HUMILITY OVER ANXIETY

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Today, we are going to spend our time together looking at a passage from the first letter of the Apostle Peter, which was given to the people of his family of faith. Peter knew that his brothers and sisters in Christ were having a rough time as the world around them was pressing in and making it very challenging to live out their faith as they wished. 

So Peter wrote to them and included the teaching that follows:

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

(1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV11)

Anxiety

Let’s start with the hard reality of anxiety. The Greek term used here that we translate as anxiety is that of μέριμνα (merimna).  This is a term used to describe the creeping and invasive thoughts that weigh us down and make us miserable. 

This same term is used to describe the way such anxieties and worries can lead us to miss out on God’s gifts and blessings in life because we are so easily distracted and turned aside from God’s good plans. 

This is the term used to describe the “rocky soil” in Jesus’ parable of the soils, which can be read below:

“The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

(Matthew 13:22 NIV11)

In Jesus’ parable, the seed (the word and will of God) lands on such soil, and soon finds that the worries and anxieties of life are too much to bear, and so the calling God has for that person is left alone in exchange for a little peace. 

Wealth

It is also instructive to hear that the Lord included the “deceitfulness of wealth” in his description of this anxious and distracted soul. Jesus knows that our worries about money and material things are a constant source of distraction, which often prevents us from saying yes to the plans that God has for our lives. 

Cares

Following Peter’s word concerning the need to cast our anxieties and worries upon the Lord, he shares with us the reason why we should do such a thing. Peter reminds the church that God loves us. The Lord cares about our lives, about our ups and downs. We can and should trust the Lord to act in his own ways and in his own timing because he cares about us. 

•  How many times have you held your fears and worries close to your chest, not even sharing them with the Lord?
•  How many times have you assumed that the Lord would not care about that which is keeping you in a state of worry?
•  Give it to the Lord; he loves you and cares for your day-to-day needs. 

Humility 

But as you give God your worries, your anxieties, and fears, keep in mind that we must do so from a place of humility. 

Do you remember the opening lines of the Lord’s prayer? 

•  Our Father in heaven, great is your name.
•  May your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Before we bring God our concerns for our daily bread or the struggles of interpersonal conflict, we must recognize that we are the creation and he is the creator. We need to check our hearts before we come to the Lord and blame him or complain about him in our times of anxiety and fear. 

If we want to overcome the anxieties that lie before us, we must start by remembering and confessing that the Lord God Almighty will accomplish his will in our lives and that all that we seek and desire from him must align with his kingdom and his glory. 

Stop

Let us stop what we are doing right now and confess the glory and goodness of God over our circumstances and over our limited perspective on life. Let us confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord of our lives and the King over all. 

As we humble ourselves before the Lord, then we can be assured that the Lord who loves us so dearly, will minister to our anxious and distracted minds. Thank you Jesus!

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

Copyright © 2024 Ryan Laden – All Rights Reserved.