You’re just a shell until you decide to rebel.
~ Arrested Development
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 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. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Oh beloved, it is true. There is the greatest of liars banging around in our skulls. We look away from the reality and reasonableness of our strength in Him. Nothing can hurt us. And yet, this is the one truth that we cannot yet grasp.
We are Loved perfectly by the Perfect Lover of our souls. And this same Perfect Lover is perfecting us. We are beyond condemnation. There will be no punishment for the one who has cast themselves onto Christ. Said simply: we are in very good shape. Forever.
And yet, within us is this voice that screams for attention. It will make appeal after appeal to our senses, that somehow it makes sense for us to be worried and afraid about things. It is the same tactic used by terrorists in civilian life, or a sniper in a military theatre of operation.
You should have a plan.
It is only reasonable to protect your family.
I will be irresponsible if I don’t take action!
Keep your head down.
Don’t make a move.
What if I make a mistake?
god helps those who help themselves!
Stop. No, really. Stop.
There must come a time where our belief becomes action. And the one action required of a believer is to come to a complete rest on the promises of a very good G_d. He has told us to be anxious for nothing. And hundreds of times, He has told us to not be afraid.
This living absent of fear is not bravado, nor is it a misunderstanding of the situations around us. Surely, discretion is the better part of valor. But, instead of us trying to figure out what we should do, a person who has rebelled against anxiety has come to the conclusion that G_d already has things figured out quite nicely. And for us to think that we could come up with another (read better) plan is the utter height of silly stupidity.
No, a person who has rebelled against anxiety is simply willing to be led by His Spirit, because we are convinced of His goodness. We are convinced that G_d is exactly who He says He is; that He is really Big, really Strong, REALLY LOVING, and really cares about our problems more than we do. And until we become convinced, we are living but a shell of the potential Life in Him we have.
So, yeah, this fool of a writer battles against the voices lying and bouncing around inside his head. But, i have learned that G_d does not make mistakes, and that He Loves me exceedingly and abundantly above anything i could ever hope or imagine. So, even if it comes down to a bet, the odds of success (by going along with His plans) are so much better than going down my own path of worrying and planning and reacting.
Tonight is your night beloved. Time to rebel. G_d is in control. Let Him have you. He will not fail.
