Dillon Community Church

Recently, Ryan spoke of the virtues of a non-anxious presence. For many years, I thought of anxiousness only in terms of Philippians 4:6-7, where Paul instructs us not to be anxious about anything, but to lift up our prayers in order to receive a peace that transcends all understanding. More recently, I have begun to understand the historical importance of a non-anxious presence. It appears from the Old Testament that anxiousness was/is not just an emotion with which we struggle, but a lack of faith and trust in the Lord (Deut. 28:65, Psalm 139:23, Eccl. 2:22). I sometimes find it hard to grasp the concept that my worrying and anxiousness are sins of faith, or a lack thereof. 

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Of course, this realization has not kept me from feeling worried or anxious; however, I now understand that’s not what God wants for me (or you). As we move into this season of the business and busyness of the holidays, remember that the Lord does not want us to be anxious or worry. If anyone should have been anxious, worried, or afraid, it was Mary and Joseph. Angels whose first words were “Do not be afraid,” seemingly impossible conception, marrying a pregnant woman, fleeing the King’s wrath? If we reflect on their faithfulness and non-anxious presence in light of their circumstances, both before and after Jesus’ birth, maybe we can recognize how little we have to be anxious about? 

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Praying for a non-anxious presence and an incomprehensible peace for you this holiday season!

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Rob Strode
Elder