Troubles: Carried Away with Earthly Concerns

It is not until we get our hearts off of the things of this world and on to Jesus that we are not consistently carried away by the concerns and the woes of this present darkness. Our thoughts are often filled with vanity and earthly distractions – where troubles abound - getting us nowhere fast. The world offers us mere mists while God offers us true substance – a sure footing to stand upon. Paul writes in Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV): “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” It is the “peace of God which transcends all understanding” that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We are to set our hearts and minds on things above not on earthly things.

Jesus tells us not to worry about our life. God knows what we need, when we need it and how much we need. He knows both the intensity of the heat as well as ease of prosperity and earthly blessings and how they both effect the life. His great desire and motive behind every circumstance He allows is our transformation into the image of His Son. His desire is that we walk as Jesus walked – pointing others to Him - and He uses everything allowed in the life of His heirs of mercy towards this great end. He is faithful and we can place our trust in Him. We are not to worry as worrying depicts little faith. God can be trusted with our lives. We should labor to get our thoughts above the ways of the world and into the presence of God – though our bodies are on earth, our spirits should be heaven focused.  

Andrew Murray once wrote: “In time of trouble say: First: He brought me here; it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that I will rest. Next: He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child. Then: He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. Last: In His good time He can bring me out again—how and when He knows. Say: I am here - By God’s appointment. In His keeping. Under His training. For His time. Such a perspective does not alleviate our circumstances but enables us to keep an even keel and not lose heart.”