Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. -Hebrews 3:12-14 (ESV)
I was doing my devotionals a while ago from “Trust: a godly woman’s adornment” by Lydia Brownback. I normally read the verse she provides first, see the context of the verse, and then go on with the rest of the devotional.
At first it didn’t click to me when I went through the passage why this is relevant to trusting the Lord. In my head, all the devotionals were becoming redundant and I started to space out. Praise God that He got me back on track and that, only through the help of the Spirit, He showed me what He wanted to teach me this morning.
Anxiety. Alright, college students. Don’t tell me you don’t feel this while you’re in school. Or even students in general. Call it being worried, stressed, depressed, nervous… whatever. It’s anxiety. To some degree, we all fall into it.
Where’s it come from? It is the belief that God isn’t able to care for us properly or that what He provides isn’t enough.
Short & simple: Anxiety = unbelief.
This feeling on the daily is not healthy for our spiritual growth. In fact, it altogether hinders us from seeing the truth of God’s character. Our perception of his goodness, kindness, and love are all distorted. Even our belief that God desires to abundantly provide for us is shaken. Anxiety “casts dispersion on the good character of God”. Truth is, it hardens our hearts.
Brothers & sisters in Christ, I encourage you to do as the author of Hebrews says.
“Exhort one another every day…that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (v. 13)
Many of us are unknowingly falling to the sin of unbelief that God sovereign. It has been a constant conviction in my life. (That’s why I’m reading this devo book. Heh.) No matter at what level stress, depression, nervousness that you’re going through, Be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). This advice is repetitive to the point where our hearts are numb to this fact, but please remember that God is in control of your life and there is no need to fear.
Seriously, there is no need. Even Philippians 4:6 says “don’t be anxious about anything”. ANYTHING. Dang, how wonderful it is to know that no matter what the circumstances are, we shouldn’t worry about it because “with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” we can “let our requests be made known to God”.
Here’s the best part: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.
Exhort those you know who is going through a rough time, even if they brush you off saying, “yeah, yeah, I know.” Hopefully the Holy Spirit will use your encouragement to convict them and get back to fully depending their lives on God.
Most of all, pray with them! We all need that.
