Corrie ten Boom once said, “Worry is like a rocking chair. It keeps you moving, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”
There’s plenty of opportunity to worry and be fearful these days. Society has ground to a halt in very real ways. And yet, the world around us still seems hectic and chaotic.
The more we’re immersed in uncertainty, the more likely we are to develop “spiritual amnesia.” That’s what author Lee Strobel calls the worry and anxiety we feel over the unknown because we’ve forgotten everything that God has done for us in the past.
Remember when the Hebrews said to Moses – and by extension to God, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?” (Exodus 14:11).
At the time, the Hebrews were standing at the edge of the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his army bearing down upon them. The Hebrews believed they had every excuse to worry … even though God had supernaturally delivered them just a short time before.
The antidote to spiritual amnesia is to remember, to reflect on what God has done in your life and to channel your gratitude into trust in who He is and His love for you.
The prescription for this is found in Philippians 4:6-7, which says, “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.”
In other words, pray. But pray with a living hope, one that’s rooted in the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For, you see, Jesus doesn’t merely point us to answers, He demonstrated through His death and resurrection that He is the answer.
As world-renowned Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias says, “Intellect alone cannot help us navigate minefields of pain and suffering. Other worldviews offer intellectual answers as well. Christianity alone offers a person.”
In this time of isolation and uncertainty, that, friends, is our living hope.
On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Trusting God in Worrisome Times,” we’re airing a message by Lee Strobel recorded at a church service just before large gatherings were shut down. He shares how to overcome fear and anxiety by confronting spiritual amnesia through prayer.
Hear this timely message on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, via Google Podcasts, or on our free phone app.
Lee Strobel is a teaching pastor at Woodlands Church in Woodlands, Texas. His spiritual journey was depicted in the 2017 faith-based movie, The Case for Christ. If you’d like a CD copy of this broadcast, I’d like to offer you one for a gift of any amount. Give us a call at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459). Or visit our website for information.
Also joining us will be Dr. Daniel Hinthorn, Chief of Infectious Diseases at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a member of Focus on the Family’s Physician Resource Council. Dr. Hinthorn joins us to answer questions about the coronavirus pandemic, including why the coronavirus is more dangerous than previous outbreaks, such as H1N1 and Ebola, and why researchers are studying anti-malaria drugs as a possible treatment for COVID-19. He also clarifies the virus’ threat to younger people and gives his projection for how long riak levels will remain high. Dr. Hinthorn is a man of deep faith who is serving on the frontlines of this chaotic and complicated crisis.
In closing, I hope your time of social distancing is creating opportunities for family bonding. Our family enjoys playing board games, and I’ve been building model cars with my son Troy recently. But if you’re experiencing fear or distress, please give our counselors at Focus on the Family a call at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).
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