Welcome to the In Touch Podcast with Charles Stanley for Monday, August 26th. Do you wrestle with stress and worry? If so, then today's podcast begins a series of messages that point to the Scriptures to find relief and help for healing damaged emotions. Our emotions are a gift from God and they carry a lot of influence in our life. We exercise our emotions continually in our life and oftentimes we're not very pleased at how we express them. We can express them with joy and happiness and peace and kindness and goodness toward others. Or we can be brutal and we can be unforgiving and caustic and harsh and we can be very hurtful to people. This thing of emotions is a big deal because the truth is we control them or they control us. And God gave us emotions for a number of reasons. And He gave them so that you and I could enjoy life and express our inner being with other people. And so when I think about that and think about the fact that all through the Scriptures we see people expressing those emotions. For example, when it comes to Saul, he was very jealous of David. And you read in the Psalms that David oftentimes would say something about he felt so dejected, that is, he was depressed.
And here's Elijah who's supposed to be so powerful and a man of great faith and courage being afraid. And of course, when you come to the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus in that sixth chapter, three times, He says, don't be anxious, don't be anxious, don't be anxious. And so when we think about all of these emotions, we took a survey to find out what emotion was the most prominent in people's thinking. And by far, anxiety was number one. And we live in an anxious age if you'll think about all the things that are going on around us that cause us to feel so uncertain. And that word is the key word when it comes to anxiety. Uncertain about what's going on in front of me, what's going on in the future.
Uncertain about the impact of the past in our life. Probably today in our society, more people are more anxious about more things than ever before. And naturally, we know how many people have been anxious about not having a job and losing their home, losing their car, can't send their kids to college, or health issues. Think about how many people are very anxious about their health. There are lots and lots of things that cause anxiety in a person's life.
So, I would ask you, and I'll ask you two or three times because sometimes it's hard to be honest. But I want you to think about what is anxiety in the New Testament? And I want you to think about what is anxiety in the New Testament? In your own life, is there something specifically that stands out above everything else that you're anxious about? You see, until you are willing to acknowledge that you're anxious about something, it's just going to get worse.
It's not going to get any better. In fact, the word anxiety in the New Testament means distracted or pulled apart. And the opposite of that is peace, which means to join together, something bound together. So, when we think in terms of anxiety, we're thinking in terms of feeling dread and apprehension and uncertainty about things. Uncertainty may be about something that's going on in your present life or uncertain about things that happened in the past and why they keep bothering you or uncertain about the future.
So, everybody can experience it for one of a number of reasons. And uncertainty is the key word. If I knew exactly what was going to happen, I wouldn't be concerned about it. And concern is one thing. Anxiety is something else. So, when you think about what is the source of anxiety?
Well, first of all, God didn't create it. Our anxiety is not from God. Sometimes it's from something that we don't even realize. You can become anxious about something. You don't even realize what it is. There are times when I have felt that God was speaking to me about something that was very strong.
I didn't know what it was. And so, for a brief period, I would be a little bit anxious. God, what are You trying to tell me?
I don't want to miss it. So, there are some moments of anxiety that are legitimate. And so, all anxiety is not sin. But it should not last. It should not continue.
It should not have a negative effect. And we should be willing to face up and deal with it. When somebody tells me they believe that God is trying to say something to them, then I say to them, that's your number one priority. Whatever else you've got going in life, that's number one.
When God loves you enough and sees something going on in your life, you need to give Him your undivided attention. Otherwise, you live in anxiety thinking, I wonder what God was saying. I wonder if I made a mistake. I think about people who have a difficult time making decisions.
They live in anxiety. Suppose I do this. Suppose that doesn't happen. But if I make a mistake, what are they going to think? What's she going to think?
What's going to happen? People live with that every single day. That is not the way you and I should live.
That's not even in keeping with who we are as followers of Jesus Christ. He said, don't be anxious. And He talked about food, clothing, and shelter and all that. Don't be anxious about all these things. Paul said, don't be anxious. So, when I think about the reasons we should avoid anxiety, let's just think about some of them. And one of them is, for example, it is against Scripture. That is, Jesus said three times in that one passage, do not be anxious, do not be anxious, do not be anxious, and He told why.
So, that's one reason. And if you'll think about, for example, who you are. All of us who are believers, we say that we believe in God, that we believe in Jesus Christ, His Son. We believe the Holy Spirit has sealed us as His children, and that He's living on the inside of us. We believe that God has made some promises to meet our needs. We believe that God is a God who keeps His Word. He's a God of love. He's a God who loves us unconditionally. We have all of these things that we believe. So, if that be true, and that we believe that God is who He says He is, then the truth is, living a life of anxiety does not fit who we are. That's not who we are. We talk about a God of peace.
