Bid My Anxious Fears Subside...

A few years ago, I attended a church in Nashville that played some great old hymns and I really connected with the classic  "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" (from which the title above is taken).  The song talks of the journey of the weary pilgrim who has been beaten up by life and was desperate for God to get him safely to the Promised Land.  For a long time, I had struggled with anxiety (and I still do to some extent). At that point, I was having a tough time in life and the song spoke to my soul.  I, too, asked God to bid my anxious fears subside, to help me to trust in Him in the midst of difficulty.    That song was an anchor for me that kept me clinging to God and got me through my trials.  Still, I know anxiety is my rival and I will have to battle it.  So, when I came across a chapter about anxiety in John Piper's "Battling Unbelief," I was an eager reader.  Piper is a fantastic scholar and pastor, and his biblical knowledge is second to none.  Knowing that I am surely not the only one with this struggle, I wanted to share a condensed version of the chapter.

"When I am anxious about some risky new venture or a meeting, I battle unbelief with Isaiah 41:10- 'Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'

When I am anxious about my ministry being empty and useless, I fight unbelief with with the promise of Isaiah 55:11- 'So shall my word be that it goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.'

When I am anxious about being too weak to do my work, I battle unbelief with the promise of Christ, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' (II Corinthians 12:9)

When I am anxious about decisions I have to make in the future, I battle unbelief with the promise, 'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.' (Psalm 32:8)

When I am anxious about facing opponents, I battle unbelief with the promise, 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' (Romans 8:31)

When I am anxious about the welfare of those I love, I battle unbelief with the promise that if, I, being evil, know how to give good things to my children, how much more will 'your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!' (Matthew 7:11)

When I am anxious about being sick, I battle unbelief with the promise, 'Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.' (Psalm 34:19)

When I am anxious about dying, I battle unbelief with the promise, that 'none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.  If we live, we live to the Lord and if we die, we die to the Lord.  So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.' (Romans 14:7-9)..."

I was encouraged and uplifted by Piper's words in this chapter and reminded me that our anxious thoughts can't be battled with anything other than the very words of God.  Ultimately, our anxiety isn't healed by medication or counseling or will power (although all of these things can and usually are good things).  Maybe this word was for you today...you are not alone in this struggle and I encourage you to speak the Word of Truth into your heart, bidding your anxious fears subside when they come upon you.