A Worried Mind

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. -- Nahum 1:7

Nahum is writing about the impending destruction of the Assyrian empire and the city of Ninevah – the very people to whom the Lord sent our favorite reluctant prophet, Jonah.  The casting down of earthly empires, the desolation of nations, the rise and fall of kings and kingdoms is part of the cycle of history.  We have lived so long in power and prosperity and stability we have a tendency to think that everything will work itself out in our favor.  We are shocked by setbacks, like what happened September 11, 2001, but we are easily distracted by the cares and concerns as well as the pleasures that percolate through our lives.  Now one thing seems urgent, now another, soon memory of that terror slips from our minds displaced by the ding in the car door, the irritating boss at work, fixing the kids’ teeth, wondering if we can afford that a new gigantic flat screen like our neighbor has, or even a good cup of coffee. 

I used to be happy-go-lucky, never troubled or worried then I quit drinking and smoking dope.  I also surrounded myself with people who fret about and see the dark side of everything, also known as in-laws.  It’s contagious.  My wife’s family thought that if you weren’t certain that everybody was out to get you and disaster was lurking around every corner, you were just not paying attention, or you were stupid.  This is especially true of my wife’s older sister of whom it may well be said, she’s not happy ‘til you’re not happy. 

Life is full of scary things.  Bad news abounds and we are going to hear it, and sometimes we’re going to be terrified participants rather than merely concerned spectators.  Pretense and denial do no good.  The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it (Proverbs 22:3).  This is true, but it is equally true that apart from the Lord, all our best-laid plans and preparations can easily come to nothing.  No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD (Proverbs 21:30).

The only safe place is in Christ.  I do not know what is coming to me personally, to this country, or to the world.  I know that at some point, regardless of how well I live and how careful I am, there will be things that will overwhelm me if I try to face them on my own.  The market for anti-anxiety medications, anti-depressants, and sleeping pills is thriving. 

And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken (Luke 21:25-26).

Or as the KJV says, Men’s hearts failing them for fear … 

When the plagues fell upon the rebellious land of Egypt, the Israelites were living in Goshen, which is usually thought to be in the area around the Nile delta.  Throughout Egypt there was pestilence, darkness, storms, and destruction, but the land of Goshen was protected and preserved.  The Israelites lost nothing and suffered none of the disasters that fell upon their Egyptian masters. 

No matter what happens on the outside, in the world, in this country or that one, if we remain in Christ, we need not lose our peace, our abundant life in Him, or our joy.  So much of what vexes us is not all that important, and what is important is best entrusted to God's oversight.  If I am worried, my mind is on the wrong thing.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you (Isaiah 26:3)