My world has been rocked by a book that our entire church has been studying for the last few weeks. It’s a book called “CRAZY LOVE” by Francis Chan. This book has been challenging me to take a closer look at how I’m doing in loving Jesus. In chapter 2, it breaks down a passage that is found in Phillipians 4:4 –

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” You’ll notice that it doesn’t end with “… unless you’re doing something extremely important.” No , it’s a command for all of us, and it follows with the charge “Don’t be anxious about anything” (v.6).

That came as a pretty staggering realization. But what I realized next was even more staggering.
When I am consumed by my problems, stressed out about my life, my family, and my job— I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God’s command to always Rejoice.

WORRY implies that we don’t quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what’s happening in our lives.
STRESS says that the things that we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

These two behaviors communicate that it’s okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we’ve been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won’t be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God’s strength, our problems are small, indeed.

Why are we so quick to forget God? Who do we think we are? I find myself relearning this lesson often. Even though I glimpse God’s holiness, I am still dumb enough to forget that life is all about God and not about me at all.

Remember to rejoice in the Lord always. Do not be controlled by your situation. Have a blessed Thanksgiving

-james