Anxiety – Your Daily Encouragement

Dispelling the Darkness

How do you remove darkness from a room?

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path. —Psalm 119:105

How do you dispel darkness from a room?

By turning on the light. Darkness is simply the absence of light.

We are living in dark times. In the moment that darkness descends over your heart threatening your faith, your future, your family, your friendships and even your finances, stop what you’re doing. Seize that moment by doing two things:

First, pray. Tell God what is happening and thank him for his presence in this current event—even when it feels like he’s not there.

Second, open God’s Word and you will find light. Light to guide. Light to encourage. Light to walk. Light that leads to hope. And light to avoid the pitfalls that are undiscernible in the darkness. The book of Psalms are a good place to start.

Maybe you’d like to join me in my daily habit of reading through the book of Psalms and the book of Proverbs? With this document, you can read—or listen through—the Psalms and Proverbs in a month. This is my practice every day, and I developed this document to use month after month and year after year. You can never get too much of God’s wisdom. I call it my Worship and Wisdom guide.

You can link to each day’s reading from you phone or other digital device for each day. For example, today’s reading (the 23rd) is Psalm 113-118, and Proverbs 23. You can download it here:

reading-through-psalms-proverbs-in-a-month-niv-new Download

And if you miss a day, no worries. Just take up the next day. Your goal isn’t to do every day perfectly. Your goal is to bring God’s word to light-up your path.

Today—everyday—bring your cares to him and receive encouragement in his word.

Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006.

Image by Albrecht Fietz from Pixabay

The Christmas Chronicles, Day 22

Everyone in the village knew Maryam was pregnant and they assumed Yusif was the father.

But Yusif knew different.

If you are just discovering the Christmas Chronicles today, you can go to the beginning by clicking here.

You can access Day 21 here

Soon after the birth of Elizabeth’s and Zechariah’s son, Maryam returned home.

As time passed it became increasingly obvious that she was pregnant. Maryam explained to her fiancé Yusif what the messenger had said, but Yusif could not accept this.

While they had been engaged for several months, Yusif could no longer remain in this relationship. Her pregnancy consumed his thoughts. “This is not the Maryam I know” he thought. “This cannot continue. Everyone in the village knows that Maryam is pregnant, and they assume that I am the father.”

But Yusif knew different.

And this betrayal cut deep. The Law of Moses allowed for him to break the engagement publicly, showing everyone his innocence. This would show everyone that he was in the right and that Maryam was in the wrong.

But the more he thought about this, the sadder he became—so, in his grief, he decided to break it privately…and then move on.

Soon after this, as he pondered how he would break the engagement, a messenger of the Master appeared to him in a dream.

“Yusif, son of David,” the messenger said, “do not be afraid to take Maryam as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus (“The Salvation of God” in the old language), for he will save his people from their sins.”

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”

Yusif woke up with a change of heart. He did what the messenger of the Master told him and took Maryam as his wife. But he had no sexual relations with her until her son was born.

Today’s gift is from our family’s album project The Light of Christmas. I am singing the song Come All Ye Shepherds.

come-all-ye-shepards Download

You can continue in Day 23 here.

The Christmas Chronicles is a 31-day series, written by Bill Herried.

Bill is a pastor in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.

Image by Mila Del Monte from Pixabay

The Christmas Chronicles, Day 10

Trust is key

If you are just discovering the Christmas Chronicles today, you can go to the beginning by clicking here.

You can go back to Day 9 by clicking here

200 years after King Solomon’s reign, one of his descendants still sat on the throne. But it was a time of great turmoil in the nation.

The king’s name was Yahweh Sustains (Ahaz in the common tongue). Yet the king doubted that the Ever-living One would sustain him.

“Yes, I’ve heard of stories in the past,” the king thought, “but I have never personally experienced this.” And so Ahaz lived in constant doubt.

Now he hears that his “brothers” in the northern kingdom of Israel, who seceded from his kingdom of Judah some 200 years previous, have made an alliance with a neighboring nation to attack him and his people. Their plan is to kill Ahaz, then install their own king.

Now Ahaz and his people live under of the dread of this impending attack.

But the Ever-living One—Yahweh—the One who is able to sustain the king, sends a messenger to him—with a message of hope.

God gives instructions to the prophet Isaiah, saying, “Go to a specific place and you will find the king—then give him My message.” So Isaiah goes. And—he finds the king.

He tells the fear-ridden king this message:

“I know that you have heard rumors of what could happen, but here is what the Ever-living One says: ‘This invasion will never happen—it will never take place. The people you fear will soon be swept away. But unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.’”

The king hears these words but is still doubtful.

