I host a YouTube broadcast called “Bible Reading Fellowship.” During the broadcast, which airs Monday thru Saturday mornings, 7:00 AM (CT), I read Charles Spurgeon’s Morning Devotion for the day. This morning’s devotion ministered to me. It brought to mind something I try to implement in my own life, with varying degrees of success, when I find myself fighting sinful anxiety.
Spurgeon’s Morning Devotion for September 24
“For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him” (Ezra 8:22).
A convoy on many accounts would have been desirable for the pilgrim band, but a holy shame-facedness would not allow Ezra to seek one. He feared lest the heathen king should think his professions of faith in God to be mere hypocrisy, or imagine that the God of Israel was not able to preserve his own worshippers. He could not bring his mind to lean on an arm of flesh in a matter so evidently of the Lord, and therefore the caravan set out with no visible protection, guarded by him who is the sword and shield of his people. It is to be feared that few believers feel this holy jealousy for God; even those who in a measure walk by faith, occasionally mar the lustre of their life by craving aid from man. It is a most blessed thing to have no props and no buttresses, but to stand upright on the Rock of Ages, upheld by the Lord alone. Would any believers seek state endowments for their Church, if they remembered that the Lord is dishonoured by their asking Caesar’s aid? as if the Lord could not supply the needs of his own cause! Should we run so hastily to friends and relations for assistance, if we remembered that the Lord is magnified by our implicit reliance upon his solitary arm? My soul, wait thou only upon God. “But,” says one, “are not means to be used?” Assuredly they are; but our fault seldom lies in their neglect: far more frequently it springs out of foolishly believing in them instead of believing in God. Few run too far in neglecting the creature’s arm; but very many sin greatly in making too much of it. Learn, dear reader, to glorify the Lord by leaving means untried, if by using them thou wouldst dishonour the name of the Lord.
Don’t Be Too Quick to Run to People
How often I find comfort, solace, encouragement, and reassurance in the words and even the arms of my Christian brethren. God, being the God of means, is kind in this way. I am thankful to the Lord and to my beloved brethren for their patience, care, concern, correction, comfort, and support.
But in times of sinful anxious thought, in times of sinful fear and worry, I can tend to run too quickly to the people of Christ instead of running first and directly into the arms of Christ. Most often, I run to brethren for assurance that everything is okay. At other times, wanting someone to jump in the quicksand with me, I run to brethren with the hope they will assuage my fears–satisfy my anxiety by agreeing I have good reason to worry and be fearful.
Anxiety is sin. It is born out of an idolatry of self and comfort. It is selfishness. Anxiety, certainly in the life of the Christian, is irrational and counterintuitive. And it is born, in part, from a heart unwilling to pursue self-denial, unwilling to fear the Lord and completely trust Him. Again, anxiety is sin.
Spurgeon wrote: “Should we run so hastily to friends and relations for assistance, if we remembered that the Lord is magnified by our implicit reliance upon his solitary arm? My soul, wait thou only upon God . . . Learn, dear reader, to glorify the Lord by leaving means untried, if by using them thou wouldst dishonour the name of the Lord.”
Run to Christ, First
A tool, a weapon in the war against sinful anxiety is, at times, not picking up the phone, not sending a text, not burdening the brethren with your sinful troubles–your anxious, fearful, worrisome thoughts. To be sure, biblical balance MUST be applied. We *should* confess our sins to one another. We *should* seek the prayer, counsel, care, comfort, and correction of our beloved Christian brethren. And we ought not, out of sinful fear of man (“What will they think about me if I confess this for the umpteenth time?”), isolate ourselves and turn to self-reliance.
It is when people become the default position–the first choice–the go to in times of trouble–that we can find ourselves failing to trust in the Lord with all of our hearts and failing to fear Him and acknowledge Him in all our ways. We should not run to Christ when all else fails. We should not run to Christ when people fall short of our irrational expectations to make the anxiety go away–to make us feel better.
No; instead we should run to Christ, turn to Christ, cling to Christ, trust Christ, believe Christ FIRST. And the people of Christ–pastors, brethren, family are there to support us as we work to throw off the sin that so easily entangles us. Yes, God is the God of means. He uses His people to help His people repent and believe. He uses His people to keep His people.
Are you anxious, worried, fearful, downcast? Are you battling besetting sin of any kind? Are you like me and, at times, quick to turn to people first? Try, instead, without isolating yourself, without being aloof from the people God providentially has placed in your life for your spiritual care, to run to Christ more, look to Christ more, and to do so first.
You Will Always Need God’s People
You will always need God’s people in your life. And don’t stop confessing your sin to God’s people. Don’t stop seeking godly counsel–especially from the men tasked with shepherding you, your pastors.
However, by striving to look to Christ first, especially if you tend to run to people first for your help in times of need, you may find yourself needing to run to people less for comfort. It may help you to be other-minded, putting others first, as you burden them less with your troubles. And as God works repentance and sanctification in your life, you may find yourself testifying more about the grace and mercy of God in your life than your woes.
Of course, in the end, the goal is not to run to a better place when anxious, but rather to repent and not be anxious at all.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).
But if you find yourself sinning by being anxious, run to Christ first. The Lord is at hand. Run to Him in prayer, with thanksgiving. Trust Him. Peace is found in Christ and He will guard your heart and mind.
A Beautiful Hymn
In the appendix of “Overcoming Despair,” I provide an explanation of the contents of my spiritual war bag–the tools I try to employ to wage war with sinful anxiety. One of those tools is the singing of hymns. Here is a wonderful hymn, “I Run to Christ,” that beautifully affirms the subject of this article.
I RUN TO CHRIST
Words by Chris Anderson; Music by Greg Habegger
I run to Christ when chased by fear
And find a refuge sure.
“Believe in me,” His voice I hear;
His words and wounds secure.
I run to Christ when torn by grief
And find abundant peace.
“I too had tears,” He gently speaks;
Thus joy and sorrow meet.
I run to Christ when worn by life
And find my soul refreshed.
“Come unto Me,” He calls through strife;
Fatigue gives way to rest.
I run to Christ when vexed by hell
And find a mighty arm.
“The Devil flees,” the Scriptures tell;
He roars, but cannot harm.
I run to Christ when stalked by sin
And find a sure escape.
“Deliver me,” I cry to Him;
Temptation yields to grace.
I run to Christ when plagued by shame
And find my one defense.
“I bore God’s wrath,” He pleads my case—
My Advocate and Friend.