Worry, Fear, Stress and Faith

November 21, 2014

How many times have you heard the phrase – “Don’t worry about it” when your completely stressed out over something?  What is your reaction when someone says that to you – “OK, thanks” – when deep down you’re thinking – “easy for you to say, you don’t know what I’m going through or what I’m thinking”.  Sure there are times when we are afraid/worried/stressed out about physical things – what if I have cancer?  Or, I have to walk through a cemetery at midnight to get home.  But how much more so are the fears and anxieties that we’ve created that rattle around in our minds?  You know the ones that keep you up at night staring at the ceiling: if I don’t pass this test, I may fail this class; what if my parents find out I got a dent in the car?  What if I’m pregnant?  What if no one likes me?

We were having a discussion around our house a while back and I asked the question – “What is your greatest fear?”  While there were a number of answers including being alone, our children being hurt and of course snakes, I answered that my biggest fear was being a disappointment to those I love and to my heavenly Father.  We live in a performance based society that says you are only loved if you’re the best.  You have to get the grades and be the best on the field or court or in the theater or band.  And oh by the way, if you’re a Christian, you have to have it all together all of the time.  You know that God says “Fear Not” or “Don’t worry” nearly 100 times.  So surely if you’re a Christian, you must live a carefree, worry free life, right?  Otherwise, you must not be a very good Christian.

So we pretend.  When asked, we say “oh I’m fine” while all the while we are struggling with doubts and fears and anxiety and loneliness.  We put a smile on our faces and hope no one notices.  Why??  Because we don’t want anyone to think less of us for being unsure or afraid.

I was speaking to my brother a few weeks back and was sharing with him some of my concerns and anxieties and I said to him: “You know Adam, I feel like the father who says to Jesus, ‘I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief’.  I love God with all of my heart and I know He will never leave me nor forsake me.  I know he says I shouldn’t fear, but I’m worried and don’t know what to do.  I feel guilty for not believing in God’s word.  I feel guilty for not trusting.”  His response struck me with such power, I had to share it with you.  He said “Scott, there is no faith without fear”.

Hebrews 11 lists a whole host of people often called the heroes of faith.  Ordinary people God used to change the world.  Often when we read this passage, we think “I could never be used like that.  I’m not a superhero of faith.  I’m not sure if I even trust God at all.”  Well, let’s spend a couple of minutes looking at a couple of these “heroes”.  If I asked you who some of the super Christians were in the bible – real heroes of the faith – names like Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, Paul and of course Jesus would be mentioned.  What do all of these superheroes of faith have in common – they all had moments of doubt, fear, anxiety and stress?  They all had moments where they didn’t know what to do or if they were going to make it.  But God intervened.  God used those moments to increase their faith in Him.

Take a look at these moments:

• God told Abraham and his wife Sarah they would have a child and their descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky – they had to wait until he was 99 and she was 90 for God to deliver on his promise!
• Moses argued with God because he feared public speaking.  Just think about that a second – God is speaking to you through a burning bush and you argue with him and tell him to pick someone else to lead the Israelites out of Egypt?  Seriously?! That’s anxiety!
• David, the slayer of Goliath, ran away and hid like an animal in a cave from both King Saul.  Yes that David.  The most famous King of Israel, father of Solomon and writer of nearly all of the Psalms but also an adulterer and murderer.
• Peter, named the Rock by Jesus, walked on water until doubt and fear clouded his mind and he sank.  And we all know what happened before the rooster crowed on the night Jesus was betrayed.
• What about Paul – arguably the greatest preacher of the Gospel in history?  How stressed out was he when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus?  How many times did he face the threat of torture and death?
• Finally, let’s look at Luke 22:41-44.  The Word says Jesus was so stressed and in so much agony, he sweat blood.  I submit to you, it was at this moment that our future salvation was purchased.  God in the flesh decides despite the agonizing pressure of the weight of sin on his shoulders that he will continue to obey His Father’s direction and submit to the crucifixion for our behalf.

So, coach what are you trying to teach us?  If you don’t remember anything I say today, I want you to remember 3 things.

1. First of all, it’s okay to feel doubt, anxiety and fear but it's not okay to live in a fear.  It's not okay to let those feelings overwhelm you.  It's not okay to let them become a component of your everyday life.  We all get stressed out and we all have moments that freak us out completely, but when you said yes to Jesus, you told him you trusted Him to handle all of those things that cause you worry. 
2. Remember, God loves you.  He will never leave you nor forsake you.  When you go through those moments of doubt or fear God will use them to build your faith.  Remember, our God is one of love and grace.  He does not love you any less when you don’t trust Him.  He loves you without condition.  He loves you and wants to take care of you.  You just have to recognize you need him and ask him to take care of you.
3. God isn’t looking for perfect people.  He is looking for people who recognize they need him and his gift of salvation.  You can go through life trying to do it all on your own; worrying or you can live in peace as described in Matthew 6:24-34 and Philippians 4:6-7.

