The late Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, a ministry that became a major force in the work of the Lord in the last 40 years, had many reasons to be stressed. He was head of an organization that was huge, that was always in need of funds, and that had thousands of associates on hundreds of campuses around the world. But, Dr. Bright was consistently a man of cheerful temperament, relaxed, and apparently beyond worry. His son reports on the moment when he came to understand why his Dad was this way, even under pressure. It was an interview with a reporter from a Christian magazine.
“Dr. Bright,” the reporter asked, “share with us a problem from your life that the average Christian could relate to.”
“I don’t have any problems” Bright replied.
The reporter pressed, “Don’t over-spiritualize this. We all have problems.”

“Young man,” Bright replied, “you need to understand that I understand that I am a slave of Jesus. A slave doesn’t have any problems. The only thing a slave has to do is what his master tells him to do. He doesn’t have to be successful. When you really understand that, all the of the sudden, you don’t have any problems anymore. All you have are opportunities to see God work.”

Anxiety is an expression of ego.  When it appears it reveals our assumption of being ‘in charge.’ Faith that is deep and wide, causes us to surrender our illusions of mastery of our lives and to live at peace in the Presence of God. I’m not excusing us from action, or inviting us to become passively lazy. We make choices that are consistent with faith.  We refuse to run ahead of the Lord. When we do, making decisions in our own wisdom: creating debt, taking on too much responsibility, etc. – we will become stressed.  We are very irresponsible if we decide, only after we are mired in our mess,  to throw it all on the Lord and expect that He should painlessly lead us out of the problems that we created for ourselves! Dr. Bright’s serenity was born in faith that preceded action. Does that mean we can’t ask the Lord to help us with situations we created in ignorance or through willful expression of ego? No. He loves us even when we act in ways that are silly or sinful, however, it is so much better to trust Him.

Here’s a word from the Word to take with you today.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7, NIV)