Dealing With the Possibility Of Unpleasantness

Pastor Bill Farrow

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The mind is a difficult thing to grapple with. Sometimes it seems as though it has a will all its own. It turns on & occasionally will not turn off. I think we have all experienced this to one degree or another. The problems arise when the issues are negative or troubling, perhaps fearful or dread giving.

The question is, how does one deal with the stress of fearing what might happen?

1.  Rely on God

This must be a conscious choice on our part.

Not only that, but it must be a continual choice on an ongoing basis. Not made once and for all, but made over and over again. Reliance on God is not a single decision but a series of choices made in full knowledge of the possibilities and what might happen. In spite of what it appears may happen, or perhaps even might be likely to happen; we choose to occupy our minds and hearts with the truth of God's presence and power.

2.  Recognize the fear - the first step to effectively dealing with it is to acknowledge that it is there.

This essentially refers to recognizing, and by this we mean admitting, the presence of the tendency to not trust God, but rather to lean on our own resources and interpret life in terms of what we see and not in terms of what we know to be true by the testimony of the Scriptures.

We ought not deny that such feelings exist. If they are present, they are real and we must deal with reality.

The sin is not in the feeling of fear, but in either the denial of it., or in the suggestion that we "shouldn't feel this way". The sin is in failing to submit even this emotion to God."

We cannot submit to God, or depend upon Him for the ability to overcome it if we do not first admit it exists.

3.  Rehearse what the Scriptures say.

The first step would be the need for the input of the Scripture.

At the root, it is the Word of God that makes the changes in our hearts and minds and enables us to live in a way that is pleasing to God.

If we are to be as God wishes we must know what it is that He wishes. By and large, this is revealed to us by the Word of God. It follows then, that we must seek to know what the Word of God says in order to accomplish that Goal.

Not only must this be first, but it must be first. That is not just foist in order, but first in priority as well.

4.  Remember what the Scripture says.

It follows that the purpose for seeking out what the Scripture says is not simply to amass knowledge but to use that knowledge to be a better Christian.

In order to do that, we must remember what we find out.

What we mean here is that we remember not just in concept, but in the particulars as well. That is, by memorizing and rehearsing those verses which bear on the issue at hand.

5.  Relate with godly counselors.

Along with the counsel from the Scripture, should come the counsel of others who know and are obedient to God.

We cannot emphasize too strongly that this counsel must come from those who are godly - not just from anyone who names the name.

It is important for us to gather counselors, primarily to assure us that we have indeed heard the Word of God properly. This underscores why these counselors need to be godly, and why we must only seek the counsel of godly Christians.

6.  Refuse to think unBiblically.

Yet still, in spite of all of this, the temptation to think unBiblically us strong and consistent.

It intrudes itself again and again and insists on thrusting itself into our minds unbidden.

It will happen!

We must be prepared for when it does, and refuse it when it does come.

 We must refuse to think unBiblically!

7.  Repeat As Needed

It would be the height of both presumption and naiveté to think that this is a one-time action.

It is not and cannot be.

Moreover, it should not be, as we must continually be submitting ourselves to God.

Were it the case that this was I. be a single, one-time action, a major cause of our ongoing dependence would be removed; as would be a chief opportunity for our obedience.