Freedom From Worry
Should we be totally worry-free? I wouldn’t be a responsible person if I just didn’t care! If I don’t, who will? I know the Bible says not to worry, but I can’t help it! It’s not an option. Worry is disobedience. It is a lack of trust in God. How can we be freed from worry? Only by obeying the Word of God!
1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, 7 casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. (AMP)
This wasn’t just a mantra or good thought given by Peter. This was something he actually lived.
Acts 12:1-18 Now about that time Herod (Agrippa I) the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John (the sons of Zebedee) with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put Peter in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers (16) to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover. 5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.
The true test of your faith is how you act during the trial or testing; not after! You can have peace and rest the whole time.
Hebrews 3:18-19 And to whom did God swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 4:1-3a Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. (fear = hesitate to do something. We must be more afraid of missing out on the “rest” than fearing the circumstances we face.)
2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the Word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, 4:11-12 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Notice the word “enter” is used over and over in these verses. What did Peter have to do in order to be delivered from his imprisonment? Rest and obey!
Acts 12: Cont. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord;
and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. 13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” 16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James (the writer of the Book of James and brother of Jesus) and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place. 18 Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter.
Let go of the chains that bind you worry. Enter that place of rest and peace through obedience of His Word.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.