Bad Questions

Over the past few weeks, as I was preparing to teach last night on Philippians 4:2-7, I had one of those divine ah ha moments. No, I did not bust into the chorus of "Take on Me" but I did hear the voice of God very clearly.

I am a very laid back guy, but it is funny that as we have been planting this church the inner driven and tightly wound guy in me has emerged in some very interesting ways. Even as a very laid back guy, anxiety can and does get the best of me sometimes. As I prayed and sought the heart of God for the church, he revealed a truth to me that is so embarrassingly elementary, yet very powerful. When I get anxious, my first response is to ask myself, "What am I going to do?" and start the chain of problem solving. I have read this passage a thousand times and for some reason I had not put the basic principals into practice. Rather than asking "What am I going to do?" I have transitioned to a new question, "God, what are you doing?". The intention of this question is not to question the will or actions of God, "What in the world are you doing?" but a sincere desire to know and understand how God is at work in some very difficult situations. What is he doing in me, through me and around me? How does He desire for me to be involved. He did put a small brain in my head and has given me cognitive ability, so I think and work on solutions to real problems, but now looking at the situation through the lens of His working hand.

Like I said, embarrassingly elementary, yet powerfully effective on combating anxiety.