Are you anxious for anything?

The command of Jesus — do not be worried about your life — is worthy of turning into a heart question.  Am I anxious for anything?

The question was brought to mind again when I saw this post from Tullian Tchividjian — pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, which has undergone no small amount of turmoil in the past few months.

He recently reminded his flock of a number of steps to take when anxious:

Remind Yourself That God Is In Control: When you convince yourself that your world is out of control, you are on the verge of paralysis. Watch your self-talk. Are you saying to yourself: “God is in control of this circumstance, He is my Father, and He is ruling this for my benefit”?

Accept Confusion: Believing in God’s sovereignty doesn’t mean life will make sense. Believing in God’s sovereignty is needed because life doesn’t make sense. Your rest is not in figuring out your circumstances–your rest is in the God behind the circumstances.

Don’t Allow Emotions To Rule: As much as the emotions you experience will be right, good, and appropriate, don’t let them set the agenda. There is a temptation to do that, but allowing yourself to be pulled away by the emotions of the moment could cause you to regret your decisions later.

Distinguish Needs From Wants: Be very careful what you put in your catalog of “need.” The minute you tell yourself something is a need, you’re saying it is essential for life. Then you are going to determine that you can’t live without it. It’s easy to attach yourself and your sense  of security to the gift rather than to the Giver.

Know Your Job Description: God promises to provide. Your job is to live the way God has called you to live. Instead of giving way to discouragement, look for ways you can contribute to God’s people at the moment.

Run To God, Not Away From Him: God’s promise to us is not first the relief of the suffering–His promise is to give us Himself. He will never turn a deaf ear to the natural cries of a person of faith when life doesn’t make sense. God hears and answers and works and comforts.

And after reading this and being reminded of these truths, as I was preparing Sunday’s sermon, I came across this statement by Theodore Cuyler:

…when we reach heaven, we may discover that the riches and deepest and most profitable experience we had in this world, were those which were gained in the very roads from which we shrank back with dread.  The bitter cups we tried to push away contained the medicines we most needed.  The hardest lessons that we learn are those which teach us the most and best fit us for service here and glory hereafter.

Do not be worried, Jesus says.  Be anxious for nothing, Paul says.  Those are not only both commands, but they are commands that afford no exceptions.  So I repeat the question to my own heart, Am I now anxious for anything?