So as you go through your day, you may doubt the answer on a test; you may doubt she likes you; you may doubt if you can get into college; you may doubt whether or not your outfit makes you look fat, but never doubt for a second that you are loved by the Creator who created you unique and unbelievably special.  There has never been; nor will there ever be another you.  He created you out of love to accomplish His purposes.  He will always love.  He will always forgive and He will always answer when you reach out to Him.  So live your life with peace of mind and a smile on your face knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of God.

Confident Beyond Reason for Our Confidence Lies in Christ

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. (Hebrews 10:35, NIV) The writer to the Hebrews faced a difficult task. His readers had gone through tough, tough times: insult, persecution, imprisonment, confiscation of property. All because they had said yes to Jesus. It doesn't make for a very good evangelistic promise to tell people they will struggle greatly because of their faith! But it had happened to these many Jewish believers. The author needed to do all he could to encourage them. To begin, he spent many paragraphs confirming the excellence of their decision. The old sacrifices were insufficient, he wrote. They were incomplete and temporary. When Jesus came, he provided by his death a "once for all" solution to sin. Choosing Jesus put them in the one place where their sins were covered. But he was wise to recognize that, challenged by persecution, they would be exposed to doubt. Maybe it would be better to go back on all this, some had to be thinking. So he told them to cling to three things: - The truth of Jesus' great sacrifice - The confidence they had in Christ, rather than in their own efforts - The fellowship of one another, for they could encourage each other to go on Faith in Christ will not always be easy. But in him, it can always be firm. And firmly held, it will be rewarded. - Jeff Hopper - Links Daily Devotion - November 2nd, 2012

Why Doesn't God Show Me a Billboard

Despite our attempts to coerce the creator of the universe to give us what we want when we want it (now don't get like that, you know you've tried to convince God that your problems need more immediate answers than the next guy), patience is something we all could use. Patience and perspective.

Waiting patiently for God to answer your prayer is a choice.

You must choose to believe that God has it all under control and is faithful to hear and answer prayer.

You must choose to trust that He will answer your prayer with the best possible answer for your best possible good and ultimately to bring glory to Him.

You must choose to believe that God's timing is perfect. Not your timing, not my timing, not the bill collector's or the doctor's timing - God's timing is always perfect.

Waiting on God and trusting He will answer your prayers glorifies Him and shows that we have faith that He is who we know him to be - our Savior, our Provider, our Shelter, our Master, our Lord; the author and perfecter of our faith. The ONE that we put all of our hopes and dreams and trust into. The ONE that will never leave us nor foresake us. The ONE who paid the ultimate price so that we may live a life filled with joy and expectancy.

So, when you feel like you are at the end of your rope and you can't do any more, realize that God is right below you with His hands wide open just waiting for you to let go and let Him take care of you.

God bless!

Jesus Weeps for You

“Jesus wept.” John 11:35

This is the shortest verse in the bible, but one that struck me today. Jesus, while fully God, came to earth as fully man. This verse relates to the news of the death of Lazarus, but I think it reminds me of how often Jesus must cry for me. How many times I’ve let Him down; made the wrong decision, chosen sin over righteousness. I think every time I sin, Jesus is reminded of the nails piercing his wrists, the spear in his side and the burden of the sins of all mankind crushing him in the garden.

He cries for the grief over my choices. Over the fact that because of my waywardness, I may miss out on a blessing he had planned for me. I also think he cries in desperate love, saddened by my choice to be separated from him.

However, by witnessing the sorrow of the Son of God, I am reminded that he died for me and I no longer want to sin. Though I know I will disappoint God every day until I am with Him, perfected in heaven, I don’t want to disappoint God in any way. What am I to do? So I shed a tear as well, not just out of sorrow for the sin I commit, but also out of pure, humble gratitude for the grace and forgiveness found in the loving arms of my Savior.

Thank you Lord for loving me despite my faults and for continuously molding me into the man you want me to be.

Two Choices

I came across this story this morning and while I am sure it has been around for a while, it is no less relevant today as it was when it first came out:

Two Choices

What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its

Dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?' The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team. 'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:

We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.

We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the 'natural order of things.' So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

Living in a Manner Worthy of the Gospel

Many of you know that I spent a few months reading straight through the New Testament. Now, I have read the Bible many times, but never in a methodical manner, taking notes, truly studying. Well just like those songs that get stuck in your head – you know like “Somebody yell 911, shorty fire burning on the dance floor…” there was a verse that I just kept coming back to. It was if God was saying, “Dude, this is important, don’t skim over it”

That verse is Philippians 1:27: “Whatever happens, as citizens of heaven, live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith of the gospel.” One translation starts “Just one thing…”

Now let me first give you some context. It is so important when you are reading and studying the Bible to make sure you know the context of the passage. It will help tremendously when dealing with passages that talk about ancient customs or traditions. Paul is writing to the church in Philippi (current Macedonia which is adjacent to Greece) while he was imprisoned in Rome.

