Are You Anxious?

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes...?  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 6:25, 33-34)

What is consuming your thought these days? What is it that you seem to be focused on? What is it that you are fearful that He may not provide? You might say, “I’m just being cautious,” but are you? What does your heart reveal?

I had only recently convinced Alice to join me in planting a church in the interior of Alaska.  A land of long,

Village Preaching

dark winters, and temperatures down to -60F; not to mention the hordes of mosquitoes in the summer.  In 2001, I received an email from a gentleman in India asking that I come and preach to his people.  My first thought was of Paul’s Macedonian call written about in Acts 16:9.  I told Alice about the email, and she freaked out.  She said, “India!  I don’t go to third world countries.  There’s disease, and unbearable poverty, and I won’t be able to help.  And besides, it’s probably just a scam anyway!” 

After she calmed down, I suggested she allow me to email him back for more information.  So, after much prayer, many letters and phone calls, and two years later, she finally gave in and we boarded a plane on our first trip to the sub-continent of exotic India.   

Some people are so fearful, so anxious that they never go anywhere or do anything. Others are constantly on the move because they are afraid of staying still, fearful that they might miss something. You would think that those who have decided to go on a mission trip would be people of faith and not the anxious type.

But let me tell you something, the groups that I have led and been a part of are usually divided in equal parts: half filled with faith and half that are filled with fear. I don’t know which would best describe you, but if you are of the faith group then strengthen those that are weak. If you are of the fearful group, then get close to those who are not and listen to the words of the One who is constantly saying “Fear not!” 

The fact that God is often saying, “Fear not,” means that He doesn’t abandon the fearful. Instead He calls them to go deeper and farther with Him. He invites them to join Him in a journey that He knows is fearful to them. He doesn’t tell them to stay home, but invites them to come along.

Praying with Lepers

Walking with Him in a journey like this has a way of turning people that are generally anxious and fearful into people of faith.  During that first trip to India, God captured our hearts for the Indian people, and we began a ten year ministry which included the founding of a new mission organization: Asia International Mission.   

May this be said of you, and may it be evident in your life today. 

“Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:6, 7)

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