What Does the Bible Say, Does Forgiving Mean Forgetting?

One of the questions that I get a lot is,  “Pastor, does forgiving mean forgetting?”  I have an answer but before I give it let’s see what the bible says about it?  Whenever someone asks me a question dealing with relationships I always defer to the bible because it’s the manual that God gave to guide us in how to live with one another.  

In Exodus 20:1-17,  the scripture that we call the 10 Commandments, numbers 5-10 are how we are to relate to one another 

Exodus 20:12-17 (HCSB) 12  Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 13  Do not murder. 14  Do not commit adultery. 15  Do not steal. 16  Do not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17  Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.  

So this is my manual for knowing how I should relate and interact with everybody.

Now to the question.   Does to forgive mean to forget?  Let’s first define the two main words in the question, forgive and forget.

Forgive (verb)

·         to stop feeling anger toward (someone who has done something wrong) : to stop blaming (someone)

·         to stop feeling anger about (something) : to forgive someone for (something wrong)

·         to stop requiring payment of (money that is owed)

·         Synonym – pardon

Forget (verb)

·         to be unable to think of or remember (something)

·         to fail to remember to bring or take (something)

·         to stop thinking or caring about (someone)

·         Synonyms – disremember, unlearn

To forgive is to stop feeling anger toward someone or about something, to pardon them.  To forget is to not remember or think or care about something, to unlearn or disremember.

 What Does the Bible Tell Us about Forgiving

The phrase “to forgive and forget” is not in the Bible.  The Bible does however, in many places, command us to forgive each other.

Matthew 6:14 (HCSB) “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.

Ephesians 4:32 (HCSB) And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

Jesus’ comment to Peter when he asked how many times we should forgive implies constant forgiveness without holding it against the one we forgive.

Matthew 18:21-22 (HCSB) 21  Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22  “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven.

The Bible also tells us that if we don’t forgive we won’t be forgiven.

Matthew 6:14-15 (HCSB) 14  “For if you forgive people their wrongdoing, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15  But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing.

Mark 11:25-26 (HCSB) 25  And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing. [ 26  But if you don’t forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing.]”

A forgiving spirit is made easier for Christians when they consider how much God has already forgiven.

Why should we give anybody a clean slate who has wronged us?  Because God, who is our example for how to forgive, does.  He forgives and overlooks everything that we have done and do against Him, through Jesus, so that we can have eternal life and an eternal inheritance.

Micah 7:18 (HCSB)  Who is a God like You, removing iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not hold on to His anger forever, because He delights in faithful love.

Forgiveness is an act of the will and since God commands us to forgive we must make that choice.  We must forgive even if the person who offended us doesn't ask for or doesn't even want forgiveness.

Matthew 5:44-45 (HCSB) 44  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45  so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

The Problem with Unforgiveness

Here is what I learned about unforgiveness from a recent study that I led for my church’s Sunday adult bible study group.

The person who won’t forgive is the real victim.  We want to be forgiven for stuff we have done because we rationalize that we really didn't mean it or what happened was the result of a bad decision, so of course we should be forgiven.  How arrogant of us to feel this way and then we not forgive.

“Withholding forgiveness does not hurt ‘them’ it hurts you.  Withholding forgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting it to kill the person who hurt you.  Withholding forgiveness puts a barrier between you and the blessings of God.  Withholding forgiveness overwhelms you with feelings that the human body was not designed to sustain”.

When someone hurts us it really does hurt and some things are almost too horrible to bear.  Things  like being raped or molested, someone stealing from you, a spouse or good friend betraying you, someone spreading lies about you.  These are horrible things and some of them will always affect us.  But we don’t have any choice but to forgive because Jesus commanded us to forgive and He gave us an example.

Jesus was betrayed by a friend, He was arrested on false charges, He was beaten, made fun of, and finally crucified.  But what did he say?

 Luke 23:34 (HCSB) Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”] ….  

They didn't deserve forgiveness and we didn't deserve forgiveness but God through Jesus did forgive and he continues to forgive us.

