Anxious for Nothing?

Multiple times lately I’ve been frustrated by the things I see written by pastors and Christian authors on the subject of anxiety. It usually goes something like this: Jesus commanded in Matthew 6:25, “Do not be anxious” and Paul repeats that command in Philippians 4:6. Therefore, when we are anxious we are exhibiting a lack of faith and are sinning by breaking that command. While there is a measure truth there, I think many authors overstate the case. In part, I think that is due to the wide variety of experiences that are referred to by the word “anxiety” both scripturally and in our lives today.

I noticed this week another comment that Paul made in Philippians 2:28 (ESV) regarding Epaphroditus: “I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.” In addition, Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:28, “And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” Should this then be interpreted as Paul confession his sin and repenting of his anxiety? I don’t think so. There is no indication of that being the case.

Even when Jesus spoke to Martha in Luke 10:41-42, He didn’t tell her she needed to repent. He said, “You are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” It was a gentle correction, not condemnation. Likewise, when ministering to people who are anxious for whatever reason, it is not helpful to tell them “You’re sinning and need to repent.” Nor is it helpful to say, “You just need to trust God.” Throwing cliches at the person does not fix anything, and in fact may contribute to greater anxieties about lack of faith.

Anxieties, fears, and concerns exist for a reason. God made us with natural physical, mental, and emotional responses to danger in order protect ourselves. He also gave us logical minds to help us plan for the future and think through how we should respond to potential circumstances. However, in a fallen world, our bodies and minds do not always function as they should, and our responses are often out of proportion to reality. Some of our responses to anxiety can be sinful and do need to be confessed and changed, but many others need simple encouragement and counsel to deal with the sources of anxiety and to learn better coping methods.

This has really hit home with me lately as I’ve coped with the fallout of watching my house be broken into before Christmas. The lingering fears are greater than logic would justify. Though steps for greater home security have been implemented at my house, nothing can totally eliminate the anxiety. In no way do I believe my anxiety is sinful or reflects any lack of faith. I know God is in control and He is with me in every situation, and I trust Him to take care of me. (Incidentally, PTSD is not limited to military personnel and has a wide variety of causes, symptoms, and intensities.)

As I shared with my pastor recently, faith is worked out and grows through testing. None of us have perfect faith yet. In my opinion, anxiety is an opportunity to grow in faith in the midst of painful and divided thoughts and emotions. God can and will use difficult events and circumstances to develop our faith and teach us to depend on Him more fully one day at a time.

“This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life” (Psalm 119:50).

Text and photo © 2019 Dawn Rutan. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

The Uninvited Companion

Often I will download Kindle books when they are available for free, and sometimes I discover a hidden jewel. Such is the case with The Uninvited Companion: God’s Shaping Us in His Love through Life’s Adversities by Scott E. Shaum. (However, it is no longer free.) I haven’t finished reading it yet, but here are a few quotes from the first half:

“God created the human soul to require suffering in order to mature. He has also designed the redemptive process to necessitate suffering” (8).

“If you carefully listen to my story, you will hear assertions that God took me into seasons of deep pain to bring about unfathomable transformation that otherwise (humanly speaking) would never have taken place… Honestly, the journey has really stunk at times. Yet I like the fruit it has produced in me through the required endurance of this journey” (36).

In Romans 5:2-5 and James 1:2-3, Paul and James “can say they rejoice in suffering because they have come to learn a significant spiritual truth: something profound is going on in us as we endure through hardship. What we find is that they are not rejoicing in the pain but in what our glorious God does in us through pain” (45).

“God’s glory, who he is—namely, a God of love—comes into clearer focus as we grow in our communion with him in the midst of life’s hardships. Experiencing God’s love is the fruit of a matured character, which is the fruit of perseverance, which is the fruit of suffering. Thus, Paul rejoices in suffering because he ultimately wants to know the Father’s love for him in increasing ways” (46).

“Faith is a trait that will be tested. Your faith will be tried—you can count on it. The trying of our faith is as certain as the goodness of our God” (53).

“God does not expect us to be competent to handle all of life’s challenges on our own. No, we need a Savior, and we need him again and again. Every breathing moment of my existence, I need to be saved. Every turning toward God is an expression of faith” (55).

“God does not always resolve hurts in our lives, but he always promises his presence for good purposes” (57).

Shaum highlights an important truth. Our natural tendency, even within the church, is to do everything we can to avoid or remove painful circumstances. Whether we espouse a prosperity gospel or not, we tend to associate God’s blessing with ease and comfort. But what if His intent is to mature us and strengthen our faith through testing and trials? Would we rather be comfortable or faithful? Can we pray as Shaum did, “Allow this to continue for as long as you want, to do whatever you want in my life” (38)? I’ve prayed that before, though I’ve also prayed at times, “Lord, I don’t think I can take any more of this.”

Ironically, I’m also reading a fiction book that made a similar connection. In The Pilgrim of Hate by Ellis Peters, Brother Cadfael notes, “He has gone far along a difficult road who has come to the point of seeing that deprivation, pain and disability are of no consequence at all, beside the inward conviction of grace, and the secret peace of the soul. An acceptance which can only be made for a man’s own self, never for any other” (52).