Why is that important? Philippi was a very highly regarded city which modeled itself after Rome. In fact, the city was founded by the father of Alexander the Great. They thought they were the stuff. It was the place to live back in the day – sort of like Ballantyne or Myers Park. Everyone looked to them as model of how to live and aspired to be like them. What they did and how they conducted themselves set the tone for the whole region.

Since Paul is in jail and doesn’t know if he will be able to come there to teach them, he gives them a singular instruction to guide their entire lives – “live in a manner worthy of the gospel”. So if Paul, arguably the greatest teacher of Christ’s life and ministry, says it all boils down to 1 thing, I want to know what that one thing is and how to do it. We spend our lives trying to find meaning and purpose when all we have to do is “live in a manner worthy of the gospel”.

OK, so what in the world does that mean? Is this going to be another one of those messages that sound good, but is impossible to live out as a teen in today’s world? I mean, doesn’t the bible spend a ton of time telling us we are not worthy and that is why Jesus came. How can we do it? Is it possible?

Let’s start with the basic definitions. I love finding the true definition and origins of words. It is amazing what you can learn from the derivation of a word:
• Definition of the word Gospel? It literally means “good news”
• So what is the good news of Christ? The word Christ means “anointed one” and in the Jewish translation, “Messiah or Savior”. God sent his son to be a substitute for us, so even though the penalty for our sinful life is death, Jesus took all of the sin on himself and away from us so if we believe in Him we could be adopted as citizens of heaven.

I also think it is important that we note that it says LIVE. Our walk with the Lord is filled with ups and downs, twists and turns. Sometimes we have a clear direction of what our life looks like and sometimes we throw up our hands and say “I have no idea”. The question is whether or not we go to school, play sports, hang out and live our lives without fear or do we isolate ourselves from all potential evil. I believe God intends us to be in the world as an example of his grace and to do his will. Remember Jesus said that he came to seek the lost and we are commissioned to make disciples of all people. We can’t do that by only talking to other Christians.
So if we follow the definitions, because we are citizens of heaven through the acceptance of God’s free gift of grace and by faith in his son Jesus, we should live in a manner worthy of the good news of the Savior and our salvation. We should live to honor the blood shed on Calvary and not to waste it.

What are the practical ways we can do that every day? Just like a recipe, we want the steps. Paul spells it out for us in Ephesians 4:1-3 when he says to live with
Humility
Gentleness
Patience
Bear each other’s burdens
And being united for the cause of Christ (the great commission)

Guys, these principles aren’t new to you or me. I would hope that as you go through your day you try to treat others with respect and kindness. Help each other, not out of what it will get you, but because it is the right thing to do. But I hope you now realize the reason

Let’s apply to this to everyday. As athletes, you are a role model whether you like it or not. God has given you a gift that most don’t have. Less than 50% of HS students play sports and less than 5% go on to play in college. If you play a sport in HS, you are a role model and other kids look up to you. Does your attitude toward your coach, teammates and opposing team reflect Christ and the values we just mentioned? As a coach, I am all for aggression and tenacity and those who have seen me coach know that to be true, but we must also never hesitate to be encouraging, and humble. I often told my teams that we have to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat knowing that we gave our best for God and for the team.

What would happen if we didn’t follow these prescribed characteristics? Would the world end? No. Would your life be easier if you didn’t have to be nice to everyone? Yes. But if we are citizens of heaven and the only reason I have a passport to get in is because Jesus came and died on the cross for my salvation, then man, I tell you what, I don’t want to disappoint Him. I want to thank him for his love and forgiveness.

His command to us is to spread the word about Him. What will leave a more lasting impression on our non-Christian friends? The strength of our arguments against sin and the temptations of this world? How many scriptures we can quote? Or, will it be our gentleness, our respect and our interest in their well being?

Because God, the creator of the universe, loved us so much to send his son to live as we do, to be faced with the same stresses and temptations, and to pay the penalty for all of the bad choices and poor decisions we made and will make, we should live our everyday lives in such a way that we honor Him by being humble and giving Him glory, and by putting others’ needs ahead of our own. Honoring him with the way we live is our way of showing our thanks and love back to him.

The Little Things

I spent the entire weekend at a swim meet in Winston Salem, NC. Those of you who know me well, know that this is a fairly regular occurence. Both of my kids swim competitively and we get to go all over the place to watch them. One of the best parts of the meets (other than the cramped, hot pool deck and crowded metal bleachers) is the fellowship we have with other swim parents. We share each others concerns, help keep track of gear and share everything from goggles to meals together.

It reminded me of what the Church was designed to be. Not a building with beautiful stained glass and choirs, but a gathering of link minded people with a common goal (intimacy with Christ). The first century church was all about getting together and sharing, helping and just enjoying the fellowship of other believers. They shared tips on how to spread the Word. How awesome would it be if we really returned to that.

What would happen if we were as passionate about following Christ as we are about sports, dance, or other activities?