Here is a great quote from the book “Overwhelmed:  Winning the War Against Worry” by Noble Perry.  “Forgiveness is like putting a key in a prison door to release someone else, only to discover that the person you are releasing is yourself.

But What About Forgetting?

The Bible says that God doesn’t remember our sins against Him.

Hebrews 8:11-12 (HCSB) 11  And each person will not teach his fellow citizen, and each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” because they will all know Me, from the least to the greatest of them. 12  For I will be merciful to their wrongdoing, and I will never again remember their sins.  Micah 7:19 (HCSB) 19  He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

God having forgiven us treats us as if the sin had never happened.   We that now belong to Him through faith in Jesus Christ are assured that He doesn’t hold our sins against us.  Following that example we should, as best we can, act as if it never happened.  Now I don’t believe that means that we must allow the same thing by the same person to happen again especially if it’s something serious.

We will remember the it because it’s impossible for us as human beings to truly forget what others have done to us.  If we’re healthy we can’t selectively remove some things from or memory.  But we can live as if we don’t remember it keeping in mind 

Ephesians 4:32 (HCSB) And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

Forgetting is not required in order to forgive.   Because we still remember doesn't mean that forgiveness isn’t complete and total.

 One Final Thought on Forgetting

Think about this.  

2 Corinthians 5:10 (HCSB) For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

God totally forgives, but apparently He doesn't completely erase the memory of our sins.  He will judge every act and every careless word and our rewards will be based on that judgement.  

Here’s My Answer to the Question Does Forgiving Mean Forgetting?

God wants us to forgive each other just like He has forgiven us through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  Once we do what it says in 

Romans 10:9-10 (HCSB) 9  If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.;  

God  treats us as though we never sinned at all and doesn’t hold our sins against us. So, in a sense, He “forgives and forgets.”

In the same way when we forgive we should act as though it never happened. We do still remember the offense, and we should learn from it, but to truly forgive, we should treat the person as though it never happened.  I realize that it’s impossible for us to do that on our own however we have the Holy Spirit in us that empowers us, to do what is impossible to do in our flesh.  

The Bible is, of course, you primary source of information from God regrading His plan for you, but He has bless others with the ability to break it down for us so that we can apply biblical principles into every aspect of our lives. 

What do you think?  Can you truly forgive and treat the person who offended you like it never happened?  What about an abusive relationship can you forgive?  Please comment below. You never know how your comments and experiences will bless others.

7 Promises of God to Increase and Strengthen Your Faith

We all like to think that we have the faith that Jesus says can move mountains. That mustard seed faith!  When things are going good, there are no big problems in our lives, we have plenty of food to eat, a nice place to live, health, and good job, then our faith in God is strong.  We can counsel others and encourage them to just hang in there.  We can say to them “God’s got your back and He will never leave you or forsake you”.  We are strong

Faith to move mountains

pillars of faith then.  But, if we’re honest with ourselves, when times aren't so good, when we have big problems in our lives, when we don’t have plenty of food,  and we don’t know if we’ll have any food tomorrow, when we've lost our job,  and we may lose our home, is our faith as strong then?  Do we say to ourselves “just hang in there, God’s got your back, and  He will never leave you or forsake you”?  Well I’ll be honest.  I've been there and yes I said those things but I really didn’t feel them.  If you can relate then this is for you.  This is the formula to increasing and strengthening our faith during those down times which are sure to come.

 Remember the Past

Chances are that this down time isn't the first that you've experienced and it is probably not the last.  I remember the time that my wife and I were down to our last.  Our credit cards were maxed and delinquent, savings gone and our checking accounts overdrawn, we had borrowed money from relatives, the church had helped us, and we were close to being on the street.  We were in a new city, didn't know many people, and the company that moved us had run out of money and shut down. Out of the blue (we know that it was not really out of the blue, it was God), I got a telephone call from somebody that I hadn't talked to in at least five years, and I know he didn’t have my phone number, but he had somebody find me.   To this day I don’t know how they knew where I was or my phone number.   He needed some help on a big project and needed a consultant and adviser and he retained me that day.  I look back on this experience when problems come and I feel my faith slipping and I say to myself remember that time…….  This is just one example, and this isn't even the most dramatic one.  I’m saving that one for a future post.  With each experience my faith in God increases and I become stronger and my periods of doubt and fear become shorter and fewer.  So when the down times come remember the times that God stepped in and handled it.

