DAYS…ARE MADE EVIL [BY ANXIOUS THOUGHTS AND FOREBODING]…’ PROVERBS 15:15 AMP Battling the ‘what ifs?’
An old sea captain once asked a naval student how he’d handle a sudden storm. ‘I’d throw out an anchor, sir,’ he replied. ‘But what if another storm approached?’ asked the captain. ‘Then I’d throw out another anchor,’ he said. ‘And what if storms just kept coming?’ the old man asked. ‘I’d keep throwing out anchors,’ said the student. ‘Hold on, son,’ said the captain, ‘where are you getting all those anchors?’ ‘From the same place you keep getting all those storms, sir,’ came the reply! When you’re in the thick of things, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the storm that’s raging inside you and start listening to the ‘what ifs.’ What if the cheque doesn’t come on time…or the stock loses value…or your mate walks out…or the test results are bad. The list is endless. And because satan knows that ‘…fear involves torment…’ (1 John 4:18 NKJ), he’ll keep pouring it on. If he can’t get you puffed up through pride he’ll try to bring you down through fear. It’s his best tool. But you don’t have to take it! Paul says, ‘Leave no… room…for the devil - give no opportunity to him’ (Ephesians 4:27 AMP). Jesus told us not to be ‘ “…fearful…intimidated…and unsettled” ’ (John 14:27 AMP). Remember, ‘All the days of the…afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and foreboding], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].’ Here’s the bottom line: God is ‘…utterly trustworthy…He will…[…fulfil His call by hallowing and keeping you]’ (1 Thessalonians 5:24 AMP). So, no matter how big your problem is today, keep trusting God – and He will bring you through!