I was talking with a guy recently who is deathly afraid of flying. I tried to reassure him that flying is perfectly safe, but he just couldn’t put his trust in an airplane.
So I switched gears and gave him some verses about dying, reminding him that God knows the exact day and hour of his death, and that he’s not going to die any later or sooner than the time already appointed for him.
He looks at me and says, “Yeah, but what if it’s the captain’s time?”
There are some people who choose worry over peace, and fear over faith no matter how much assurance you try to give them. A person who won’t let go and trust God will always find something to worry about.
Proverbs 12:25 says that “anxiety in the heart of man weighs him down.”
How many times is this true in our own lives? How many times have we been anxious or worried about something, and held onto that worry even after we discovered that it was unfounded?
I know people who are perfectly healthy individuals, but live in perpetual fear of developing some illness or disease. Nobody wants to be sick or die, but living as though you have a disease when you don’t is no way to enjoy life.
Or consider the married person who is constantly paranoid and suspicious of their spouse, even after demonstrating years of loving commitment and faithfulness. This can steal much of the security and fulfillment out of the the marriage relationship.
They say that the vast majority of things we worry about never even happen. But still, for some reason, we allow them to rob us of our joy and our peace.
It’s not God’s will for you to live in fear.
We need to guard our minds against those thoughts that lead to unnecessary worry. We should practice what Phil 4:8 exhorts us to do, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”
If you catch yourself allowing your mind to wander and begin worrying about things beyond your control, capture those thoughts by an act of your will, reject them, and choose to have faith over your fears. Take those thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and use your mind to think about those things that are true.
And pray. Pray, pray, pray. Read and obey Phil 4:6,7, which says, “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.”
The peace of God will be like a wall of protection guarding your heart and mind from anxious thoughts when you take the time to lay it out before Him. Surrender to Him, trust Him, and learn to rest in Him.
Jesus said in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
There is incredible peace found in Christ, if we are willing to yield to it.
Will you let go and trust Him?
2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”