Fear, Worry, and Happiness

Take a few minutes before we go any further to write down a list of things that you worry about. Go ahead, do it right now.

No really write down things you worry about.

Several years ago a goofy little song came out called "Don't worry, Be happy" I thought it was a dumb song but now I look back on the song and realize it is a good motto for the Christian. It's a motto we all too often forget.

For a few months now, I have worried about not getting to preach in a while. Last Sunday I was invited to speak tonight. Well I immediately began to worry about if I could work out my schedule, if I could get time to study, if I could prepare adequately, and a myriad of other things. I talked it over with Dana and prayed about it but still worried. Monday morning as I prayed about it Paul's words to another young preacher Timothy came to mind, "Preach the word. Be instant in season and out of season." I knew then that I needed to preach anytime I could so I quit worrying about whether to or not. But I began to fret about what I'd preach on. I looked through some of the ideas I had written down and narrowed it down to about 10 and then carefully looked them all over and narrowed the field further. I decided upon one topic and studied and studied an idea that was put on my heart. All week I studied Judges 13-16 and planned to speak on Samson and the price of sin. As I studied I worried about whether it was the right topic or not. I worried over getting too deep into word studies and not keeping it relevant and all the things a good speaker should worry about. Wednesday rolled around I shared some thoughts with the youth from my studies and got a little practice in. Later that night I searched high and low for my notes to no avail. Thursday I left home early to go by the church and get them but they weren't there. I called my wife to check one more place. They were in my bible all along. If I had been in God's word I wouldn't have needed to worry. So now I want to stand up here and preach as much to myself as to you about fear, worry, and happiness.

Fear

Have no fear. "No fear" was a popular saying. I think my little brother may still have one of those stickers on his window. Then there was the redneck one "ain't skeered" That should be us we should have no fear and be able to say we ain't skeered.

Isaiah 43:1-3

1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

Whatever your fears, trust Him and He will guide you through it. Notice the word through - He does not promise to carry us over them or deliver us out of the difficult times. What he does promise is two things. He promises: His presence (I will be with thee) and His protection (they shall not over flow thee - they won't burn thee) He is able to because of His power - he is the Lord thy God, the holy One, the Savior. No matter the situation you may face, he came to earth and faced similar circumstances. He is not a God who sits on high but one that is down in the trenches of life with us. He has been there, done that, got the t-shirt and is still here to guide us.

Did you know "fear not" is in the bible in various forms at least 365 times? That should be one reminder a day. We should not fear the past because we can't change it only thing we can do is learn from it. And we should not fear tomorrow because God is already there ahead of us. There is nothing, nothing at all, to be afraid of - nothing to fear and nothing to worry over! Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

Mark 4:40 records, "And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" Do you get that? Jesus says here that faith and fear are opposites. Jesus says fear means no faith so faith means no fear also. When fear comes knocking at the door of your life let faith answer and suddenly no one will be there.

Until next time...