Anxiety and faith are just the
opposite of each other. By contrasting the two we will learn how to lose the
one and acquire the other. It will also help us to see how our faith has begun
to recede as soon as anxiety begins to develop.
Anxiety has its center in the
creature, but faith has its center in God. Anxiety can only occur when the soul
has placed some of its trust in something other than God.
Reason is the parent of anxiety.
Because it naturally looks at the creature, at friends or foes, at works of
nature, at circumstances and probabilities, which are all unstable, it can never
produce perfect confidence.
In contrast, faith pierces
through all creatures, and all circumstances, and fastens itself upon an
infinite, loving, and Sovereign God—a God who knows all and superintends all.
Faith is the eye of the human
spirit looking at God; and, in a certain lofty sense, ignoring everything but
God. In childlike faith it trusts in His promise to work out all things for the
good of His children.
Anxiety originates in the
unfulfilled desires that come out of the fallen state. Faith, on the other
hand, has its origin in the fullness of the provisions of God. The fallen
condition of the soul causes it to have many overreaching desires and excessive
feelings of want. Its spiritual life is dependent on what is taking place
around it in the natural realm. Reason is therefore always busy with these
wants, constantly searching for ways and means to improve the situation and
gratify its desires. It sees the many instances where its plans are hindered—where
these wants are not supplied—and this creates anxiety. And since these wants
tend to grow as they are brooded upon, the natural life eventually becomes an endless
reaching out to do something about these unfulfilled desires, which continues
to compound anxiety.
In contrast, faith goes out from
the creature and looks upon the fullness of God. It searches into His
character, His benevolence, and His inexhaustible power to supply whatever is
needed, including His heavenly spiritual life, and then simply rests in Him. This vision of the fullness of
God destroys anxiety.
Anxiety is related to what it can
see through the natural perceptions and is attached to how the human will
chooses to deal with its immediate surroundings. But faith has a wonderful
expansiveness to it, and is attached to God’s will wherever His will leads. It enters
into His Sabbath-rest, ceases from its own works, and learns to trustingly live
by God’s Spirit.
The natural reason is nearsighted
and sees things only that affect the present hour and emergency. It sees things
fragmentary, and so it becomes perplexed at the problems and complications of
men and things. It attaches itself to this or that thing or enterprise, and when
something does not work, or there is a disappointment, it is in consternation.
In contrast, faith is
long-visioned and is expanded whenever there is trust in God. It is firmly
attached to the Divine will, so that it does not cling to any creature, or
human plan, or circumstance, or nation, or position, or church, or earthly
prop. It is internally united to
God Himself, and thus it can
easily let go of all things and circumstances to be in harmony with God’s
providences. And in this place where the will is in complete union with God’s will,
it finds perfect rest of soul.
Faith looks at passing events
from the standpoint of eternity, as they will appear thousands of years from
now. On the other hand, anxiety results from seeing all creatures and events
out of their proper proportion. With its microscopic view, it sees things to be
giants—things that faith is able to look at in the light of eternity and regard
as only tiny insects.
Human reason, which is the
instrument of anxiety, fixes its hope first on this person, then on that, first
on this party or government, or enterprise, or prospect, or plan and then on
that. Anxiety is therefore like a person crossing a river of floating blocks of
ice, stepping on one and hoping it will float them over, but when they find it
is melting or sinking they step on another. The mind never reaches a solid rest
and deep repose in God.
In contrast, faith has gotten
down through the shifting sands on the earth’s surface and is anchored in the
primeval rock of God and His promises. It never changes its object. Because it
has learned to find its perfect rest in an infinite God, it spurns everything
that is separated from God’s eternal purposes. It has complete assurance that
the will of God is always accomplished. And the more it expands and apprehends
God, the farther it gets from ever wanting to look to the temporal realm for
hope.
Perfect faith in God reduces all
things in life to a state of simplicity. The reason, the judgment, the
affections, the words, the labors of such a soul all move in straight lines under
the dominion of a deep and simple faith in God. It knows that nothing can occur
that is not according to God’s will. It therefore shuns the complex where
reason naturally goes in an attempt to work out its own results.
We should begin to see how those
who still become anxious and uneasy have a mixed religion. “For he who doubts
is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
(Jam.
1:6) It comes from trying in some way to depend on human reason rather than walking
by the Spirit with faith in God. It results in chronic worry and distress.
These souls find themselves continually caught up in a fruitless effort to
accomplish their own will rather than simply trusting in what God is already
working out for their good according His Sovereign will.
Martha, Martha,
you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and
Mary has chosen that good part {enjoying
the peace of God}, which will not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:41-42)
There is a sweet satisfaction
when faith in God has become perfect. It drinks continually from the sun bright
fountains of God Himself through the person of Jesus Christ and by the
indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. With the soul always satisfied, and with
the reason and the will always in harmony with God’s perfect will, it finds a
heavenly rest. And nothing can take it away. It is able to wait on God to bring
about His purposes,
without ever depending on the
outward signs of apparent success or failure. It is set free indeed from all
anxiety that originates in the laborious, demanding and tiresome struggles of
the natural mind.
Be anxious for
nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil.
4:6-7)
