. 3:5 – “For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.”
• John Calvin comments: "But we are not thus bidden to cast all our care on God, as though God wished us to have strong hearts, and to be void of all feeling; but lest fear or anxiety should drive us to impatience…"
2. Worry is really in the fear family
3. Fears can be tough to conquer
• Some phobias are never conquered
In July 1992, a Los Angeles Times story on fear of heights featured an interview with the psychotherapist who heads the Anxiety Disorders Association. He reported that one of his patients could cross the 200-foot-high Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland only if his wife drove the car and locked him in the trunk.
4. But when it comes to general fears, Psalm 56:3 says, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you"
5. Note, first I experience fear, then I trust; do not feel guilty for being afraid
D. On HIM
• God has broad shoulders; He loves to be leaned upon
Transition: So we are to cast all our cares upon God. But does God want them? Does the almighty care about your checkbook, your marriage, that unreasonable boss, or your doctor’s diagnosis? Why should we cast our cares on the Lord?
II. Because He CARES for You
A. "Because" implies it is REASONABLE
B. It is reasonable because He CARES
1. His deity – He is capable to caring
2. His resurrection/ascension – He lives to care
3. His nature—He is not indifferent to our condition
4. He has things under control…He is organized, not absent-minded
One time Albert Einstein was taking a train to an out of town engagement. The conductor stopped by to punch his ticket, but the great scientist preoccupied with his work, explained that he couldn’t find his ticket. Not in the coat pockets, not in the
briefcase.
The conductor said, "We all know who you are, Dr. Einstein. I’m sure you bought ticket. Don’t worry about it."
As the conductor moved along, he looked back to see Einstein on his hands and knees searching under the seats for his ticket. The conductor walked back, "Dr. Einstein, please, don’t worry about it. I know who you are."
Exasperated, Einstein looked up and said, "I, too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going." (SOURCE: Pastor Rick - Crown Of Life Church From Zalome’s Bridge to the World, Contributed by: Paul Fritz, Sermonentral)
C. He cares in an EMPATHETIC and sympathetic sense
D. He cares in a MAINTENANCE sense
III. A PHILOSOPHY of Worry
A. Worry in moderation is a VIRTUE
1. A disabling worry often HURTS us
2. Worry (Stress) is Sometimes UNAVOIDABLE
3. And sometimes we place artificial/peer pressure on ourselves
“Elephants live longer than people, maybe because they never worry about trying to lose weight.” (so opined Wilfred Mina at Sermon central)
B. Christian’s should interpret worry form a KINGDOM viewpoint
1. Making Christ Lord includes turning over all aspects of our lives to Him. This gives us the starting point for interpreting life.
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:33-34).
2. God want us to bring our WORRIES to Him and find RELIEF
• Worries are like asthma, and prayer, Bible study, or contemplating truth about God are like emergency inhalers and breathing treatments…
3. God wants us to remember He is SOVEREIGN
4. We must live a BALANCED life to offset our worries
5. Serving others takes our minds off of our WORRIES
Matthew 10:39, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
6. Being social helps us realize WORRIES are normal
• (I Peter 5:9b says: "because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.")
• It is difficult for us to determine: what is really normal? Since we do not freely share our most personal thoughts – at least typically, we wonder, “Is it just us?”
• Being social not only helps distract us from our worries, it offers us listening ears –and an opportunity to listen to others…
• President Gerald Ford was famous for tripping. He actually has a disease that messes up his balance. When former President Gerald Ford visited Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma several years ago, he had breakfast with some student leaders. As one of the students stepped out of an elevator, her heel caught on the carpet and she crashed into Ford. She repeatedly apologized as he helped her to her feet, but the former president smiled sympathetically.
“Don’t worry, young lady,” he said. “I understand perfectly.”
Today in the Word, Moody Bible Institute, January, 1992, p.32, Sermoncentral
CONCLUSION
1. Adding guilt to anxiety makes nothing better; instead, we need to have a positive spiritual approach toward dealing with surplus anxiety.
2. We can reduce it and limit it by frequently taking it to God, but it is a struggle. That’s okay. It’s part of life. Don’t feel guilty about worry. Instead, let it drive You into God’s very throne room.
