Author: Pastor Steve Duffy
This week I was reminded of how much of life is really out of our control. Yet, we plan, as we should. In planning, we often just think of the big things; vacations, large family gatherings or events, all that is required for larger purchases, etc. I wonder how aware we are of the “mini” plans we make every day?
It may be seen as an obvious statement that much of life is out of control, but I wonder how often we don't operate out of that truth in our day to day, moment to moment, realities?
Where am I going with this? Some context first. This past week with students we spent our second week on the topic of fear/anxiety. One of the observations I had in the past few weeks from their input included the number of "everyday" scenarios that prompt them towards anxiety. I think it might be helpful to put a few definitions in place first, derived from Matthew 6:25-34, Mark 4:35-41, as well as other passages:
- Fear is… an intense focus on a perceived danger or loss.
- Anxiety is… to be troubled with cares, literally a divided mind. This word is synonymous with worry in Matthew 6:25-34.
And, I put fear and anxiety together in this way: we could say that anxiety is the activity that leads to the state of fear. We worry or are anxious when we dwell on the things that we truly do not have full control of (e.g., others, temporal things in this life, circumstances, plans, provision, etc). Especially as it relates to anything in the future. This results in a state of fear.
Therein is the tie back to the topic of plans. The truth is that we don't have full control of any plan we make. The kind of plans that work their way into everyday life include what you are imagining your morning will look like as you wake up, how that will play out. Now build on this, for every "next" thing you have in mind to do for the day, without realizing you often have an image in your mind of what that will look like, how it will play out. As soon as anything gets in the way of that plan, in subtle ways we can be tempted to head down the path of anxiety. Why is that?
Somewhere in the journey we make these "mini" plans, we move forward with them in mind, then something happens that gets in the way of them or changes them. At that point we are tempted toward a divided mind. How can I fix this, get back to the plan, and control the situation? This may all seem normal, but what if what causes a change in the plan is another person? What if I'm getting ready to head to school or work, and someone steps into the bathroom before me. There goes my "mini" plan for the moment, and now I might be late. The temptation toward the divided mind (i.e., meaning I want to follow Christ and live for Him in the moment, but I also want to get my plan back on track so that I'm not late). The divided mind starts playing out what a change to the plan could look like... "what if I'm late?", "how will others perceive me?", "why did my brother need to step into the bathroom right now?", "I must get this back on track!", “I can’t be late!”. The divided mind causes us to either shrink back or take action, and in doing so the self focus next steps cause us to drift away from keeping our eyes on Christ. God and His control in any given moment shrinks and my perceived control (or lack of) becomes big in my mind. My trust shifts increasingly from the Lord to myself. Fear settles in.
I wanted to share this concept of the "mini" plans since students (and all of us) encounter these everyday scenarios and are tempted to move toward a divided mind. The encouragement is that plans are good, even the "mini" ones, but the charge is to hold onto them loosely. We are to be adaptable with every part of our day, yielding to God's sovereign plan over every detail, moving forward with all forms of planning, but recognizing that any changes that come along the way in a given day are purposed by God, for our good and His glory. That includes someone jumping into the bathroom before us!
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, ... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
- Matthew 6:25a,33-34
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
- James 4:13-15
