04.21.2013 The Lies we Believe - Worry/Anxiety

We are doing a series – Lies people Believe
This one is going to be practical and relevant – I will give you the lie, and then we will pray – if we worry or stress enough about something, we will prevent bad things from happening.
We live in an anxious world and this week was an unbelievable example of how anxiety-producing this world can be – with the Boston Marathon bombing– and the West, Texas explosions this week– we should pray.
Lord, thank You that You are with us and love us – through all the anxious times we face. We live in an anxious, stress filled world – in so many different ways. We ask for those in Boston – and think of the father who lost a son and daughter lost a leg and whose wife is clinging to life.
Help us as Christians to be ones who demonstrate compassion and love to those in need. It is no different than in Texas where so many have lost so much. May You give grace and comfort to those who are grieving at this time. As we look at this topic of worry, anxiety, stress – allow us to learn to trust You. May we find our comforts, and joy and Hope in You – it is all about what You’ve done on the cross – teach us to look to You in humility – you care for us and long to meet our needs. In Your name we pray. Amen.
Worry – anxiety – fretting – angst – concern – there are times where it can take over our lives and consume us. There are two things – I will mix up the words worry and anxiety. Concern is good – and there is worry.
There are things we SHOULD be concerned about. If you have high blood pressure – you should go to the doctor and take your medicine and exercise – be concerned! In this world, as we see things that happened this week – there is concern – don’t blow it off.
We were at lunch at Panera – and a guy walks in and takes two large bags and places them on a table and walks out – what do we do? We headed for the door – and as he came back in – he came in with more stuff – but we went back to our lunch.
There is a place for concern in our lives.
We know we shouldn’t text while driving – and we should be concerned about those who do! It is dangerous. But there is a point at which it changes –
James Bryant Smith – Worry or anxiety is a disproportionate level of concern based on an inappropriate measure of fear – “Good and Beautiful God”
There are concerns we should act upon. There are things we see – and we should act. We should do something about it. After we have acted properly – and done all we can – we continue to stress and be anxious and we have crossed a line.
Anxiety is fearing what we can’t control; predicting what we don’t know.
It is predicting something bad will happen – but there is nothing we can do to control it.
This is an American/Western problem – we live in a stress producing world – whether economic or otherwise, there are those who promote fear.
Two verses – Phil. 4: 6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil. 2:20
Anxious – Deep concern – SAME WORD! There are some things we should be concerned about! People’s well-being, risk, circumstances – but DON’T CROSS THE LINE and be anxious!
The reality – if you struggle with anxiety – and have had that as an experience in your life – it seems involuntary – and the reality – that is true to an extent. It is the way we have been created – a circumstance comes up that is a cause for genuine concern – an involuntary impulse takes over – the bomb went off and what do you do? – Fight or flight – start to run away – and some ran back! When we sense physical danger, we engage in one way or another – either we get out of there or engage the situation. But the same thing happens with things that cause mental stress. There is an initial impulse to flee – to react – but we need to learn to not allow that initial impulse to control our future actions. We need to hit the pause button and consider what is going on and how to respond.
Do not be anxious! Once that impulse happens – it is easy to do – but bring the circumstance to God – take that thing that causes you to worry to God.
He is not removing your responsibility to act – but by coming to God with it – it helps us realize what are our responsibilities and what are God’s responsibilities. Anxiety comes when we engage in God’s part. Stress comes when we engage in the parts that God controls!
Now, that doesn’t remove the areas we have to control – there are hard things we have to do.
Jesus said about anxiety – Matthew 6:25 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? 27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?
Most of those listening to this are in extreme poverty – and Jesus is telling them – don’t worry about food and covering – even though these are basic things we should be concerned about! Things we should focus attention on and show concern for – we have responsibilities to work to provide those – and Jesus is saying – don’t worry about them! He is not saying – don’t be concerned. He is not promoting laziness. Birds are busy – but not consumed and worried by it – and that is the issue – don’t allow your concern to move into worry and anxiety and stress.
Three truths that combat the lie:
1) Worry accomplishes nothing – it does not prevent the bad thing from happening – there I nothing positive that comes out of worry.
28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith?
2) If God cares for the birds and flowers – He will care for you.
The lie is – I have to worry – But God is saying – I will care for you – you are of much more value than the birds –
31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Right now, all of the things you are worried about – God knows those concerns and is more concerned about them than you are! You are so valuable to Him that He longs to care for those concerns – that is the solution to worry – understand that God is involved in your life – you are valuable to God and He wants to care for your concerns.
33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
He knows what you are concerned about – and you have a responsibility – focus on the things of God – and turn your focus AWAY from the things that are worrying you. That is our responsibility in this situation – redirect your thoughts.
Worry speaks of – tightening and narrowing – that is the root meaning of it. When we become anxious – we are narrowing and tightening our thoughts on this one problem – it becomes all you can see – how will this work out? How will we pay for this? What will happen with my health? Focus, focus, focus – and Jesus is saying – focus on the things of God! A kingdom focused mindset will reduce worry.
When you lay in bed and the thoughts come in – not when I lie down at first, but if I wake up in the middle of the night – you try to solve things – and instead you should redirect those thoughts to God and what He is doing – His work and how much He loves us.
It is not about figuring out the right plan – the right strategy does not relieve us of worry – having God involved removes the anxiety.
34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
Worry and anxiety are always focused on the future – things that may or may not happen. The kingdom focused life is about the here and now. What am I supposed to be doing now – this day? This does not eliminate trouble – we think if trouble is eliminated, worry will disappear. But there are concerns – and God gives us grace for the things at the moment.
Phil. 4: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! 5 Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near!
There are relational conflicts and persecution in the church there – and he is telling them not to worry. Relational conflicts cause a lot of stress – so many places where relational conflict causes such tremendous stress.
Rejoice in the Lord, always! Let everyone see you gentleness – the Lord is near!
Turn you focus to God – turn it on the Lord – Get your satisfaction – joy, peace – from God.
You will always be stressed if you focus on events.
Let everyone see your forbearing spirit – a sense of yieldedness.
Anxiety spreads like infections disease in relationships. If you want to stop the relationship conflicts – act in a gentle way toward others – a way that yields – and is humble –
What happens – there is a war over who will get their way –and sometimes – we are convinced that our way is right t- we have God on our side, right? We have verses on our side – and we know…
Make sure everyone knows you are gentle – forbearing – ready to yield in the relationship. Not yielding to sin –
Some things we think are Christian dogma – but it is just how a marriage should work.
Congregational leadership in anxious times. Leaders need to be a non-anxious presence. All of us need to do this in our relationships. When your stress level rises, it raises it for others to. Step back and become a non-anxious presence in the situation!
Phil. 4: 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.
Again – channel your thoughts – the anxiety comes in in our thoughts and we get trapped in it – focus your thoughts on the lord and the good things that God is doing.
Let me close to sum this up
1) We cannot control our initial impulse to a stressful circumstance. We need to say, okay, that is right – involuntary reaction – but we can control our thoughts, words and actions.
This is true especially in relational conflict. When we step back – we can have control over how we will respond. You have that control
2) Step out of your circumstance and view from an outside perspective. What is really going on here? Is the world really coming to an end.
3) Ask – what is my responsibility and what is God/s
4) seek a long-term solution – not immediate relief from stress. In conflict – we want to get rid of the stress –and it doesn’t solve anything … it might get rid of the stress – but then the stress levels go higher – because we have reso0lved nothing – having just rid ourselves of the stress.
5) Stress and conflict is inevitable and we need to learn to deal with it. Jesus promised there would be troubles and difficulties – and we live in that world and need to view it as necessary and an opportunity for growth