Anxious Hearts

A nagging anxiety often lurks just below the surface of many of our lives. It's not just due to the economy and the troubling, uncertain times in which we live. We're also anxious about relationships and our daily circumstances. The tragic thing is that we grow accustomed to living in this perpetual state of anxiety and think it's a normal part of life.
But the truth is that our anxiety is sin. At its very root, anxiety is, first of all, a distrust of God and his promise to take care of us. Didn't Jesus say that if God takes care of the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, he will "much more" take care of us? (Matthew 6:25-34)
Secondly, anxiety is a lack of acceptance of God's providence. God's providence is simply his orchestrating all the events, circumstances and events in the universe for his glory and the good of his people( us!). The story of Jospeh in the book of Genesis surely illustrates this point. After many years, Joseph comes face to face with his brothers in Egypt. As he looks at them, he recongizes all the ill will that was behind the evil that they did to him. And yet, he says, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20).
So, how do we deal with the anxiety that is so pervasive in our lives? 1) You confess it for what it is - distrust in God's care and providence. 2)But you also must trace the "fruit" of your anxiety back to the "root" in your heart. You seek to examine what you are loving and serving and worshiping more than God. Much of our anxiety comes from the idols of our hearts (what we think we must have to be happy and fulfilled) being threatened. It's why we become anxious! So, you must confess not just your anxious thoughts, but you also must repent of the idolatry in your heart that prompts the anxious thoughts. 3) Lastly, you must cry out for grace - grace to joyfull submit to God's providential; grace to believe that in all things God is working for your ultimate good.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).