Anxieties and Comfort

There is a classic sketch where Bob Newhart is a therapist who repeatedly and agressively urges his client to "Stop it!" when she shares how fear is negatively affecting her life.  It would be wonderful if we could simply break the power of addictions, fear, worry and anxiety by willpower alone, but often our experience shows us we lack the ability to fundamentally change ourselves.  Newhart's character put the onus of change on his client who found herself unable to change--and that is why she sought professional help.  While the dialogue and delivery in the sketch is hilarious, it illustates how hopeless and helpless people can feel when their deliverance and healing depends upon them doing what they cannot do.

I was very encouraged by a Bible passage I read recently in Psalm 94:18-19:  "If I say, "My foot slips," Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up. ¹⁹ In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul."  The psalmist had all confidence in the mercy of God rather than in his own strength or willpower.  The LORD of hosts would uphold him because He is strong, and God could also overcome the impact of all the trials and troubles he could face.  Even when there were a multitude of anxieties and worries within him, as he fixed his eyes on God his soul found delight in God's comforts.  This is a wonderful thing about God, for His comfort and joy freely offered is not dependent on our efforts or a change of circumstances.  In the midst of a storm and fierce conflict, God was able to bring comfort and rest that was experienced by faith in Him.

Jesus promised His disciples He would pray the Father to send the Holy Spirit who was another Comforter who would abide with them forever.  Jesus said in John 14:25-27, "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  Jesus has given His disciples peace and left it with us; we cannot lose this peace because we are in Him and He will never leave or forsake us.  Because His perfect love drives out all fear, we need not be troubled or afraid.  It is Jesus who frees us from fear, anxiety, and power sin wields over all people.  Nothing the world gives us can we ever keep, but the peace we receive from Jesus we have forever.

When we are troubled, we can look to all manner of things, substances and professionals to help us.  We can Google, ask ChatGPT, and do our best to find a solution to our problems.  Jesus is infinitely more than this because He is a Saviour who loves us.  Our salvation and deliverance is not dependent on our willpower or good performance but on our risen Saviour and King who rules in glory forever.  Even when our hearts are full of anxieties within and pressure without, God's comforts delight our soul.