Scripture Anew

For many of us, we have the good fortune to have known Biblical truths for many years; they were taught to us by our parents, reinforced through church, friendships, Bible Studies, and quiet times. We know verses such as “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…” and “Do not worry about tomorrow…” by heart and oftentimes, can find ourselves so familiar with these Biblical truths that they can even lose impact in our lives. Recent family circumstances, an unexpected loss of job, brought us to one of those moments that we express gratitude for difficult circumstances out of a deeper place–a place that clings to eternal perspective, and clings to the truths of Scripture. I have been meditating upon yet another familiar verse that seems to take on new significance in this challenging time in our life: “Be anxious for nothing, but in all things, through prayer and petition, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God which transcends understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Paul tells us in the Bible that we are to be anxious not merely for insignificant things, materials things, or even important issues such as job circumstances. He says, “Be anxious for NOTHING”…not financial provision, not children half way around the world, not children wished for, not a family struggling. The reason for this “anti-anxiousness” is because of a spiritual focus: prayer–communing with our Creator who knows all things, provides all things, and purposes all things for His glory and our good. It follows, then, that when we are focused on this, how could anything but peace triumph in our hearts and minds? Difficult times are, as my father says, not bad times. They can be hard, but not bad, for the good we gain through understanding God and His Word, communing with him in a closeness not matched in easy times, is of utmost good. Let us press onward to “be anxious for nothing” and to cherish anew the precious words of Scripture.