Session 6
The Best Weapon For Fighting Anxiety
From 1 Peter: A 20-Day Devotional
What causes anxiety in our lives? Peter says it's pride, a refusal to humble ourselves before God. James references the same Scripture (Proverbs 3:34) in his letter to explain how pride gives the enemy a foothold:
"'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.' Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up" (James 4:6b-10).
Do you think you deserve that promotion because of how awesome you are? That's pride. Do you think something bad is going to happen despite God’s promise to take care of you no matter what? That's pride, too. Thinking our understanding of a situation is clearer than God's, that we have all the information, is prideful. Peter and James encourage us to focus instead on God's truth and faithfulness, then act accordingly.
When we’re anxious, we’re forgetting God's power and position. God’s sovereignty trumps everything. He knows what will happen to you. Your circumstances are not outside His purpose. Romans 8:28 promises that what the enemy means for evil in your life, God will use for good. Depend on Him. Rely on Him. Hang on His every word. He will never leave you or forsake you.
There is no room for anxiety and fear. If we believe in Jesus, our pride and unbelief and all our sin was nailed to the cross with Him. Jesus triumphed over the sin that so easily entangles to set us free. To give us victory. Focus on His finished work. Not on what could happen or what people might think. None of that matters. Humble yourself before the Lord that He may lift you up.
Reflect:
- What are you worried about today?
- What does God's Word say about your situation?