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Tuesday, March 5, 2024 Encouragement In Times Of Anxiety Scripture: Luke 21:34-36 (NIV Study Bible) “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” Message: Jesus encouraged His disciples when they were anxious and in despair. He willed them to pray they could escape that which they feared. Today this message resonates as our world seems disheartening and overwhelming with dire conditions, including human violence against others (neighbors) and destruction of our earth. In crafting this message, I was reminded of an exchange between Winnie the Pooh and Piglet in an infamous (A.A. Milne’s) children’s story. Excerpts follow (with deletions and paraphrasing for brevity). Pooh tells Piglet he is scared. Piglet asks Pooh if he’d like to talk about it. Pooh opens up: “I’m anxious because I don’t feel like things are getting any better. I feel like they might be getting worse. People are angry, and they’re turning on one another. There seems to be no clear plan out of here, and I worry about my friends and the people I love. I wish SO much that I could give them all a hug!.” Piglet thoughtfully, simply said, “I’m here. I hear you, Pooh,” to which Pooh responded, “Aren’t you going to tell me not to worry and be anxious?” Piglet decisively said, “NO, but what I can do is make sure that you know I will always be here, to listen, to support you and for you to know that you are heard. I promise you that you won’t ever need to feel those anxious feelings alone.” At this point Pooh felt some of his anxiety loosen its grip on him because his friend was solidly by his side, and he was never more grateful to have Piglet in his life. Metaphorically, we are Pooh and Piglet is Jesus. Prayer: Our Father, please help us remember that You always listen and are always with us, even when we are anxious, fearful and uncertain. Thank You for sending us Your Son so we have this assurance. In the name of Jesus. Amen. Sue Kabbourim |
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