HOW TO FACE YOUR ANXIETIES PART 4

TEXT- MATTHEW 6:25-34

INTRODUCTION

THIS MORNING I AM GOING TO CONCLUDE MY SERIES OF SERMONS ON THE THEME, "FACING LIFE'S PROBLEMS".

IN THIS SERIES WE HAVE EXAMINED THE NEED TO BE PATIENT, NOT BE FEARFUL AND NOT TO DOUBT WHEN FACED WITH A PROBLEM.

TODAY THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "HOW TO FACE YOUR ANXIETIES” AND OUR TEXT IS IN MATTHEW 6:25-34.

A FRENCH SOLDIER IN WORLD WAR II ONCE SAID ABOUT WORRY, "OF TWO THINGS ONE IS CERTAIN. EITHER YOU ARE AT THE FRONT, OR YOU ARE BEHIND THE LINES. IF YOU ARE AT THE FRONT, OF TWO THINGS ONE IS CERTAIN. EITHER YOU ARE EXPOSED TO DANGER, OR YOU ARE IN A SAFE PLACE. IF YOU ARE EXPOSED TO DANGER, OF TWO THINGS ONE IS CERTAIN. EITHER YOU ARE WOUNDED, OR YOU ARE NOT WOUNDED. IF YOU ARE WOUNDED, OF TWO THINGS ONE IS CERTAIN. EITHER YOU RECOVER, OR YOU DIE. IF YOU RECOVER, THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY. IF YOU DIE, YOU CAN'T WORRY. SO WHY WORRY?"

SOMETIMES THE STRESS, WORRY AND ANXIETY THAT ACCOMPANIES LIFE'S PROBLEMS CAN BECOME SO INTENSE THAT THEY ARE ALMOST UNBEARABLE.

THERE IS A BOOK ENTITLED, ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY.

IN IT A LITTLE BOY NAMED ALEXANDER WHO IS ABOUT 8 YEARS OLD HAS ONE OF THOSE BUMMER DAYS WHERE HE EXPERIENCES BACK-TO-BACK DISAPPOINTMENTS AND TRAGEDIES LIKE YOU COULD NEVER IMAGINE.

FOR EXAMPLE HE SAYS:

"I WENT TO SLEEP WITH GUM IN MY MOUTH AND NOW THERE'S GUM IN MY HAIR AND WHEN I GOT OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING I TRIPPED ON THE SKATEBOARD AND BY MISTAKE I DROPPED MY SWEATER IN THE SINK WHILE THE WATER WAS RUNNING AND I COULD TELL IT WAS GOING TO BE A TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY!"

AFTER A TERRIBLE DAY AT SCHOOL, A HORRIBLE VISIT WITH THE DENTIST, AND A NO GOOD STOP AT THE SHOE STORE, ALEXANDER CAME HOME AND SLUMPED IN HIS CHAIR AT THE DINNER TABLE AND HIS TROUBLES CONTINUED.

“THERE WAS LIMA BEANS FOR DINNER AND I HATE LIMA. THERE WAS KISSING ON TV AND I HATE KISSING. MY BATH WAS TOO HOT, I GOT SOAP IN MY EYES, MY MARBLE WENT DOWN THE DRAIN AND I HAD TO WEAR MY RAILROAD-TRAIN PAJAMAS. AND I HATE MY RAILROAD-TRAIN PAJAMAS. WHEN I WENT TO BED NICK TOOK BACK THE PILLOW HE SAID I COULD KEEP AND THE MICKEY MOUSE NIGHT LIGHT BURNED OUT AND I BIT MY TONGUE. THE CAT WANTS TO SLEEP WITH ANTHONY, NOT WITH ME. IT HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY!"

HAVE YOU EVER FELT THIS SAME WAY AT THE END OF THE DAY?

PERHAPS THAT'S THE WAY YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW!

IF SO, I PRAY THAT GOD'S WORD WILL SPEAK TO YOUR HEART AND ENCOURAGE YOU THIS MORNING.

LET'S LOOK NOW AT THREE WAYS YOU CAN STOP WORRY AND ANXIETY IN YOUR LIFE.