Soon after, the prophet comes with another sustaining promise from the Ever-living One—this time it is an encouragement to help the king take a step of faith. He says,

“Ask the LORD your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.”
But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the LORD like that.” (Isaiah 7:10-12)

The reason the king ignores God’s offer is because he already has a plan to deal with this threat: he is planning an alliance with a neighboring king: Assyria. “This will sustain me” he thinks.

But Isaiah knows that Assyria is all about expanding its empire. This will not end well for the king.

Frustrated, the prophet says,

“Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well?”
“All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign.
Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son
and will call him Immanuel
(which means ‘God is with us’).
By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong…the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.” Isaiah 7:13–16

Then Isaiah finishes by telling Ahaz: “The kingdom of Assyria—that you’re hoping to sustain you—will rob you of your wealth and be a constant thorn in your side.”

And this is exactly what happens.

The king, Ahaz, is looking for a quick, practical, political solution—but God has a longer, better solution. And it is foreshadowed in the birth of a child.

Matthew, one of Jesus’ closest followers, points out this connection between Isaiah’s prophecy and Jesus—who is in the family line of David. And it is fascinating that Jesus’ birth also comes in a time of personal crisis.

Joseph—the man who is betrothed to Mary—finds out that she is pregnant. He knows that he is not the father and, in this crisis of trust, another messenger from God (this time an angel) sustains him by appearing to him in a dream.

“Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’” Matthew 1:22–23

Matthew tells us that when Joseph awoke, he did what the angel commanded him—and took Mary as his wife.

Ahaz doubted and failed.

Joseph trusted and won. Trust is the key.

Whatever turmoil you face today—whether it is personal, political, health related—whatever—understand that God is the God of sustaining power. And trust is key.

He knows the end from the beginning. And when times are darkest, his sustaining power shines brightest.

You can continue with Day 11 here

The Christmas Chronicles is a 31-day series, written by Bill Herried. Bill is a pastor in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.

Image by esudroff from Pixabay

The Christmas Chronicles, Day 2

Even in the darkest of times, hope glimmers.

In yesterday’s post we saw that the Ever-living One created the first two people on the planet, gifting them paradise. He told them to eat from any tree or plant, except one: a tree planted in the middle of the garden. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Some time later, The Adversary slithered into the garden.

This serpent made himself at home in the one place that the Ever-Living One told his people not to go for food, the tree in the middle of the garden. Then he began enticing them. The serpent lied to the woman. Appealing to her pride, he tempted her to do the one thing that the Ever-living One told her not to do.

She ate the forbidden fruit.

Unwilling to do this alone, she gave some to the man and he ate as well.

And now, for the first time, they experienced what it meant to do wrong. This act of rebellion filled them with anxiety, and they became prisoners of fear and dread in paradise. This sickening sensation increased as their imaginations fueled their anxieties.

And now, their worst fears are realized.

The Ever-living One—as He did every day—came to spend time with the son and daughter He deeply loved. But when He arrived, the man and woman were nowhere to be seen. Riddled with guilt, they hid—holding their breath. Like children hiding from their parents, they crouched in the greenery, hoping that He wouldn’t see them.

Knowing all, the Ever-living One called out to them, “Where are you?”

In shame, the man called out from his hiding place, “I heard you approaching, so I hid. I was…afraid…because…I was naked.”

“Who told you that you were naked?” replied the Ever-living One. “Did you eat of the tree I told you not to?”

The man blamed the woman, and the woman blamed the serpent.

For this rebellion, the Ever-living One announced a curse upon creation. The paradise they lived in, is no more. Everything was changed.

Instead of living in open friendship with the Ever-living One, they had chosen to live by their own rules—as if He didn’t exist. The result was unresolved guilt. Hiding. Death.

Death was released into the world.

The earth is cursed. The serpent is cursed, and everything is effected. The hearts of people will be hardened and even their relationships will be a constant struggle.

But this breaking of trust didn’t catch the Ever-living One off guard. Even in the midst of these judgments, He speaks of hope.

“When the time is right,” He said “I will send a Promised One—the Seed of Woman—who will lift the curse, restoring all that has been lost.”

How? “This Promised One will undo the work of the serpent. He will deal with death at the cost of His very life. And when he does, the serpent’s work will be undone.”

The Ever-Living One then covers the man and woman’s nakedness and shame with animal skins—confirming that death had come to paradise.

They left the presence of the Ever-living One with the hope of making sense of life apart from Him. What they don’t know is that they, and their children after them, will live a life of increasing anxiety, in bondage to the serpent.

Paradise was lost.

And yet hope glimmered.

Day 3 continues here.

The Christmas Chronicles is a 31-day series, written by Bill Herried.

Bill Herried is a pastor in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.

Image by Sammy-Sander from Pixabay

No Worries

when you do this, the miraculous happens

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6-7

Worry is a dead giveaway that we think our situation is out of control. Worry will make you focus on your abilities instead of God’s abilities.

