Found: Antidote for Anxiety

(Ken Hope)

Is our title too good to be true? Not at all! In fact, I am overjoyed to report that a successful antidote for worry and anxiety has been discovered. If your physician told you what to do to overwhelm and overcome anxiety, would you do it? Certainly you would! Well, the great physician, Jesus Christ has given us a prescription that will result in a worry free existence. How would you like to live a worry free life? How would you like debilitating anxiety to be a thing of the past? How would you like to learn a better way of dealing with your cares instead of being constantly burdened with them?

Since Jesus taught us not to worry (Matt. 6:24-34), we must be very careful not to view His prohibition as an impossibility (1 Jn. 5:3). Difficult yes, but not impossible. From the context of Matthew 6, let’s consider what Jesus said about worry, anxiety, and cares. First, Jesus taught that worry was strictly prohibited (6:25, 31, 34). Second, our Lord taught that worry was cruel (6:26). Third, the Master Teacher declared worry to be altogether futile (6:27). Fourth, He taught that worry constituted faithlessness (6:28-30). Fifth, Christ continued to teach that worry was heathenish (6:31-32a). Sixth, Jesus revealed that worry was absolutely unnecessary (6:32b-33). Seventh, the great physician reminded mankind that worry is simply borrowing trouble from the future (6:34). Then, in a stroke of genius with a very unexpected twist, Jesus revealed the cure for cares and the antidote for anxiety. The convoluted wisdom of man notwithstanding, Jesus taught that the cure for worry is work within His kingdom (6:33)! Yes, God’s remedy for anxiety has always been action (Prov. 14:23; Eccl. 9:10).

The following observations, if added to our Lord’s instruction in Matthew 6, are sure to help us win over worry, conquer our cares, and annihilate anxiety!

Cultivate a deep abiding trust in God. (Prov. 3:5; Jer. 17:7; Acts 27:25)

Let the Lord carry your daily burdens. (Ps. 55:22; 68:19; 1 Pet. 5:7)

Forget the past. (Phil. 3:13-14; Rom. 6:3-4, 21; Heb. 8:12)

Live one day at a time. (Prov. 27:1; Ps. 118:24; Matt. 6:34)

Learn to be content. (Phil. 4:11; 1 Tim. 6:7-8; Heb. 13:5-6)

Get involved in the Lord’s work. (Matt. 6:33; Neh. 2:5; 4:6; 1 Cor. 15:58)

Make certain about your calling and election. (2 Pet. 1:10; Acts 2:40-41)