Relax, Don’t Worry!

Relax, Don’t Worry!
by Don Vess

It is overwhelmingly evident that we are living in the days that Paul warned Timothy about in 2 Tim 3:1-7.

This is from the Passion Translation- But you need to be aware. (this is true, we do need to be aware, but not full of anxiety) that in the final days the culture of society will become extremely fierce and difficult for the people of God. 2 People will be self-centered lovers of themselves and obsessed with money. They will boast of great things as they strut around in their arrogant pride and mock all that is right. They will ignore their own families. They will be ungrateful and ungodly. 3 They will become addicted to hateful and malicious slander. Slaves to their desires, they will be ferocious, belligerent haters of what is good and right. 4. With brutal treachery, they will act without restraint, bigoted and wrapped in clouds of their conceit. They will find their delight in the pleasures of this world more than the pleasures of loving God. 5 They may pretend to have a respect for God, but in reality, they want nothing to do with God’s power. Stay away from people like these!

If we lose our focus on Christ and stay centered, we will become overwhelmed and anxious in our spirit. Jesus told us, John 16:33 KVJ- In this world you will have tribulation (thlipsis: Trouble, stress, tribulation), but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.

Isaiah was both a priest and a prophet. He prophesied to the nation of Judah during a time when there was prosperity under the reign of Uzziah and his son Jotham, both righteous kings for the most part, but the nations of Israel and Judah both were becoming more and more ungodly and deeper and deeper into idolatry. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? America is in the same situation. We, as a nation have abandoned God! Not all, but most of the nation no longer follows God, even in the ‘religious’ sense, meaning “being church goers, even hypocritical ones. Isaiah’s message was not appreciated nor accepted, to the degree that he was assassinated by Manasseh, the grandson of Uzziah. Isaiah was chased into a hollow log and that was then sawed in half with Isaiah inside of it.

Isaiah had accepted God’s call to speak to both the nations of Israel and Judah. He forewarned them about turning away from Jehovah. But he also spoke to the righteous remnant who had remained faithful to God. He said, Isa 26:3 Complete Jewish Bible- A person whose desire rest on You, You preserve in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.

You remember the quote I often use from J. Oswald Chambers- “Peace is NOT the absence of trouble, but the Presence of God.”

Ps. 46:10 NASB- “Cease striving (let go, relax) and know that I Am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Who said this? God Himself!

The Passion Translation explains this verse like this, “Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I Am God. I Am the God above the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.

Ex. 14:5-12 NASB- When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharoah and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So, he made his chariot ready and took his people with him; 7 and he took six hundred select chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them! 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out bodly. 9 Then the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and  chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-Zephon. 10 As Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened, so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us this way, bringing us out of Egypt?” “Is this not the word we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, “Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in this wilderness.” 13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. 14 For the Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

Ex. 14:13-14 Complete Jewish Bible- Moshe said to the people, “Stop being so fearful! Remain steady, and you will see how Adonai is going to save you. He will do it today—today you have seen the Egyptians, but you will never see them again! 14 Adonai will do battle for you. Just calm yourselves down!”

And just as God promised, when the Egyptian Army closed in on them the Lord opened up the Red Sea and allowed His people to cross over while He also allowed the enemy to remain hot on their heels until they were safe on the other side. Then he caused the sea to close in on Pharaoh and his army destroying them all.

Our God will do the same for you! Just “calm yourself down!”

Jesus taught us about worry and anxiety in Matthew 6:25-34 NLT- “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life (how you’re going to pay the bills, etc., etc.)—whether you have enough food or drink, or clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barn, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add one single moment to your life? 28 And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the fields and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing. 29 Yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, HE WILL CERTAINLY CARE FOR YOU. Why do you have so little faith? 31 So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows your needs. 33 Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. 34 SO DON’T WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW, FOR TOMORROW WILL BRING ITS OWN WORRIES. TODAY’S TROUBLE IS ENOUGH FOR TODAY.”

Just remember this, “Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday!”

We are living in the ‘information age.” There are so many self-proclaimed prophets on You Tube who are constantly feeding our concerns with “biblical predictions” of certain pending doom. The Bible is clear about what will happen in the end of the age. Jesus spelled it out clearly and Paul elaborated on it as well as Peter and Jude. John wrote a whole book about it. But nowhere in any of their writings did I see the need for believers to be anxious about what is surely to come. But I did see the warning over and over again to BE READY!

Matt 24:44 TPT- So, always be ready, alert, and prepared…
Matt 25:13 TPT…always stay awake and be alert, because you don’t know the day or hour when the bridegroom will appear.

1 Cor 16:13 TPT Remember to STAY alert and hold firmly to all that you believe. Be mighty and full of courage.

Finally, here is the summation of all that has been said. Jesus has appeared to deal with sin. DONE! He died, rose again and ascended to the Father when His work was done. He effectively dealt with sin once and for all by giving his life for us to pay the price for the sins of all men. 
Now, He has clearly stated that He will come again when the Father determines the time (Acts 1:4). We know that we all have an appointed time to die, Heb. 9:27-28 NLT- …each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ died once for all time to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him.

It is a Very bad News, Fantastic News situation!  If we hear the gospel and reject the truth of the gospel, we seal our doom and will face judgment and eternal death and destruction on the day of judgment. But, if we trust Christ and believe in His substitutionary work on the cross and follow Him in faith, we will stand righteous before the judgment seat of Christ, not be judged for our sins, but for our works we have done for Him. That is GREAT NEWS!

The question remains for us all. Are we ready? Are we looking for Him? If so, we have a peace that passes all understanding!

Phil 4:6-8 Passion Translation- Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer with overflowing gratitude. Tell Him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. 8 So keep you thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable, and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.

Amen!