02/20/2019
When you were a child, your mother and father comforted you in times of trouble, they would give you words of encouragement and quote bible verses to you, but now you are older, so who comforts you now? Where do you turn for relief from today’s trouble when you are filled with the worries of the world?
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Psalms 55:22 ESV
Walter Bradford Cannon, an American physiologist at Harvard University, described a physiological reaction that occurs in most animals, and certainly in humans; it is called the fight or flight response. When we are faced by adversity or trouble we must determine whether we will face it... or flee from it. The physical, and psychological, root of determining this is complicated, but the observation is simple... will someone stand firm, or will they run away and hide? We do this through a split second reaction to life threatening danger, or intense fear, but it also occurs in lesser decision making as well.
When I was in high school there was a bully who would hit me hard in the arm with his fist every time he passed by me. Each time He did this I had to make a choice as to whether I would hit him back or not. The decision involved fear because he was much bigger than me, and it involved my faith as I remembered the scripture which advised us to turn the other cheek. For some time I tried the flight response... when I saw him coming I would take a different route to where I was going, but after months of this I had been pushed to my limit. So, one day I was going up the stairs to my next class and there he was, coming down towards me. There was no way to avoid him, so I started preparing myself for what I knew was coming, then something just snapped within me and The fear vanished. When he drew back his fist to hit me I suddenly felt a strong sense of power, and so I hit him as hard as I could... several... well actually many... times. My response had turned from flight to one of fight. Interestingly, that particular choice turned out good for me. All the worry had been for naught, and that bully never hit me again.
“For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”
Isaiah 52:12 ESV
As we read the Bible we see a great deal of tolerance, deliberation, and turning the other cheek; as a matter of fact that is how we are taught to first confront trouble, but eventually fighting may be necessary, and when that happens God steps in to stand beside us, or actually defeat the enemy himself. When trouble faces us we pray, and listen to the Lord as He directs us. He tells us not to fear, and He tells us that He is with us in the face of adversity...
“"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 ESV
Now we have grown older, and our parents are no longer able to comfort us in our troubles, so where do we turn? We turn to the same places that guided the advice given to us in our youth. We pray as our parents instructed us, we turn the other cheek, we listen to God’s Word and we let the Holy Spirit guide us and give us comfort. Life is full of fear and worry, but God tells us to give those things to Him... are you doing that? Are you lifting up your concerns in prayer?
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”
Psalms 34:4-5 ESV
Are you letting Him lead you in long suffering?
“As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”
James 5:10-11 ESV
Are you listening to His council as given through the Holy Spirit?
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:16-18 ESV
This is the advice of Godly parents to their children, and this is the way we should approach or worries as adults today. Even if fighting becomes necessary God goes before us... just look to Him always, and do as He advises us.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Word, your Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as they teach us to deal with worry and strife. Thank you for the strength you give us, and the courage you provide as we face adversity in our daily lives. Help us Holy Father to trust in you as we hear your voice, even when it asks us to stretch our abilities. Our fear is of the enemy, but you have overcome it, if we will only have faith in you today. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who goes before us and makes every road straight! Great is your power and the strength in your mighty right arm. Wise is your council, and perfect your will for us Father! We praise your name in the face of our enemies, and give you glory in the defeat of our fear! Great are you Merciful Father, now, and forevermore.
Rich Forbes