We call Jesus the Prince of Peace. In other words, if He's who He says He is, and we really and truly believe that, then how can we live in anxiety, fretting and uncertain? And oftentimes that breeds other things about a person's language and the way they dress. Many things are created as a result of it. So, one of the primary reasons we need to deal with it is because it doesn't fit who we are, not biblical. A second reason is this, the negative effect it has on every area of our life.
So, I want you to jot these down because it'll help you maybe to fully understand a little bit better what's going on in your life, but secondly, you can help somebody else. So, let's think about it for a moment, what kind of negative effect it has. And number one, it certainly divides your mind. Whatever divides your mind diverts your attention from important matters. That is, the whole idea of anxiety is a distraction. That's what it is, a distraction, something pulling you in two different ways so you can't concentrate, you can't focus. So, it divides your mind, diverts your attention. A person sitting at their desk in any job who's full of anxiety cannot focus very well.
And they can't do their job as they ought to because it is a mind divider. It fouls up your focus. Secondly, it slows down your productivity. Whatever you're doing, if you're anxious about it, it'll slow you down because you can't give it your full attention and your full energy.
It makes a difference. Thirdly, it affects your personal relationship with other people. Don't you know some folks? When you see them coming, you know what they're going to do. They're going to unload the things in life that they're concerned about and they're anxious about.
And that can happen today and then three months later, they're still telling you the same thing. Because they haven't dealt with those anxieties. And I think a lot of people don't know how, so I'm not being critical when I say that. I'm just saying that many people are anxious about many things that look legitimate to them.
They don't know how to deal with it. And I have been through enough situations and circumstances and trials and heartaches and hurts and brokenness and all the rest in life and disappointments that I know there is a peace that does pass all understanding. And I know that there is a way to deal with anxiety. And I can think of several things and situations that I've been in when everything in me would have said, you know, anxiety is absolutely legitimate. But I've learned enough to know that I don't have to be anxious. A sudden anxiety for a moment, a few moments, a very, very brief time, but you don't have to give in to that. And I promise you, if you will listen carefully, I will give you an answer that is a biblical answer.
That works I know by experience. It works in other people's lives because it's God's way of dealing with anxiety. Turn to Philippians chapter four.
Here's Paul who's in prison. He knows all about what anxiety is about, difficulty, hardships, trials, suffering, persecution, beatings, jail. Listen to what he says beginning in verse four. He says, Rejoice in the Lord always.
And again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
Now watch this. Be anxious for nothing. That is, don't 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Now, let's think about this for a moment. When I see what Paul is saying here, he says don't be anxious about anything, but he didn't leave us with that.
He says, here's the plan. Bring it to God. That is, bring it to God in prayer and tell Him about it. That's the first step. Whatever the anxiety is about, about your children, about your finances, about your health, bring it to God in prayer.
And when we say that, we mean just lay it all out before Him. As long as you will not acknowledge your anxiety, and as long as you're dishonest about it, and as long as you don't have the courage to face it, it's just going to be there and it'll keep taking. Listen, it's like poison. It'll just keep taking its toll in your life till you're willing to say, you know what, I am anxious. I am fearful. I am frustrated. I am worried. I am bothered.
My life is just a mess. Oh, I don't have any real peace and joy and contentment. So, you have to bring it to Him.
You got to be honest about it and tell Him about it and acknowledge it. And if you'll notice what He says, bring it to Him in the Spirit of thanksgiving. He says we're to come to Him in the Spirit of thanksgiving, prayer and supplication, thanksgiving.
Now, why's that got nothing to do with it? Because I'm coming to Him, listen, thankful that He's my God, thankful that He loves me unconditionally, thankful that He understands where I am, thankful that He understands the condition I'm in, thankful that He loves me enough to fix me, whatever that takes, thankful that He understands where I am and why I'm there, and thankful that He's promised to help me. Now, I'm talking about believers. If you're not a Christian, it's not going to work.
We'll get back to that. But you come, listen, not only in prayer, laying it before Him, and not only in that Spirit of thanksgiving, but you come also with a conviction about something. Conviction about what? That God loves you unconditionally. Not just thanking Him for it, but a conviction you have. And a conviction, listen, that He wants to help you. And a conviction that He can.
