Don’t Be Anxious…Really?
““Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34 ESV)
Five weeks ago my cardiologist told me it was now time to start preparing for and scheduling open heart surgery.
This rattled me, but I gathered myself and started the mental and spiritual preparation to get through it.
That was on a Friday…the following Tuesday my valley burned.
I’m one of those folks that has a delayed reaction to trauma…and my delay seems to have ended.
My mood has become darker and more depressed…and while there is plenty to be depressed about, I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what was eating me.
Watching the way many were obliterated by the fires produced a dread about something that hasn’t happened yet but that we all know will happen… The Great Cascadia Earthquake.
I began pouring over hazard maps and projections about how it would affect us here…and my dread grew even deeper.
It was during this self torture that I figured out what my real problem was.
The fire had destroyed my illusion that this stuff only happens to other people in other places.
The worst can happen and it can happen to me…to us.
The fire can come, the earthquake will, the pandemic remains, our country could collapse.
On the deepest level…it means I’m going to die.
It may not be on an operating table or an inferno or an earthquake or insurrection, but I will eventually die.
I believe that Christ has conquered death, but it still carries fear…it remains the final enemy.
The worst can happen and it will happen to each of us.
This is a matter we must each settle individually before God.
Until we face that reality we will continually be anxious and continually pretending that heaven and earth are already the same place…and continually dismayed when we find they are not.
The more we press into that reality the less patient we will be with trivialities and fools fanning the air with empty words.
The more we press in, the more important Christ will become and in spirit and truth we can speak of the kingdom to come.
It is only when we stare all these deaths in the face that will we learn how to live.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble, but the grace to get through is sufficient as well.
Trouble and grace are given on a daily basis only…so take no thought of tomorrow…receive the grace for today …and put the earthquake map away.
AND we can/should affirm each other, also?
I confess that i find the gov’t earthquake site fascinating…. There really is a whole lotta shakin goin on. 😏
I want to pass peacefully in my sleep… but then i don’t want my daughter to come home to a cadaver in her liviing room…. but then i don’t want to drop dead in the paddock hauling hay to her horses….
One of my lifelong regrets is the evening i visited my grandfather in the nursing home. He begged me to stay, but I’d come with my uncle and he needed to get home, so i told grandpa i couldn’t stay…. Grandpa passed away that night….
absent from the body and in the presence of our Lord – our incredible Redeemer…
hard to conceptualize, but true
Thank you, Michael, for this….two days ago I just learned I have to have scary and life-changing surgery before the end of the year, and am currently fighting through the terror and needed to hear this message very much.
sarahmorgan,
Thank you…you’ll be in our prayers.
The terrors are real, but so is our Lord…praying for peace as you move through this…
Em,
We should be constantly affirming each other in doing well and thinking better…
Thanks Michael! I still check daily the Covid 19 number here in GA and my mood swings up and down, depending on if yesterday’s numbers are lower or higher than the previous days. Lots of mental and emotional energy wasted.
I grew up with the Cold War still looming over my head. That was the only threat, and it seemed far off and impersonal. Today pretty much all of us are under some kind of immediate and personal threat. I have been recently thinking about how my life as a child in the 70s is more distant that I thought, and that the safe world I enjoyed for so long is now unstable.
As a related aside, this morning talking with a friend about forgiveness. Someone can say, or we can read “do not be anxious” or “forgive those who…”. It’s a struggle. I think we sometimes expect a magic wand to suddenly appear when we read “do not be anxious” and suddenly be at peace. Really? I cant’ speak for anyone else here (and I hope no one speaks for me here), but its a struggle often and shaming another believer into thinking they are a failure because they don’t feel at peace right away is terrible.
More precise, Michael.. Amen
Praying here, too, sarah
Em and Michael…affirmation and support is sorely needed and essential in this world. No need for shaming and condemnation.
“Thanks Michael! I still check daily the Covid 19 number here in GA and my mood swings up and down, depending on if yesterday’s numbers are lower or higher than the previous days.”
I get a message every day from the state…we’re really hurting down here.
It’s hard to find peace in that one…
Well said, too bad I am unable to put aside the worry for more than a couple of hours…I wish that all of us could manage to worry later…but we are striving towards Heaven, not there yet. Bless you Michael, you are a blessing to many many of us.
The recent passing of Eddie Van Halen caused me to pause and consider life’s frailty as he was my age and my band gigged with them before they signed with Warner Brothers. They got the “A” contract and we became industry poison. I hope he got saved before he died. I’ve heard that he was sober towards the end of his life. Prayers for all as we’re nearing glory.