So for today:

Don’t overthink.
Don’t worry.
Instead, pray.

Instead of assuming that God doesn’t know what He’s doing, pray.

Pray about everything. Tell Him you’re overthinking. Confess your worry.

Tell Him what you need—bring it to Him! He loves to hear from his children.

Then thank him for all He’s done.

When you do this, the miraculous happens. The scriptures describe it this way:

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

His peace—the peace that transcends our ability to understand—will guard your heart and mind, as you continue to follow Christ.

This is a good time—right now—to bring Him what is on your mind.

And I would love to hear what your Heavenly Father does for you as you do.

Love you,
Pastor Bill

Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.

photo courtesy Toby Mac

You Are His

…and nothing can change that

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. —Matthew 10:29–31

Jesus was preparing his disciples to do something they’ve never done—to go and tell others about Him. They’d be given authority over sickness, disease and any kind of illness, and they will be doing what they’d seen Jesus do: Heal people of incurable diseases. Give sight to the blind. Give the lame the ability to walk again.

They will do the miraculous.

And all this stirs anxiety in their hearts. There is fear and doubt in their own ability to do what he’s told them they will do.

And there is reason for their fear: this is nothing they can do in their own strength or ability. If this is going to happen, it will take the power of the Spirit of God to do this through them.

But this is important to keep in mind: Jesus is assigning them a mission. They are being called to the greatest cause on the planet: to make His salvation known to their people. And the healings will be a sign to the people that their message is from God.

So Jesus instructs them. He tells then that they will face difficulty. Opposition. Hatred. Arrests. Bad press. Villainization. Evil. Violence. “And yet,” in essence Jesus says, “through it all, your Heavenly Father will be with you.” He says:

“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”

Even the seemingly insignificant occurrences in our world are all known by God. He misses nothing. What is often overlooked by people is never missed by God. Then Jesus adds:

“And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.”

Again, in essence, Jesus is saying “He knows what happens to every living thing, and he knows you better than you know yourself.” Then, here is the pay-off:

“So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

Don’t be afraid.

Don’t give in to fear. Your Heavenly Father knows it all: Nothing falls short of his notice. And he is keenly aware of you and your situation. Why? Because you are highly valued by God. You are valuable to Him because He knows you and He loves you with an undying love.

Like a good parent goes above and beyond for their child, so your Heavenly Father knows you and you are His. Nothing—not even death—can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ.

So, whatever you’re facing today, keep this in mind: Jesus has a purpose for you, and that is to make him and his salvation known. We all have a part in it.

Second, whatever your part is, don’t be afraid to push ahead into it. Your Heavenly Father sees and knows you—exactly where you are, and he will continue to watch over you because you are His.

So, don’t be afraid. Trust His all-knowing care and his eternal purposes.

You are His. Forever.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Why Should I Worry?

you matter to him. your life is important

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” —Matthew 6:25–27

If there is one thing we’re reminded about every day, it is the uncertainty of life.

It’s in the headlines. it’s in financial forecasts. It is the stock and trade of insurance companies. Every day we’re reminded of another “what if.”

“What if there is another pandemic?” “What if the supply chain breaks again?” “What if I don’t get more hours at work?” “What if…”

One of the huge reasons I love Jesus’ words is that he reminds us of heaven’s perspective. His words remind us of what is true; what is eternal.

While he recognizes the shortcomings in this world, he points us to certainty in the uncertainty. Even though we live in an unpredictable world, He knows the way through and reminds us where every good thing comes from. He says:

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life.” Whether it is food, clothes, whatever it is. And he even gives us everyday visual reminders: Birds and flowers.

He says, in essence, “Look at the birds. They have no savings, 401(k)s, or even a grocery store to get what they need—and they are fine! Your heavenly Father feeds them.” And then he gives us a powerful insight into God’s heart for us:

“And aren’t you far more valuable to him then they are?”

Wait—what?! Listen to his words again:

“Aren’t you far more valuable to him then they are?” (Matthew 6:26)

The answer, of course, is “Yes.”

Wow.

He knows you. You are valuable to him. Your life is important.

If you have children, you have some idea of how God sees you. You are infinitely more valuable than any thing in this world.

So today, instead of focusing on worry—what could happen—refocus and look to your heavenly Father. He knows your needs and is truly the giver of every good thing.

Tell him what is on your mind. He is never too busy to listen.

Image by Terri Sharp from Pixabay

Suspicion Got You Anxious?

are you a victim of click-greed?

“Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.” —Matthew 12:25

I was talking to a good friend yesterday about a situation they are going through. He said something that stuck with me. “I don’t like conflict—in fact, I try to avoid it. But sometimes it is unavoidable.”