And a conviction that He's promised to do it. It isn't just a feeling when I say, Well, Lord, I am thankful for this. But something deep down inside says, Listen, this is God. This is the God that I've been following all these years. Here's what He says, and I'm believing that He'll do exactly what He says He'll do. If you think, Well, I know God answers prayer. Watch this now. I know God answers prayer, and I know He answers prayer for others.
I've heard that a thousand times. I know He heals others. I know He helps others. No, no, He wants to help you. A threefold conviction that He has the power to do it.
Now watch this. You're anxious about something. You're willing to acknowledge it. You're willing to come to Him in the right spirit. And you come, you're willing to come to Him with a conviction that He loves you unconditionally, that He wants the best for you, that He said He'll cause all things to work together for your good. You come to Him in the right spirit.
When we come to Him with that spirit, we have the right to expect Almighty God. Now watch this carefully. We have the right and the privilege to expect Almighty God to take my anxiety. Now watch this.
If you miss everything else I've said, remember this. You listen and say, Amen. Anxiety is a faith battle.
That's what it is. It's a faith battle. Either I believe He will take it and take me through or I don't.
You can look at it any other way, subtract, add, divide, multiply, it's a faith battle. And when people, for example, when they find themselves in difficult situations, I either have to surrender it to Him and say, God, I'm going to trust You to work it out. How is He going to work it out? I don't know He's going to work it out. But I'm going to trust Him that He loves me enough that He will work it out somehow in some way. I've got to give it to Him. As long as I grasp my uncertainty and I concentrate on what could happen or what might happen, I still have it.
It still has its effect on me. But when I can say, Lord, this thing's too heavy for me. I can't handle it, God. I'm giving it to You. I'm going to trust You to do in my life what is best for me, period. You can do that.
You can do that. It is a faith battle. You say, well, but you don't know what I'm going through. You don't know what I've been through. So, I know when it gets down to the acid test of survival and being overwhelmed with anxiety, that you can give it to Him.
I can still remember the moments, different moments, but one, when all the anxiety that I could possibly have experienced was just resting on my shoulders and all of a sudden it was gone. It was gone. You say, how do you explain that? He said I couldn't. It surpasses all human understanding. You know what? I don't have to explain it. I don't have to understand it. All I have to do is make a choice to choose to trust Him and give it to Him. If you'll just remember this, it's a faith battle. It's a battle with your faith and your relationship to a God who loves you and loves you absolutely and completely. Otherwise, God's inadequate, insufficient, and the Christian life is a hoax. It's not. That's why He says, my peace I give unto you, not as the world gives give unto you, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Why? Because He can handle whatever your anxiety is. But you've got to give it to Him, let Him have it, surrender it to Him, and commit yourself to just trust Him, whatever happens.
And you know what? When you and I take our hands off of stuff, it is amazing how God handles things. Anxiety is a choice. Not always.
The things that we can't handle because something happens that we have nothing to do with over here. But how long? You keep it. That's the key. It's a faith battle. If you've never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, none of this is going to work. But if you are a believer, whatever you're going through, I promise you, if you will take that fourth chapter of Philippians and those couple of verses there and begin to read them and to ponder them and ask God to begin to work in your heart. This is why He says, a peace that passes all human understanding. And I've seen people when they've been freed from anxiety, it's like the light turns on, smile comes back, that whole attitude changes.
Why? Because they got free of something that had them bound. Anxiety is bondage and God wants to set you free. Never trusted Jesus as your Savior. You need to ask Him to forgive you of your sin, which is part of your anxiety. Trust Him to forgive you of your sin, not based on how good you're going to be. Ask Him to forgive you of your sin based on what He did at the cross. Surrender your life to Him as your personal Savior.
You can do that right now. All you have to do is say, God, I'm asking You to forgive me of my sins. I've rebelled against You. I've sinned against You. I'm asking You to forgive me right now. I'm accepting Your forgiveness because You promised it.
Jesus died for me and I accept You as my personal Savior. The moment You do that, every promise in the Word of God becomes Yours. And that's the beginning of healing in your life. And until you do that, you're going to be anxious. Look at all the uncertainties about you. There's nothing certain in your life apart from God being in your life.
You don't have to live in anxiety unless you choose to. I pray to God that you will deal with this. And remember, it is a faith battle.
That's really what it boils down to. And if you're willing, He'll set you free. Thank you for listening to Victory Over Anxiety. If you'd like to know more about Charles Stanley or InTouch Ministries, stop by InTouch.org. This podcast is a presentation of InTouch Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia.