 Look at other Believers

Someone reading this may be going through something similar or identical to the situation I just described.  My testimony is an example for you that God will make a way for you too.  Remember God is no respecter of persons.  He doesn't love me more that He loves you.  His solution for you may not be like the one He had for me but trust Him and don’t doubt.  I’m sure that you know others who can tell you of their experience of holding fast to their faith and trust in God and although things looked dire they made it through and God did not forsake them.  Churches don’t allow a time for people to give testimonies much anymore but it was at those were times we often heard from people who were going through or had gone through exactly what we are going through.  God’s intervention in their lives example for us of God’s faithfulness.  Remember God is not a respecter of persons.

 Seven Promises From the Bible – The Word of God

Standing on the promises of God is a major ingredient in the formula for increasing and strengthening our faith here are seven:

1.      Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

2.      2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

3.      Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

4.      Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.

5.      Matthew 6:25-32 “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Aren't you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these!  If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith? So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

6.      1 John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for.

7.      Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

These are only seven of the promises of God to us. There are hundreds.  The "Promises of God" page on my website FaithTheEvidence.com gives you 10 that will help you to stand no matter the situation or circumstance.  If you have a concordance,  your  bible has a concordance, or if you have a book of promises of the bible,  find the specific promise or promises that speak to your situation and include them in you time with God.  He doesn’t need to be reminded of them but we do.

1 Peter 1:6-7 You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  James 1:2-3 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Trials will come to all of us but they come to make us strong and to increase and strengthen our faith.

Strong Finish, Strong Faith, Do You Have The Endurance To Win?

Jonathan Nelson wrote a song, “Finish Strong”. Here are the lyrics of the chorus ” I’m going to have a strong finish, strong faith, strong finish, strong faith,I’m going to have a strong finish, strong faith, strong finish, strong faith” , and here is the chant at the end “Strong finish, strong finish, strong finish, strong finish, strong finish, strong faith” . He starts by saying that this race of life that we are in is a marathon and you must have endurance to win.



  Endurance

To develop the endurance that we need we must have faith and our faith must become strong. If not

The Faith Marathon - Photograph by Martineric from Lillie France 

we will cross the finish line but barely, and in that group of stragglers at the tail end of the race. Yes they finish and will get a ribbon that says they finished but don’t you want to be one of the top finishers? I want you to be one of the top finishers because we know that while all believers will enjoy eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ some will receive greater rewards than others. Those receiving the greater rewards will be those with the strongest faith and having the strongest finish in the race. On my website I give promises of God that help us increase and strengthen our faith. (See Them Here!),  This post is about what it means to have that strong faith.

 In Romans 4:20 Paul says about Abraham;

Romans 4:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰  He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹  and being fully convinced that what He had promised

Faith is the only way we can obtain blessings from God. 

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)⁶  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

 So prayer won’t get the answers or result in blessings unless the prayer is made in faith.  Charles Spurgeon said in one of his Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening Devotions, that ” Faith is the telegraphic wire which links earth and heaven-on which God’s messages of love fly so fast, that before we call He answers, and while we are yet speaking He hears us. But if that telegraphic wire of faith be snapped, how can we receive the promise?” We must make sure that our telegraphic wire of faith remains strong so that we can have the endurance to finish strong.

Six Benefits of Strong Faith

1. Hope - Romans 5:2 “We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” 
2. Joy – Acts 16:34 “He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.” 1 Peter 1:8 “You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,” 
3. Peace – Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you

   

   The Winner by Faith - Image from Church Sports Outreach

   believe ⌊in Him⌋ so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 
4. Confidence – Isaiah 28:16 “Therefore the Lord GOD said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.” 1Peter 2:6 “For it is contained in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!” 
5. Boldness - Psalms 116:10 “I believed, even when I said, “I am severely afflicted.” . 2 Corinthians 4:13 “And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak.” 
6. Christ is Precious - Ephesians 3:17 “and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. ⌊I pray⌋ that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,”, 

