Sacred Insight: What’s the intention?
As you read, considering the context, determine the intention behind the author’s words. Name all that apply: 1. To show us His truth, 2.To expose our human rebellion 3. To correct our mistakes, or 4. To train us to live like Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Did you know that there are professional worriers? There are literally people that you can pay to unload your burdens and problems onto and they promise to do the worrying for you. Just think, picture a man who is stressed beyond belief – his hair is falling out, he can’t eat, he’s a mess. As a last ditch effort, he decides to hire a professional worrier. He calls the professional worrier and tells him about all the things he can’t stop worrying about. The professional worrier then responds with “Ok, gotcha. I’ll take the worrying from here…”
The man hangs up the phone and feels instantly free. Simply knowing that someone else is carrying his burdens – knowing that even a stranger who probably has no real power to fix his problems is thinking and caring about them, somehow releases him from the oppression of his paralyzing anxiety.
Well, God is like that professional worrier, except that he does have the power to fix your problems and he’s not worried, because He’s in complete control.
That’s the God we serve. Right there, always near, extending his hand imploring us “Hey Love – talk to me, I’m here for you, my ears and arms are open”.
His heart is reflected in his words “Do not be anxious…” and they are a beckoning from the one who loves us tirelessly and unflinchingly. And it doesn’t stop there. He doesn’t want us to just tell him our problems, ask for some advice, and then take promptly them back. He wants us to leave our problems with him.
But this is where it can get tricky (for us). Leaving our problems with him means having faith that, whatever the outcome may be, God’s way is the best way. It requires that we trust his promises fully.
All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28.
Leaving the worrying (our problems) to God means surrendering our own version of the story to Him knowing that he always has our best interest in mind. It means accepting that our attempts at micromanaging the worries and petitions we bring to God indicate that we do not fully trust God to handle them.
If you struggle to do this, imagine you have hired a world-renowned artist to paint a masterpiece for you. Would you stand behind her as she painted and say “Oh, no, not green!… Why don’t you try that other brush instead?” Or, would you trust the artist to do what you hired her for and believe that the end product would exceed your wildest imagination? Well, God is that artist. He thought up every atom, He calculated the finely timed orbit of the planets, He is the originator of time itself and best of all – He considers us his precious children – don’t you think he’s more than capable of taking our worries and making beauty or even miracles out of them?
When we fully surrender and trust in the Almighty God, then comes best part. Our verse says…
The peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Isn’t that beautiful? Just think – when we leave our anxiety at Jesus’ feet, we can and will experience peace that doesn’t even make sense to our earthly minds. God will take our fear and leave something beautiful in its place – and that’s a promise.
Put this week’s reading into your own words.
What was the author’s intentions? Name all that apply: 1. To show us His truth, 2.To expose our human rebellion 3. To correct our mistakes, or 4. To train us to live like Jesus.
What is your most anxious thought today/this week?
Describe what it would feel like for someone to walk up to you and say “I’ve got this” and for you to fully surrender that anxiety.
What stops us from fully surrendering our fears and worries to God?
Live It Out:
- Write out our scripture in your journal. Add notes, drawings, encouragements and thoughts about its original intention and meaning.
- Write a list of things that you are worried about. Take that list to God in prayer, but instead of making requests, pray prayers of thanks for his intervention and deep care. Pray Philippians 2:13 with confidence.