en yan hua fang

《Receiving Peace, Letting Go of Worry》 ~ ✨

Why do people worry?  Some become ill from worry; some worry because of illness; others start worrying without any apparent reason.

Tracing the first recorded instance of worry takes us to the first pair of humans created by God in His own image and likeness—Adam and Eve.  After they ate the fruit God had forbidden, they saw their nakedness and were suddenly filled with worry.  They sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.  When God called to them, they hid because they were afraid to face Him (Genesis 3:7-10).  Sin makes people feel shame; shame makes them fearful; fear makes them afraid of losing what they have.  Those who live in constant fear allow worry to take permanent residence in their hearts.

Adam’s eldest son, Cain, killed his brother Abel out of jealousy.  Afterwards, he too was filled with worry.  However, his worry was not about facing God; Cain was afraid that while he was hidden from God’s presence, anyone who found him would kill him (Genesis 4:14).  From his dialogue with God, I believe he feared that if he were hunted everywhere, he would never have peace again.  When God questioned Cain after he killed Abel, he showed no trace of shame.

The root of Adam and Cain’s problems was yielding to selfish desires.  Adam could not resist eating the forbidden fruit, and Cain failed to restrain himself when he should have.  Both were overpowered by sin crouching at their door.  Initially, when Adam sinned, he felt shame.  Later, when his son Cain sinned, Cain felt no shame.  This shows how sin gradually erodes the human heart, making people less sensitive to it.

Those who sin belong to the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning (1 John 3:8).  Though sin is terrible, people love to commit it.  Not only do they sin themselves, but they also take pleasure in seeing others sin (Romans 1:32).  Whether bringing harm upon themselves or others, sin binds people together, trapping them in inescapable cycles of worry.

To deal with worry, we must first deal with sin.  From Adam’s sin, sin entered the world, and all people are born with a sinful nature (Romans 5:12).  As the great Chinese Confucian scholar Xunzi said, “Human nature is evil at birth.”  Therefore, humans cannot overcome sin by themselves.  The Bible tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  Jesus came into the world, willingly offering His life to take away sin (Hebrews 9:26).  This is the gospel—the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).

Because of sin, people are separated from the life God gives (Ephesians 4:18).  But now, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have peace with God (Romans 5:1).  Sin brings worry and suffering, but Christ saves us from sin’s deadly sting.  We are no longer trapped and tormented by our own sin, yet we will still face troubles in this world.  The Lord tells us to take heart, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

So, do troubles cause Christians to worry?  As recipients of salvation, we have received the peace that the Lord gives.  Therefore, we should not let our hearts be troubled or afraid (John 14:27).  The Lord also promises that He has gone to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house and will return for us.  If we love the Lord and trust in Him, we can rejoice even in suffering (John 14:2 & 27-28).

Since we have a trustworthy Lord, why do so many Christians still live in constant worry and fear?  

Perhaps some worry about food, drink, and shelter, fearing they will not have enough.  The Lord tells us not to worry, for our heavenly Father knows all our needs (Matthew 6:31-32).  Others may worry about illness or the fear of falling ill—fearing inconvenience, suffering, or even death.  Yet the Lord has clearly told us not to fear those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Instead, we should fear the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28).  Still others worry about being looked down upon by others.  Has the Lord not said, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12)?

I observe another reason believers worry: those who continue to live in sin without putting off the old self and putting on the new (Galatians 2:17).  They indulge their sinful desires, engaging in all kinds of impurity, including bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and every form of malice, which have not been removed from their hearts (Ephesians 4:18-19, 28 & 31).  These things do not belong to Christ, for “No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him” (1 John 3:6).  If their hearts continue to condemn them, they cannot approach God with confidence (1 John 3:20-21).

On the contrary, believers who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed (Matthew 5:10).  We know that students are not above their teacher, nor servants above their master.  If people have insulted the Master of the house, how can His household escape being insulted (Matthew 10:24-25)?  Therefore, even when faced with trials of many kinds, we should consider it pure joy, knowing that the testing of our faith produces perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that we may be mature and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).

The Bible offers many reminders and encouragements for believers:

1. For those worried about food and drink—there is the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.

2. For those worried about health—there is the promise in Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

3. For those afraid of being looked down upon—James encourages in James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

4. For those still living in sin—the apostle John says: “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God” (1 John 3:9).  We already know that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50).  Those fellow believers still living in sin must repent earnestly and cut ties with sin (Matthew 5:29-30).  God is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

Brothers and sisters, we are to cast all our anxiety on God because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).  The Lord commands us to pray always and not lose heart (Luke 18:1).  Pray in the Holy Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests, staying alert and always praying for all the Lord’s people (Ephesians 6:18).  Even when we do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26).  Let us remember that prayer is a gift, and the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16).

Since believers are born of God, we should set our minds on things above—whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8).  Those who serve Christ in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit will have their prayers remembered by the Lord (Romans 14:17-18).  Moreover, when Christ appears, we will also appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:2-4).  Furthermore, if we put into practice whatever we have learned or received from the Lord, the God of peace will be with us (Philippians 4:9).

May our strength match our days (Deuteronomy 33:25).  The Lord is the eternal Rock.  The path of the righteous is level; He, the upright One, makes the way of the righteous smooth.  Those whose minds are steadfast will be kept in perfect peace because they trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3,4,7).  As for the double-minded, they are unstable in all their ways (James 1:8).  God promises that for those who love Him faithfully, no disaster will come near; He will rescue them from the fowler’s snare and from deadly pestilence (Psalm 91).

Finally, may we always remember that the Lord of peace Himself gives us peace at all times and in every way, so we need not let our hearts be troubled or afraid (John 14:27).  Since the Lord chose us and appointed us to bear fruit—fruit that will last—will He not protect us (John 15:16)?  If we love God wholeheartedly, even if we endure physical suffering, these painful experiences are God’s way of drawing us closer to Him (Psalm 91:14).  Thank God, for His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).

There is so much more to say, but let me conclude with this poem👇🏻

“Letting Go of What Cannot be Let Go” ✨

The baggage of the past, makes one gasp for breath.

The past + the baggage of the present, leaves one breathless.

One must live in the present.

The present is today.

Tomorrow is also today’s present.

Experience turns the foolish wise.

The wise grow wiser still.

The abundance of the wise, turns yesterday’s heaviness into today’s lightness.

✨✨💖 ~