Carefree

Someone once stated that the vast majority of what causes people anxiety is that which either isn’t true, isn’t going to happen, or you can’t do anything about. It seems reasonable to assume that if we didn’t worry about what we cannot control, we would experience a lot less stress. Stress is a fact of everyday life, but too much stress leads to distress. It isn’t uncommon for stress to cause headaches, elevated blood pressure, and difficulty sleeping. And stress can exacerbate other symptoms and diseases. It isn’t possible to remove all stressors from your life, and some stress is perhaps even necessary. But there is something you can do when your burdens press you down. First Peter 5:7 suggests that we can turn to God and receive heaven’s help in stress-filled moments. If God really cares for you, you can face every day knowing that you have not been left to bear your own burdens. Understanding that God is ultimately in control of the universe means that even when we face dark periods in our lives, we can have the underlying assurance that, ultimately, things are going to work out well because God has a perfect plan for us. The Second Coming is referred to in Scripture as the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13), a constant reminder that one day Jesus will return to earth and make all things new. Today you can know that God not only cares about you but also wants to calm your anxiety and bring peace to your heart. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Notice how the psalmist expressed the thought. God is a “very present” help. If you’ll cast your cares on God —and then leave them with God— you’ll have more peace than you have ever had. He is with you today.

That knowledge doesn’t take away all of our difficulties and stresses, but it does provide us with hope and help while we prepare for eternity.