Be AnxIous for Nothing (No-Thing)!

Notice the letter in the middle of the word "anxious" -- it's an I. When I am handling MY affairs, when I am the one in charge, when I rely on myself for the outcome of MY decisions and plans, then I can easily get ANXIOUS about every-thing!

Yesterday, I practiced those words “Be anxious for NO-thing” -- without the I. This follows my blog from Tuesday about handling life's stuff that comes our way with freedom from anxiety. I was taking the next step on my faith journey of hopefully moving the closing process for my new home, but because of the hailstorm damages, couldn't close today as was originally planned. I, along with Larry, my son, and the repair guy were to meet the insurance adjuster at 3:00 pm. We waited and waited....for over an hour, but he never showed up. More delays on this process. I'll admit I said things like "Whatever happened to quality customer service when you call and let people know you are running late or delayed?" But, then I realized, maybe, once again, this isn't an adjuster issue, it's an opportunity issue for me to "Be anxious for nothing (no thing)". Realizing he wasn’t going to show up, I went home to the Wallace's and Denise asked, "How did it go?" My reply was "I am anxious for no thing! And this is just a THING."

Here’s some very good teaching from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians. He gives us one of those “DO NOT” commands (certainly NOT a suggestion) to be anxious for nothing (no thing). By the way, let’s put his words into perspective. He wrote this letter from the dingy, wet, cold confines of a prison cell but rather than be whiny, wimpy, cranky and sulky, he dismissed his reasons for anxiety and was able to find the peace of God. How could he do that when he had all the reasons in the world to be anxious about every-thing? If we would apply Paul’s words to our circumstances, whatever they are, then we would get the results he had. This is what we can expect for ridding ourselves of the anxiety issues that stress us out, make us angry at others, and keep us from joy and peace. Paul said in Philippians 4:6-8 "Do not be anxious about ANY-THING, 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."

Paul lived by example for you and me. He showed us how to trust God in all things….even in a prison cell or having a flat tire, or a missed appointment, or a bounced check, or a negative health report. He said "Do NOT be ANXIOUS about any-THING!" When we have the mindset “It’s nothing but a thing,” we take on a heavenly perspective and eliminate needless anxiety and can settle in to our confidence in God’s words in Romans 8:28 – “ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.” So I’m declaring “These THINGS may be just things, but in God's grand scheme of THINGS, they all have have purposes for blessings ahead!”