The Lord is at Hand

Dear Faith Family,

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, (Philippians 4:6-7). 

“Never in the history of calm down has anyone calmed down by being told to calm down.” (Posted on Facebook so you know it’s true!)  And yet, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us to stop being anxious (to calm down).  I guess Paul didn’t have a Facebook page! 

So, what are you being anxious about today?  Seems that Paul was in on our secret (that we struggle with being anxious).  He told us to stop being something (anxious) seemingly assuming that we are being something (anxious).  Are you anxious about money – like the price of gas (I’ve discovered that if you don’t fill all the way up it doesn’tcost as much!)?  A job?  A relationship?  A project?  A possession?  The end of turkey season? 

Interestingly, Paul doesn’t simply tell us to stop being anxious.  He, in its place, offers us the antidote.  In the absence of anxiety Paul fills us with the peace of God through prayer, including supplication (petitions) and thanksgiving. 

A friend of mine sends out daily verses via text messages.  Recently he sent out these verses from Philippians 4.  But his verses began differently.  In fact, it appeared to havesome additional words.  His post began with The Lord is at hand.  I had to look up the passage of Scripture to discover those very words at the end of verse 5 leading into verses 6 and 7. 

Here’s the point.  The very presence of the Lord is the calm down, the peace, the reason not to be anxious.  It’s not as if the Lord is off in a distant, even unreachable, place.  And our prayers are not the secret weapon to summon Him to where we are!  No.  He is already here. That is why we pray – because He is at hand (close). 

In fact, it is the very presence of God that, alone, arrests our anxiety.  He not only knows our current circumstances (including our anxiety), but He also governs our current circumstances with His sovereign grace!  Prayer is the wheelbarrow that transports our cares to Him and transports His peace into the depth of our hearts and minds by reminding us that He is right here (wherever here is)! 

Practicing His presence,

Pastor Karl