Are you anxious about something happening in your life?  Our Lord spoke of anxiety several times in Scripture.  Forty million adults in the United States or 18% of the population have anxiety disorders.  I have co-workers who can’t seem to get through the day without pills to calm their nerves.  Some turn to alcohol and illegal drugs to numb their minds. We should be relying instead on heaven made tranquility, not on tranquilizing drugs unless there is a true medical need.

When troubles beset us, and they do, it is very easy to become anxious, fearful and troubled.  But God is there and knows our infirmities, weaknesses and is always ready to help His child go through trials.  He promises to never leave nor forsake His children.

“And the Lord, He it is that doth go before thee;  He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee:  fear not, neither be dismayed.”    Deuteronomy 31:8

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”    Philippians 4:13

A number of us tend to identify with Martha in Scripture.  She busied herself about domestic duties while her sister chose the better part.  I’ve often wondered about Martha, and if she knew, or didn’t understand, the Lord knew her heart.  He told her one thing was needful for her, and her sister Mary had chosen the good part.  Though it is not revealed in Scripture, I wonder if Martha was so concerned about the physical bread she may have been serving her guests, as opposed to Mary choosing the “bread of life.”  Only our Lord can satisfy our hunger and thirst for righteousness and those things which shall not perish.  Though physical bread is needful for the body to sustain itself, spiritual bread satisfies the soul.

“I Am the bread of life, whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and who ever believes in Me shall never thirst.”   John 6:35

“Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.  For on Him God the Father has sent His seal.”   John 6:27

“But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?  bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:  But one thing is needful:  and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”    Luke 10:40-42

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”     Philippians 4:6-7

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.  Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air:  for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are ye not much better than they?  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  And why take ye thought for raiment?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink?  Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:  for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Take therefore no thought for the morrow:  for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.  Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”     Matthew 6:25-34

“Indeed, anxiety is a common poison in our land; it gets into the mind, affects the nerves and frustrates the life.  The best antidote is to pull out a dollar – not to spend it, but to read it – and subscribe to its ever relevant and hopeful slogan:  ‘In God we trust.’  God may or may not remove our burden, but He will give us strength to bear a considerable part of it and allow us to cast the heavier part on Him.”     ~ Leroy Brownlow

“Thou holdest mine eyes waking:  I am so troubled that I cannot speak.”     Psalms 77:4