I have for some time thought that Scripture seems to indicate that the Church is called out mid-trib … before the wrath of God pours out on this earth
But as the world runs its final course, there is certainly good reason to be a “rapture sissy.” Beheadings across the sea, demonizing of Christianity here at home among so-called intellectuals and other downers….
As Michael observed up there at 11:36, the Church SHOULD be affirming doing well and thinking better
I just don’t worry much about these things. I worry more about things that are happening to family members. I have never lost a wink of sleep over the Virus, the elections, or social unrest but I have tossed and turned many nights over some problems my children are facing. We are all different, I guess.
When I say I don’t worry, I don’t mean I don’t care, it’s just that I am not panicky.
Two of my family members are nurses and Trey works with public. We worry about the virus constantly.
Yes, that’s understandable.
Amen Michael. I’ve had some near death experiences, both real and perceived. Your perspective is spot on.
Is this fear or common sense?
“I actually haven’t been to the White House since August the 6th because my impression was their approach to how to handle this was different than mine and what I insisted that we do in the Senate, which is to wear a mask and practice social distancing,” the Kentucky Republican said.” – Senator Mitch McConnell
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mcconnell-avoids-visiting-white-house-over-its-handling-of-coronavirus/ar-BB19PP0f
As you know, praying for your heart condition….
Yes, praying with Dr. Duane, Michael
I’m guessing we all are – every day
Yeah,
I don’t want to face it yet…
It is beginning to feel like the dress rehearsal may have come and gone…
Thanks Michael – I just hope your surgery postpones the whole thing a while longer so we can keep pushing against the darkness before night comes.
Having an anxiety disorder throughout this pandemic/social/political unrest has been darn near unbearable. I must resort to medication just to make it through the day without a breakdown. The meds actually help. I’m so grateful for them because they bring a semblance of relief. Each day is an adventure in mood control and self-care. God does grant me much grace. I’m thankful I’m able to function relatively normally. Will continue to pray for your cardiac issues, my brother.
Thank you, Mike…we keep you in prayer as well…
Michael,
I realize I’m a few days late with this comment, but I wanted to say that I will continue lifting you up before our Lord regarding your upcoming surgery. I’ve been there, and I learned a whole new level of reliance on Him and His providence…..
May I ask what it was they need to do for you?
Owen,
I’ll having a valve replacement and two aneurisms repaired.
Similar for me, Michael – although I only had one aneurism (aortic arch), and I now have a mechanical aortic valve. For me it was due to a birth defect – bicuspid valve.
May His hand be upon you, and keep you safe, Michael.
Owen,
Thank you…same valve defect here.
Are they giving you a mechanical or tissue valve? They went mechanical with me because I was only 43 at the time. I really wish I could have had the tissue valve, I’ve had issues over the past few years with mechanical.
Owen,
Due to the fires and Covid we haven’t got that far.
I was hoping against hope that they would do a TAVR procedure, but no such luck.
I will keep in mind what you just told me when it’s time for that call…we’ll probably be in touch frequently…
Allrighty Michael, I’ll watch for you on messenger.
The general consensus among the specialists here (BC) was that, since the mechanical lasts longer and the tissue only about 10-15 years, that’s why they went with the mechanical. I *could * have chosen tissue, but I was strongly advised not to.
Btw, what were the measurements on your aneurysms (how critical)?
Michael and sarahmorgan….keeping you both in my prayers.
And yes, these reminders of our body’s shelf life are hard to take.
4.5.
They’re more worried about the shortness of breath…my stress test was a disaster.
Owen and Michael same heart problems? Isn’t God good at what He does?
Spent enough time in B.C. to opine that there are a lot of good folk north of our border….
God keep you both, but praying, like others here that we get to keep Michael and the Phoenix Preacher 🙏
Ah, yeah I get it….
Mine was 5.5 when they found it, and they only found it because I was getting over pneumonia and had a chest xray…
I can relate to the SOB – mine has become progressively worse also. I am glad to hear they’re not too worried yet about rupture with yours.
Em, you might want to clarify your comment “isn’t God good at what He does?”….. not quite sure where you’re going with that one… 😉
Owen, kind of duplistic – sorry…
What i meant was that God provided Michael with a brother who’s been there, can walk alongside with genuine empathy and encouragement….
God keep you, also, Owen – praying that your good heart survives this also
Thanks, Em… and I’m looking forward to whatever help I can be .
I must say I agree with Em on this one…seems the gracious Hand of Providence is involved, or as the kids like to say, “it’s a God thing!” 😉