The Antidote to Worry, Fear and Anxiety

In a recent radio interview one of the participants spoke of her insecurity about the future. Would we ever get back to the old normal? She didn’t want this anyway. Would there be a new normal and what would this be like? Thoughts of this filled her with anxiety. To think where we might be five years from now was fearful. Countless people are overwhelmed with worry, fear and anxiety; life during Lockdown has intensified this. For many the future looks bleak.

What about those of us who profess to know and love the Lord Jesus? How are we faring at this time of uncertainty? Our circumstances and experiences may differ, but our text for today speaks the same command to each one of us. When God asks us to do something, He always gives enabling grace to obey Him and receive from Him. Sometimes it’s a command to do something and other times a command not to do something. Ultimately, it’s a matter of who is Lord in our life.

Our text today firstly tells us to ‘Be still’. It’s not, of course, talking about inertia, but about an inner stillness and quietness that keeps us undisturbed by what is going on externally. To be still means to stop striving, battling, struggling and trying to fix things. It means surrender to the One who has ultimate control of everything. He is Lord over all.

Secondly, we are told, ‘Know that I am God’. This is not referring to knowledge about God but to heart knowledge of Him, which is lived out in intimate daily relationship with Him. Stillness is a stepping stone to knowing God’s heart. He is Lord of the nations, Lord of all the earth and yet, to us who know Him through Jesus, He is a loving Father. This knowledge assures us that we are secure with Him and sheltered in His love. Therefore, it’s safe to trust Him whatever comes our way.

The One we delight to know as Father is described as ‘The Lord Almighty’ and He is with us. He is a fortress – a safe place - where we find lasting comfort and peace. In our world at this time, when worry, fear and anxiety are surging emotions, why not find a place to stop and be still and hear Him say, “Know that I am God. You’ve nothing to fear or worry about because I am with you. Turn away from self-reliance and trust in my unfailing love.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father I’m so grateful that You are steadfast and unchanging. In our troubled world today, You are working out Your eternal purposes. Please open the eyes of my heart that I may know You better and, in the power of Your Holy Spirit, live to be a light in the darkness to those who desperately need to know You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.