Shepherd Joseph
Furthermore, as God’s children, we must adopt Christ’s mind even in the face of adversity (see 1 Corinthians 2:16), so we cannot be pessimistic. So regardless of our circumstances, we are called to live by faith, not by sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:7) and this faith comes from hearing the Word of God (see Romans 10:17). Many people only claim faith in certain situations, but God is calling us to be different and live by faith in all circumstances.
The good news is that we can overcome worry! We do so by, firstly, being joyful people (see Isaiah 54:1). The response of a child of God in the midst of any situation is praise and worship. This is because some battles are won just by songs of praise; thus, lifting up the name of God has the power to cause our situations to change. Next, we should be people of prayer;
When we pray, we give God the leeway to step into the situation. Many of us, because of worry, have been convinced by the enemy to go and find solutions rather than seeking God first. God answers prayers; He may not answer in a way that pleases us but He still answers! Thus, He is calling us to a place of prayer. It is in these moments of prayer that we see who God is, exposing us to a side of Him that allows us to worship Him.
Finally, we can overcome worry by staying in the right place with the right people. Being in the right place allows us to cultivate the gifts God has given us, thus, He has established places and conditions for us to grow. For example, Hebrews 10:25 tells not to neglect the gathering of the saints (place), and Proverbs 27:17 emphasises that “iron sharpens iron” (condition). If we are not in the right place that God calls us to be in, worry will be our story. In order to be in the right place, we need to consult with God, because where God has called us to be, there we will be fruitful.
There is a call for each of us to enter a place of intimacy and prayer. It’s natural to feel worried because we are humans, but remember that God is greater than what we face. If you truly know Him, you will stand strong and accomplish great things. God doesn’t work alone; He desires to partner with us in the fight. Even when we stumble and sin, He knows and still chooses us because He has made provisions for us through Christ. When we shift our focus from our circumstances to God’s faithfulness, they diminish and He is magnified.