While there are many books that wrestle with the “problem of pain” and question why God allows bad things to happen to good people, there are few that I’ve found like Shaum’s that so clearly illustrate the good purposes God accomplishes in our lives through pain and difficulty. We can fight against the trials of life and try to escape them, or we can embrace them as part of God’s design to draw us to depend on Him and to conform us to the image of His Son.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4 ESV).

© 2019 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

Truth and Error

I’ve been reading the three epistles of John, and it struck me how blunt he is about the false teachers that were creeping into the early church. He repeatedly points to signs of the truth. Here are just a few:

“If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6 ESV).

“Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness” (1 John 2:9).

“No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:23).

“If you know that He is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him” (1 John 2:29).

“By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10).

“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God...” (1 John 4:2-3a).

“Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9).

John obviously thought that false teachers were a significant danger to the church, and he warned the believers to be on their guard. I think we can tend to be guilty of “chronological snobbery” (to use C.S. Lewis’s excellent term) and think that we are immune to that danger. Obviously the early church didn’t have all the Scriptures compiled and Christians didn’t have multiple copies of the Bible sitting on their shelves, so they didn’t have a quick reference for orthodoxy. But on the other hand, they also didn’t have access to billions of books, podcasts, blogs, and Facebook posts that claim to be proclaiming truth but could be based on anything from rumor and innuendo to the so-called prophets of other religions. If anything, we need even more discernment to sift through all the information that bombards us every day.

All around us there are people who claim to have some kind of relationship with God, and they may even claim to know Jesus Christ, but they aren’t pursuing righteousness and living in the light. There are those who say they are Christians, but they do not love others as Scripture commands. Even within the church there are many who are “cultural Christians” but don’t have true faith. Although the image is alarming, I think there will be a long line of people to whom Jesus says, “Depart from Me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23), because “The gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction and those who enter by it are many” (v. 13).

In our culture of tolerance and acceptance, we may unwittingly be allowing heretics to preach their own gospels in our churches and homes. We each need to seek truth in God’s Word and allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate discernment in us. Only when we know well the One who is the Truth can we be free from the deceptions that the enemy throws our way.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-16a).

© 2019 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

Be the Light

Several recent discussions and sermons have reminded me of these Scriptures:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12b).

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden... In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14, 16).

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14-15 ESV).

John the Baptist is introduced in John 1:7-8 by saying, “He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.” In many ways, the same could be said about every Christian. We are to bear witness about the Light of the World. We are to be conduits of His light in this dark world. I wonder how we’re doing these days? In many situations it seems easier to hide the light in order to avoid conflict with unbelievers. Yet there are other topics unrelated to our faith where we embrace conflict just to state our own opinions. It seems a bit incongruous, no?

I believe we could all be more effective bearers of the light, and perhaps the first step is to learn to be “quick to listen and slow to speak” (James 1:19). As nice as social media can be, the biggest problem is that it makes us all quicker to speak and less likely to actually listen. We feel compelled to like, comment, or share posts without considering whether it is wise or helpful to do so. Since it is true that there is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7b), we all need to slow down and ask which time it is.

Another aspect of bearing the light is revealed in Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We are all called to good works that God has prepared for each of us. Some of those works are fairly routine—providing for our family members by earning a living, praying for one another, participating in a local church and supporting its ministries. Some good works may be a bit more radical—moving overseas as a missionary, loving our enemies, simplifying our lifestyle in order to commit more resources to ministry. There are all sorts of Christian good works and each life will be a little different.

The real question is whether an unbeliever would see anything unusual about your life that would point them to the light of Christ. Can they tell that you are not just a good person but a faithful Christian? As the old saying goes, “If being a Christian were a criminal offense, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Or how many of us would dare to say with the Apostle Paul, “Join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (Philippians 3:17)?

Since the New Year is often a time for evaluating our lives and making changes, I would suggest that prayerful consideration should be given to how to let God’s light shine through us in the year ahead.

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7).

© 2019 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

It'll Be Okay

I ran across this quote from John Lennon today:

“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”

Lennon’s views on religion are questionable, but this quote is particularly apropos for Christians. We know this world is broken, and we all suffer in various ways, but one day it will be made right. After Christ returns, those who belong to Him will get to experience the “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwell” (2 Peter 3:13 ESV). But until that day, things are not okay because it’s not the end.

Today’s reading in Daily Light on the Daily Path goes along well with that thought:

“Ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the Lord your God giveth you. This is not your rest. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. Within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. With Christ; which is far better.

“God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. There the wicked cease from troubling: and there the weary be at rest.

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Deut. 12:9,   Mic. 2:10, Heb. 4:9, Heb. 6:19-20, John 14:2-3, Phil. 1:23, Rev. 21:4, Job 3:17, Matt. 6:20-21, Col. 3:2)” -Public domain

As we start a new year, some people may be optimistic about the days ahead, others (like me) may be cynical, and many will be somewhere in between. The older I get, the more I hope that Christ’s return is soon. I’ve never exactly had any “youthful optimism,” and I’m ready for that final day to come. There is nothing about this life that I will miss, because the things I most enjoy here will be even better in eternity.

