Be Anxious For Nothing.

Most of you are familiar with that famous verse written by Paul to the Philippians.  You might read it again in chapter 4:6.  It is very meaningful today just as in the day when Paul wrote those words. Despite their suffering, God would help sustain them.  He didn’t remove their problems but would give them strength to hold fast to the faith.

                                                     Fear, Nervousness, Anxiety. 

If you are lucky enough to avoid these feelings (that turn a few more hairs to gray), then you are able to apply the above Bible verse to your life.  It isn’t easy.  We sense this is a time of great anxiety.  The fear of the dreaded virus as well as the politics that are aligning themselves up to take away many beliefs and ideals that we hold dear.

                                                    Fear?      Yup…….its all around us.

Sadly our fears can manifest themselves on our psyche as well as physical problems.  We only see doom and gloom.  C. S Lewis wrote a wonderful story called the Screwtape Letters.  “Fear, writes the old demon, Screwtape,” is best fostered when men fixate on the future, giving their hearts to it and placing their treasure in it.  Thinking about the future, inflames fear, giving focus to the unknown, so that when they think about it, we make them think of unrealities.”  This is the opposite of what Screwtape’s, enemy, …..aka God, wants men to do. 

Lewis writes……” We (Screwtape and his demons) want to see a race perpetually in pursuit of the rainbow’s end, never honest, nor kind, nor happy now, but always using every real gift which is offered… with unpleasantness.”

This all sounds so familiar, especially in the political realm.  It is for me.  I tend to be a pessimist in the midst of a wonderful life.  However, the whole political scene now makes me more anxious and fearful than ever.  We are seeing our fears play out and yet hoping that somehow, the proper candidate with the right political ideals will be the savior we need. 

For us humans, who care about our country, our freedoms and all the alarming things that are happening around us, cause us to live in a state of anxiety and worry.  It should not be so.  However, at the same time, what is happening in the world, does give us some perspective and goals.  We must make sure that we behave responsibly and respectfully to those around us.  It should give us cause to appreciate and rejoice in the small victories and happy moments that arise in our lives.  We can embrace the difficulties that come across our path and seek to weather them with a peaceful, calm attitude.  

As concerned citizens of America and the world we now inhabit, we should always seek what is best for our country.  As believers, we base our values and morals upon what is written in the Bible.  However, since secular people control our society, we must take an active part in electing good people who support God’s truths.  Although we believe in separation of church and state, at the same time the moral absolutes found in Scripture apply to all people for all time until our Lord returns and we will begin again with a new heaven and new earth.

In the meantime though, it is my hope that we might regain our moral optimism, despite our anxiety and fears. That we will be guided in electing men and women to political office who hold to the values of our Constitution which helped establish our great nation.  

Here is a paraphrase of Thomas Jefferson’s speech, given during his First Inaugural Address, March 4. 1801.  ……”Those  principles which guided us through an age of revolution………  should guide us now and should we wander from them in moments of error or alarm, let us  hasten to retrace our steps and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty and safety.”