How hard is it to worry? Do you ever have a difficult time working up the energy, the oomph to be able to worry? I don't know why, but I have never heard anyone say they have a hard time worrying. It seems it is just naturally within each of us to be able to worry. It's almost a gift. If I didn't know better, I'd say it's an ability God has placed inside each one of us.
However, the gift God truly gives is the gift of peace. I think that sometimes we are just so busy doing that natural thing--the worrying--that we forget to open the gift of peace.
Jesus was teaching his close companions when he shared this freedom-giving truth. He was giving them a glimpse into their future while laying a foundation of who He is in the Father. This whole chapter is an amazing picture of Jesus showing how we are able to live being in the Father and the Father in us. He says, this is what I do and say and it is really the Father doing and saying it. When I go to the Father then it will be the Father doing and saying these things through you! It's actually rather mind-bending to think about. But I get ahead of myself; that truly is a whole 'nother truth for another time. Jesus knew how filled with trouble our world would become--He said that in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33), but He has given us the gift of peace.
Back to our innate ability to worry. Many don't realize that we can stop worry in its tracks. We truly get to choose what our minds dwell on. We can't stop a thought from popping into our head, but we can certainly stop it from staying there. I like to think of turning worry on its head and choosing to walk in faith. That's really the difference. We can either worry or we can have faith. Worry and faith cannot exist in the same space. This is why Jesus talked about peace. He knew we would need to have peace in this worrisome world.
How do we lay hold of this gift of peace? Let's look at the gift aspect. I recently attended a baby shower. We had finger foods, desserts and lots of time just chatting with each other. We had a time of blessing the mom-to-be with prayers. And there was a table where gifts were placed. Now at most baby showers the mom-to-be opens the gifts while the givers are there and everybody oohs and ahhs over the adorable outfits, blankets, sleepers and all the other baby paraphernalia. At this shower however, the mom-to-be wanted the time to be spent relationally instead of the focus to be on gifts so the gifts remained unopened when the shower ended. What if the mom never opened the gifts? She would still have them. They would be either on the table, in a closet, or wherever, but would they be of any use to her or the new baby? Not until they are opened, right? It's the same with any of God's gifts. Until we open them, lay claim to them, use them they are of no use to us. So I ask again, how do we lay hold of this gift of peace? For me, I have a couple of "peace" promises from God's Word that I have memorized and when the worries attack (usually late at night) I pull out one of those peace promises and use it to attack the worries. I pray it. I declare it. I thank God for it.
Here's an example of praying, declaring and thanking God using this verse. "God, Your word says that You give me peace so I am asking You to honor Your word and give me the peace you have promised. In the name of Jesus, I declare I have peace. I will take captive those worrisome thoughts and give them to You. I now have Your peace and I will sleep soundly the rest of the night. Thank You Father for Your peace that is flooding my heart and mind right now. Thank You for Your gift. Thank You that You are always faithful to Your word, making sure it comes to pass." I will just continue in this vein until my mind calms and I rest in His peace.
I encourage you to get your own arsenal of verses that speak to your needs. God loves to honor His word, but until we unpack the gifts they are useless to us. Let's open the gifts! Let's put them to use! Let's live the full, abundant life God intends for us to have!
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