Category Archives: Struggles

Anxiety, Bible, Emotions, Healing, Scripture, Struggles, Trust

ANXIETY

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Anxiety can wreck your life. It’s defined as “a common emotion characterized by feelings of fear, worry, unease, and apprehension.” At Drugs.com you can find a list of 53 anxiety medications to compare. And then there are all the “natural” remedies out there. Anxiety is a very profitable disorder, one which the drug companies aren’t too concerned about healing. This common problem is a true gold mine for drug companies.

It’s too bad for them that the Bible has the cure for this. It’s found in today’s verse. Paul tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything,…” The literal Greek reads, “Nothing be anxious about.” The word for “nothing” means absolutely nothing. My late brother-in-law, Wayne Barber, said this word meant a zero with the lid kicked off. In other words, let nothing bring you anxiety. And this is written as a command in the Present Tense. Continue all the time not being anxious.

APPLICATION

Oh, but Carl, you don’t know my life. I have every reason to be anxious. True, I don’t know your life, but I know the One who does. And He says through Paul to not be anxious about anything. For us to do otherwise is to disobey the Lord. In the previous verse, Paul had just told them, “The Lord is near.” If that is true, and I think we all believe He is, then we can get rid of our anxiety.

In 1 Peter 5:7 we read this, “having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.” Do you believe He cares for you? Then give Him your anxious thoughts. Give Him all those things that keep you up at night and rob you of sleep. Do you need another reminder of His care for you? Read Luke 12:22-32. That’s the passage where Jesus told his disciples not to worry (same word as used in today’s verse for anxious) about what they would eat or what they would wear.

Paul goes on in the verse to tell us to pray about everything. That word means each and every thing, every single part. Nothing is left out. Well, I think that about covers it all, right? If we are praying to the Creator of the universe, why should we worry about a thing? Let’s be honest. We can all get anxious from time to time. But let’s covenant together to give all that to Jesus. He can handle it.

I will lay my anxious thoughts at Your feet today, O Lord.

Standard
Bible, Gifts, Scripture, Struggles, Suffering, Trust

THE GIFT OF SUFFERING

PHILIPPIANS 1:29

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf,”

Have you ever gotten a gift that you really didn’t ask for or want? You know, that pair of socks from your grandma for Christmas, for example. My wife always wanted to make sure our two kids got equal amounts of gifts at Christmas. One year she was one short for my son, so she picked up a flannel shirt for him. Now, my son wouldn’t have been caught dead wearing flannel back then, lol. You could just see it when he opened the gift. He was gracious, but…

Well, today Paul mentions a gift that no one asks for and really do not want – the gift of suffering. He says it pretty clearly, “it has been granted.” We know Paul knew a little bit about suffering. Yet he still calls it a gift. Why? Because he knew the result of suffering was a deeper dependence on Almighty God. Suffering was part of his initial calling as we see in Acts 9:15-16. The Lord was giving instructions to Ananias to tell Paul. “15 But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer in behalf of My name.’”

APPLICATION

In Luke 7:21, the same Greek word for “granted” which we see in today’s verse is translated as “gave” when Luke describes Jesus’ actions to the blind. “At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.’ 

Over in 1 Corinthians 2:12 we see the word translated as “freely given.” “Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.” 

Granted, gave, and freely given all point to one thing – a gift given graciously by Jesus. Will you accept this gift of suffering for Christ’s sake? Embrace it. His suffering is always perfect. It is never too much. It will bring us closer to Him. Do you believe that? He will love you through it all.

Lord, I do not want suffering, but if You allow it I know it is for my good. I will receive it.

Standard
Bible, Conflict, Fighting, Race, Scripture, Struggles

STRUGGLE FOR OTHERS

COLOSSIANS 2:1

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have in your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,”

Have you ever struggled for someone else? It could be a physical struggle, emotional struggle or even a spiritual struggle. In my daily prayer time, I have lists I pray through. There are some people on these lists I really struggle for as I pray. I have been praying for their salvation for years. But I keep on struggling, begging God for them.

Paul was struggling for these believers and for those in Laodicea. You may remember John references the church in Laodicea. It is referred to as the lukewarm church. Perhaps Paul knew of their struggles in their faith. Paul was interceding for these believers. He wanted to see them walk in victory, not defeat.

APPLICATION

The word translated as “struggle” is agón. It appears eight times in the New Testament and has a variety of translations. In Philippians 1:30, it is translated as “conflict.” “experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” Over in 1 Timothy 6:12 it is “fight.” And Hebrews 12:1 it is “race.” All of these involve a struggle.

Think about your family or friends. Are you struggling before God each day on their behalf? Who are you praying for right now? Stop and make a list. Lists are good. They help us remember. Make that list and when your prayer is answered, celebrate.

I have people in my family who need Jesus. I am claiming them for Him. I want them to spend eternity with me in heaven. I bet you have people also. Be active in their journey. You don’t have to shove Jesus down their throat, but you should at least be praying for them. Now go make that list.

Father, You know all those for whom I am praying. Speak into their lives today.

Standard