Doug Van Pelt

Worry

Before I got right with God at age 20, I was somewhat of a bad guy (the term I want to use starts with "bad" and ends with the biblical term for donkey, but it's a little crass). Maybe I was just a faker; but if I was, I fooled myself.

In all honesty, that's probably thinking a little more "highly" of myself than I ought. It's easy to look back and think more highly (or conversely, too low) of oneself. But I do know that I used to be a lot more fearless. I don't know what it is about my faith and my conversion... It probably has nothing to do with that, but I did things that were dangerous and didn't mind it much. But somehow in my conversion experience I have become a sissy. Perhaps I picked up a bad teaching somewhere, but I swear I don't remember one (and I'd probably remember that). All I know is that I tend to worry more about things these days. For instance, my dad is in town and he's been asked to speak at a conference put on by the makers of these Velocity airplane kits, which is really cool. He's asked me to fly up to Dallas with him on Saturday, which is REALLY cool. I find myself dealing with apprehension about that, which is crazy. I used to fly small planes myself, having logged several hours as a solo pilot. Maybe somewhere along the line I took the gentle qualities of Jesus and expanded them to influence the way I think about danger. As a cherished follower of Christ (like all of His followers), I am the beneficiary of some divine and angelic protection. If anything, I should be more brave.

It's been said that a brave man is not someone who has no fear, but someone that faces that fear and overcomes it. It's not being a sissy to feel fear, but I don't want to be a spineless wimp and be ruled by fear.

It is interesting how a common verse about worry is surrounded in context about praise and rejoicing. A man that rejoices in the Lord is going to be a confident man. This man will not fear death or danger. He will not be undone. He is brave. He is a balanced man -- strong, yet humble. He chooses gentleness and gives of himself.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Posted by Doug Van Pelt at May 19, 2006 09:51 AM