By Dr. Joe Yelton
Interim Pastor
Friends,
Isn’t it one of the great capacities of Christian faith to undermine the forces of darkness? Typically, to “undermine” strikes us as negative, an assault on good things. That’s not always the case.
When we have an infection, we take antibiotics that undermine the effectiveness of the organisms which make us sick. When I am trying to behave regarding my sweet tooth, I avoid walking by the bakery section at the grocery store, undermining my normal lack of restraint.
Jesus teaches commandingly that we should avoid (undermine) worry. Worry comes so easily and lingers so long for most of us. Jesus declares that His children now have a very real choice regarding our predisposition to worry…“consider the lilies” (Matthew 6:28-30) By submitting to the teachings of Christ, we can circumvent our tendencies to bow to the pressures of worry. It’s not easy, not ever. However, in Jesus, it happens.
Earlier in my life, my quality of living was pocked with episodes of debilitating worry. It’s so easy now to see how wasteful that was. Hours that could have been spent in the calm embrace of God‘s care were instead spent in some frantic pursuit of trying to overcome invisible enemies.
Worry still frays the edges of my daily routines. However, in Christ, there are far more victories than defeats.
There are many battles being waged in your life right now…battles that likely are unnecessary and, not yours to fight. You don’t have to continue the exhaustive search for peace. It’s readily available. The more you empty yourself of you, making room for Jesus, the more worry is undermined.