The well-known poet, W.H.Auden, was one of the first to call our period in history “The Age of Anxiety.” Since that time, others have picked up on it because it does seem to characterize the times in which we live. This feeling of apprehension: of worry, doubt and uneasiness and fretfulness about the future is a mood that has affected our entire culture. We see it in our art, literature and even in our music. There is often no sensible explanation for our anxieties, but yet they are there. In fact, Robert Orben, a well-known comedy writer is quoted as saying: “The world now has so many problems that if Moses had come down from Mount Sinai today, the two tablets he would carry would be aspirin.”
I am quite sure that in high school many of you read Arthur Miller's book "Death of a Salesman". The main character was the father, Willy Loman who is always anxious. He was anxious about his job, his health and his family. Finally, he is so overwhelmed by these anxieties, that he commits suicide. You see this constant worry we carry around with us, robs our lives of its joy, robs us of our sleep, and drains our energy.
What should we do as we live in an anxious world as believers in Jesus Christ? There are actions that we can sometimes take which will help. We can slow down and we can keep our spiritual focus where it belongs -- on our Lord. We can make sure our faith is anchored to a rock that never changes -- that is Jesus Christ. But….there are times when there is nothing we can do. The world moves on. Things change. Our loved ones die. We get older and our health goes, and in our opinion things don’t change for the better. At those times we must choose to live with integrity, live to serve others and live to bring glory to God.
Ann Landers suggested in a column written many years ago, that “Maturity is the ability to live in peace with that which we cannot change.”
Try as we might, we will never be able to keep up with all of the changes which are exploding around us. But then again, we don't have to because as Christians, Jesus tells us:
"Peace I leave with you, MY peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27 (KJV)
Jesus also promised that he would be our refuge and our fortress. He has promised to NEVER leave us or forsake...no matter what is happening in the world around us!
Maybe it is time for you to meet the Christ or peace so that you can leave in peace in the midst of an anxious world!
I am quite sure that in high school many of you read Arthur Miller's book "Death of a Salesman". The main character was the father, Willy Loman who is always anxious. He was anxious about his job, his health and his family. Finally, he is so overwhelmed by these anxieties, that he commits suicide. You see this constant worry we carry around with us, robs our lives of its joy, robs us of our sleep, and drains our energy.
What should we do as we live in an anxious world as believers in Jesus Christ? There are actions that we can sometimes take which will help. We can slow down and we can keep our spiritual focus where it belongs -- on our Lord. We can make sure our faith is anchored to a rock that never changes -- that is Jesus Christ. But….there are times when there is nothing we can do. The world moves on. Things change. Our loved ones die. We get older and our health goes, and in our opinion things don’t change for the better. At those times we must choose to live with integrity, live to serve others and live to bring glory to God.
Ann Landers suggested in a column written many years ago, that “Maturity is the ability to live in peace with that which we cannot change.”
Try as we might, we will never be able to keep up with all of the changes which are exploding around us. But then again, we don't have to because as Christians, Jesus tells us:
"Peace I leave with you, MY peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27 (KJV)
Jesus also promised that he would be our refuge and our fortress. He has promised to NEVER leave us or forsake...no matter what is happening in the world around us!
Maybe it is time for you to meet the Christ or peace so that you can leave in peace in the midst of an anxious world!
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