How many of us have doubted and thought that God was not in charge? How many of us have panic in the midst of our situation as BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, and thought God was not watching our back? How many of us lose sleep over worry about our bad life circumstances?The basic problem is that we are sinners, and we live in a sinful body with sinful thoughts.
Romans 3:23-24 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
So, with that said, If we didn’t exist in this sinful condition, we would simply follow 1 Peter 5:7 and go about our business knowing that God has taken care of our situation. 1 Peter 5:7 says; Cast all your anxiety on the Lord because he cares for you
It’s safe to say that 1 Peter 5:7 is THE ACTUAL REALITY FOR BELIEVERS IN CHRIST. God has already promised to take care of us as stated in multiple bible verses, but THE PROBLEM is us! Our sinful nature tells us not to believe in anyone except us. That we are the solution to the problem, not God. Our sinful nature tells us that our wisdom, and maybe the wisdom of our friends, is what we need to overcome our problems or situation. The natural man does not rely on God.
To rely on God means that you release the outcome to God. It means that you not only acknowledge, but that you believe and TRUST GOD to guide you through the difficult journeys of life and get you to the other side. Remember this; TO TRUST GOD is to not worry.
When we trust God, we don’t allow our sin nature to worry and nonbelief to discourage us. Sure, our doubts will surface daily, even hourly, but as Christians we are commanded to put our Trust in God. So, when doubt surfaces we need to actively put it AWAY AND REMEMBER THAT GOD in CHARGE and will deliver in his time. Now the key word is, DELIVER in his time.
I can recount so many times in my life when I thought God was not there for me only to realize that he was always there. I now realize that God DOES NOT DELIVER ON MY TIME, BUT in his TIME. As I look back, my only duty was to live my life day by day, one day at a time, Knowing that God is in charge! When worry starts to surface, I remind myself that God will handle the situation for me and I ACTIVELY DISMISS my worry! I no longer fall into the trap of the old saying, “God Help Those Who Help Themselves” which is NOT BIBLICAL and is just another way of saying I’m the real one in charge, not God!
I also learned not to be lazy, and try to put my best effort each day, even though I fail miserably on many days! I no longer live like a SCARED RABBIT but like the CONQUEROR that God says we are !
Romans 8:37 "We are more than conquerors through God who loves us"
As I look back on all my troubles, GOD WISDOM is SO MUCH MORE SUPERIOR THAN MY INFERIOR WISDOM. God had the big picture, and I had the tiny little snapshot of life. Remember friends that going through trials and tribulations is part of the growing process. God is not a magic genie who instantly delivers us from all our worries. He promises to be there for us in the battle and ultimately deliver us out of trouble, but keep in mind that trials are also learning tools for us. Trials serve as part of a purification process.
Isaiah 48:10 "Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction"
Our biggest battle is TO LIVE BY FAITH and NOT BY SIGHT which means to trust God in all things. God will win our battles. Our mission is to take refuge in him. The bible says we are to WAIT ON THE LORD. Our biggest challenge is to not worry about tomorrow or anything else, but to live each day to the fullest. Wake up in prayer and meditation. Stay connected with Christ. Pray often. Just short prayers through the day. When worry surfaces, IMMEDIATELY GIVE it to CHRIST and FORCE YOURSELF TO STOP WORRYING. Yes, I said FORCE YOURSELF to STOP WORRYING because as I pointed out in the beginning of this message, our natural sinful tendency is to worry.
Though we are not aware of it, worry only says that YOU ARE IN CHARGE, NOT GOD. Therefore WORRY IS A SIN to THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND PUT THEIR TRUST IN CHRIST! Because worry says to CHRIST …. “YOU DON’T LOVE ME AND YOU WILLL NOT WATCH OVER ME. THEREFORE I MUST WATCH OVER MYSELF”
How many times has the Lord delivered me out of trouble? Too many times for me to keep score. As I look back, Should I have worried? The answer is, Absolutely Not. The minute worry surfaced, I SHOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY REBUKE THE WORRY AND GIVEN it to CHRIST. In the end, it all turned out for my good just as the Lord promise
Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"
So my question is ….. Will we worry and have doubt about whatever situation life brings to us? Of course we will ! WE’RE HUMAN and WE ARE SINNERS. What is the correct response to worry? REBUKE THE WORRY AND GIVE it to THE LORD FOR GOD LOVES US AND CARES FOR US. So will deliverance happen in our timing? Of course not, its God timing that is best, not our timing.
We have no idea of what God is trying to teach us in the circumstance. Our job is to be righteous and holy each day. Praying, reading scripture, fellowshipping with Christians and just living our life day by day KNOWING THAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE GOOD even though we may fail daily in our Christian Walk.
GOD DOES NOT USE THAT AGAINST us. He knows we are like babies who take 3 step forwards and 2 steps backwards. It’s important that we keep trying. Waking each day committed to live each hour and each day as God has given us, and to make the best use of the time he has given us! Not to worry about the outcome of our present circumstances.
So yes, when we worry, we sin against God. But after all, we are SINNERS ! So, doubt and worry will be a constant battle that we will wrestle with until God takes us home to his wonderful kingdom of heaven where all these things will pass away. In the meantime, REBUKE THE WORRY! GIVE it to THE LORD ! REMEMBER HOW GOD HAS DELIVERED YOU OUT OF THINGS IN THE PAST! GIVE GOD PRAISE and live your life, day by day, to the best of your ability, remembering that some days will be good and fruitful and other days, not so good. Some days will be downright discouraging. BUT THROUGH IT ALL, GOD HAS OUR BACK AND WILL DELIVER us in DUE TIME.