However, assuming that there is at least another year of life ahead, Peter reminds us that we are to be people of holiness and godliness as we wait (2 Pet. 3:11-12). We should proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and let our lights shine before men (2 Cor. 4:5-6) as we love and serve one another. We can remind one another and share the good news that for all those who follow Jesus as Lord and Savior there is coming a day when everything will be okay.

“We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).

 © 2019 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Recently while reading through Luke 8 I noticed how the headings that editors have added to the text can actually distract us from the continuity of the text. Verses 4-21 have a common thought, yet many Bibles break it up into multiple sections.

Verses 4-15 talk about the seed being sowed. In this and in the parallel passage in Matthew 13, Jesus explains that He is talking about how people respond when they hear the word of the kingdom. Those who truly hear the Word are those who act on it and bear fruit. Verse 16 at first seems to be a new thought, but really is just an example to illustrate what He has just said. Those who are hearing and are bearing fruit are lights shining in the darkness. If we’re hiding the light, we are failing to obey what we’ve been told. Then in verses 19-21 Jesus reiterates that those who hear His word and do it are part of His eternal family.

The question I’ve been asking myself is whether there are things God has told me to do that I am not doing. Am I really listening to what He has to say? I’ve been convicted on that this week in one particular area. I had made a decision based on human logic and didn’t really seek God’s will. It seemed pretty straightforward at the time, but there were unexpected complications that made me reverse the decision. What I heard from various Scriptures was “Are you going to trust Me with this?”

In the Bible there are many references to hearing and listening. The book of Proverbs alone has more than thirty admonitions to listen to God and His wisdom. “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance” (Proverbs 1:5 ESV). We all tend to hear what we want to hear. We listen to people who affirm our preconceived notions, while often ignoring those that challenge us.

We need constant exposure to words of truth. As Jimmy Needham wrote, “You cannot love [God] with all your heart, soul, and mind without a steady diet of Scripture.” I would suggest that should include both reading and listening. We need to see the words on the pages of our Bibles, but we also need to hear it taught and explained in the fellowship of a local church. I am continually surprised by the statistics of how many people who call themselves Christians don’t read the Bible and/or don’t participate in weekly worship. Some of them may one day hear the dreaded words, “Depart from Me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23). Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). If we aren’t hearing and following, can we really say that we know Him?

As we prepare for a new year, perhaps we all need to make a greater effort to hear and heed what God is saying to us. We may discover we’ve been tuning Him out more than we realize.

“This is my beloved Son; listen to Him” (Mark 9:7b).

© 2018 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

Fighting for Peace

Advent and Christmas are often associated with peace, specifically the coming Prince of Peace. Though the angels proclaimed “peace among those with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14b ESV), I think we can all agree that there is a real lack of peace on earth.

I was forcefully reminded that our peace is not in temporal things when my house was broken into for the second time in twelve months. I witnessed it from across the street where I do my running around the church parking lot. In many ways, I think that made it worse this time, because of the overwhelming powerlessness of waiting for the police to arrive and hoping they would get there before the men left (which of course they didn’t). I’ll be looking for that car, and I’ll long have the image in my mind of one guy kicking my front door. At least there was nothing left worth stealing this year.

My peace and comfort have been disturbed. I’m doing what I can to improve the security of my house, but in reality, earthly security is an illusion. We can’t control the actions of people or of much of nature (as attested by the fallen trees in my yard after this week’s ice and wind). We build our lives around the things we can control. Any situation that removes the element of control makes us uncomfortable and disturbs our peace.

Jesus says in Luke 14:33, “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple.” I would suggest that includes our illusions of control. Anything that we believe we have control over is in danger of usurping God’s sovereignty over all things. I believe that is one of the lessons of the book of Job. When his good life disappeared, Job had to deal with the fact that all that he thought was in his domain was really transient, and he wanted to blame someone. In the end, God reminded him Who was really in control. If our treasures are on earth, they will eventually be destroyed (Matthew 6:19-21).

I’ve had many wakeful hours at night with my mind spinning with thoughts of “what if” and “I wish.” One of the Scriptures that often comes to mind is Psalm 121.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

When the world is full of dangers and strife, God doesn’t promise freedom from the effects of evil, but He does promise to keep watch over our eternal security. He won’t allow anything to happen to us that will separate us from Him (Romans 8:35-39). We can choose to dwell on the dangers and discomforts of this world and live in fear, or we can dwell on God’s goodness and faithfulness and rest in Him.

“Do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things… and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:6-9).

I find that to be a daily, sometimes hourly, battle to think upon the things that will calm my mind and enable me live in peace. God knows every detail of this broken world and He is still in control. He is at peace, so that should give us peace if we remember that and truly believe it. He is our Mighty Fortress in a world at war.

“And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us… Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also. The body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever.”

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

© 2018 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.