I am not an orphan

I love revelation. You know those times when you know something, still it hits you in a way it never did before. That happened to me this last week while in D.C. with Carrie and the Slikers.

Carrie and I were talking about life, debriefing from our first pre-marital counseling session. When suddenly I was filled with anxiety. To be honest and mildly vulnerable, I’ve struggled with anxiety for years. In many ways it has been a thorn in my flesh. Faithful to ware me down, but also faithful to point me toward the cross. I was telling Carrie how I cope with the anxiety when it comes.

I was expecting her sympathy but to my surprise she looked at me with a confused look. A look that I often receive from her. It’s that “you’re joking right?” kind of look. Everytime I see this expression on her face I know I’m about to get schooled. She says to me “You need to go look at Galatians 4 again. your acting like an orphan!”

I paused. I know my Bible well enough to be able to mentally recall Galatians 4. Suddenly as I remembered the chapter, peace instantly hit my panicking heart. “Your right!” I said. “I’m forgetting my own messages! I’ve been adopted as a son, I’m no longer a slave to sin, but alive in Christ. Anxiety is not my lot!”

As I went to bed that night I continued to recite Galatians 4 back to myself. Every time I felt anxiety I’d remember the truth that God has not left me here as an orphan. Anything that I’m concerned about will work out in the grace of God because he is a good Father, and I am his son. I am no longer a slave to sin and it’s ways. I can stand confident in knowing He has not abandoned me to the whiles of anxiety but I will overcome, because he overcame. I have an advocate!

It’s humbling when you spend the better part of your life encouraging and preaching on something that you yourself often forget. I’m blessed to have not only the Helper from Heaven, the Holy Spirit helping me, but also a helper on Earth in Carrie to help me with what I’m prone to forget! I’m grateful for her in my life!

48 days!