Relationships are messy and sometimes they involve conflict. But one of the keys of healthy relationships is resolution: deferring to each other. It takes strength in a relationship to say “I’m sorry, I was wrong”—even if we are technically “right.” Often a self-righteous (“I am right!!”) attitude only adds fuel to the fire.

In Matthew 12, Jesus frees a man from demonic possession and the people who witnessed it concluded that Jesus must be the Messiah that they had been waiting for.

But immediately after this miracle, some accused Jesus of using Satan’s power to do this miracle. Against this accusation, Jesus gives us a principle that overarches every relationship whether it is person to person, between family members, a city or even a country.

He says:

“Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.” Matthew 12:25

Consider this: Any country that is divided by civil war—ongoing, unresolvable strife—is doomed. In the following verse Jesus says, “if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.”

And then in verse 25, Jesus expands on the problem of unresolved division. He says even a town or a family with unresolved feuding will implode. If there is an ongoing suspicion and an unwillingness to be reconciled, a family will self-destruct as well.

We live in a time of great division. Sadly many are adding fuel to the fire on social media solely in an attempt to gain “clicks.” It is outrageous to think that people are living stressed out lives, suspicious of their neighbors, divided because someone (influencers) are using their platform to create division among their own country, city or community.

And most often the motivation is click-greed.

So, how do we move away from the suspicion and division motivated by click-greed? How do we resolve the splintering caused by feuding?

Jesus had a simple solution:

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.

“Oh yeah, Jesus,” we say, “we know all about that!” Jesus continues:

“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”

“What?! Why should we do that, Jesus?” He finishes with this:

“In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:43–45.

Jesus reminds us that God is generous to both those who love him as well as those who want nothing to do with him. And Jesus’ goal for us is to be like our Heavenly Father.

Jesus’ goal for us is to be like our Heavenly Father.

Instead of retreating into your own tribe/echo chamber; instead of listening to the next podcast or video of outrageous accusations against a group, stoking fears and intrigues, be different. The key to living out Jesus’ command is those closest to you.

There is little to nothing that most of us can do on the national level so, instead of focusing there, move your eyes to those closest to you and ask, “What can I do to love my neighbor?” In other words, what can I do to show that I value them? One person paraphrased Jesus’ command to love those closest to us this way: “Doing small acts of kindness with great love.”

And that starts with those closest to me. Ask yourself today, “What can I do for those closest to me to show small acts of kindness, with great love?” Here are a couple of thoughts:

Invite them to a backyard BBQ—making s’mores is always a winner.
Invite them to a movie night at your home.
Go out to dinner with them
Invite them over for game night
Share what you’re growing in your garden.
The options are truly endless.

These principles of Jesus are timeless. But the key is applying them to the time we live in. We live in a world that is glued to media that warns us to be suspicious of everyone and everything. The way out of the discord, anxiety and suspicion is to simply follow Jesus’ words.

Be the reconciler in a time of suspicion. Bring light in a time of darkness. Be the calm in the chaos. Let go of the suspicion and live out the love of Christ.

Image by Grae Dickason from Pixabay

Are You Being Trafficked?

slavery comes in many forms

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. —1 Corinthians 7:23

What is on your mind today?

Anger?
Retribution?
Revenge?
Regret?
Envy?
Anxiety?
Helplessness?
Depression?

If you are following Jesus, let go of destructive thoughts that consume your energy. Don’t allow your mind and heart to be enslaved by an event in the past, or a circumstance you’re experiencing today. Shift your focus away from these, and then refocus your thoughts on Christ.

Take this moment to actively release all these thoughts to him. Thank him for his goodness.

Acknowledge his kindness. Then rest in his presence.

Live in the freedom that comes from the heart set free. Because, as Jesus said, “if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” —John 8:36

Image by G.C. from Pixabay

Get Rid of It

don’t let it rob you another minute

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. —1 Peter 5:7

Worry is a thief.

Anxiety is stealing from you.

That is why Peter tells us to cast all of our anxieties onto God. Throw it away!

I love the image that the word “cast” brings to mind: it is the idea of throwing, or hurling something, onto someone or something else.

Peter basically says, “Throw it off—get rid of it—give it to God.”

Why? Because he cares for you. That is how good your heavenly Father is. He is there to take those worries once and for all and deal with them for you.

Don’t allow worry to sap another moment of your life. Trust that God is working on your behalf and actively release every fear that assaults your mind today.

Pause for just a moment to identify this. Ask yourself: “What is worrying me today?” Whatever it is, take it in your hand and “cast” it onto God himself. He’s got bigger shoulders—and he never sleeps.

And the even better news is that he cares for you.

Say this out loud with me, would you? “God cares for me.”

Once more: “He cares for me!”

Now, whatever it is that stirs up worry in your mind, cast it in God’s direction. Actively give it to him.

He’ll do the rest.

Image by Ryan McGuire from Pixabay