1 Peter 2:7 “So honor ⌊will come⌋to you who believe, but for the unbelieving, The stone that the

builders rejected— this One has become the cornerstone,” 

*Scripture references from “The MacArthur Topical Bible”

Six Principles

Here are six principles in obtaining strong faith that Dr. Fred K.C. Price identifies in his book “How To Obtain Strong Faith: (Six Principles)”

1. You must know the Reality of the Word of GOD. God’s word is Spirit; God’s Word is life. You must get into the Word; continue in the Word; devour it; get it down into your spirit, so that you may know the living reality of God’s Word. 
2. You must know the Reality of your Redemption in Christ. You must know that you have been redeemed. You are not going to be redeemed. You are not in the process of being redeemed, but the Bible tells you that (if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior) you have been redeemed. 
3. You must know the Reality of the New Creation. As a Christian, being born by the Spirit of God, you are a new creature in Christ Jesus. God views you as a brand new individual. 
4. You must know the Reality of your Righteousness in Christ. You don’t have to do any thing to get righteous. You are righteous in Christ. 
5. You must know the Reality of your Righteousness in Christ. You don’t have to do any thing to get righteous. You are righteous in Christ.
6. You must know the Reality of the Authority of the Name of Jesus. You must know that there is authority in that name of Jesus. You must know it as a reality. You must know it, not as an idea, not as a philosophy, not as a hope , not as a dream, but you must know that name as an actual, living, vital reality. 

Faith links us with God

With faith we have access to the power of God. Faith puts God on your side in all the battles that you face. With faith you are able to wear the armor of God, and it fits 

Ephesians 6:11-17 (NKJV) ¹¹  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;. 

 Strong faith gives you the endurance to win and causes you to finish strong. Hold fast to and guard your faith because without it you will become exhausted and lose the endurance you have to have to win and receive the rewards that God has for you. When a marathon course of life takes us up the steep hills, along the cliffs, or down the steep grades, do you have the strength to continue to press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Philippians 3:14 . 

Do you have the endurance to win?

Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed

Matthew, and Luke record Jesus’ comments about the power of faith even as small as a mustard seed

can move a mountain or uproot a big tree.

Matthew 17:20 (HCSB)  “Because of your little faith,” He told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

This was Jesus’ response to his disciples when they asked him why they had been unable to drive the demon out of a boy after Jesus, Peter, James, and John and come down from the mountain where Jesus had been transfigured.

Luke 17:6 (HCSB)  “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” the Lord said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

This was Jesus’ response to the apostles, this time, when they asked Him to increase their faith.

This is where we get the expression “faith as small as a mustard seed” to indicate that it doesn't take a whole lot of faith in God to do extraordinary things or to see extraordinary things happen. Let’s examine each of these cases where Jesus uses faith the size of a mustard seed to make His point about faith.

Why a mustard seed?

Let’s first look at why Jesus may have used the example of a mustard seed. Mustard seeds are the small round seeds of various mustard plants. The seeds are usually about 1 or 2 mm in diameter. Mustard seeds may be colored from yellowish white to black.  These are very small seeds. The mustard seed was the smallest of all the seeds known to the farmers of Palestine. That is why Jesus used the mustard seed to explain that it doesn't take a whole lot of faith.

Matthew 17:20

Let’s look at the Matthew scripture first. Jesus starts by saying that they actually did have little faith already.   In this case however, Jesus is talking about the disciples having doubts about the authorization He had given them earlier;

Matthew 10:8 (HCSB) Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, drive out demons. You have received free of charge; give free of charge.

Jesus’ point was that a basic belief and trust in God can accomplish much. I doesn’t take a whole lot. Just believe and act in the authority that He had already given them. If we take the statement figuratively, that this small amount of faith, or this basic belief in the word of God,  is symbolic of

any major difficulty rather than it being a real mountain,   then we see how powerful it was to say that faith the size of a mustard seed can move this mountain. Jesus may have even pointed to the Mount of Transfiguration when He made the statement which makes it even more powerful. Now we do know that God can move a real mountain.  After all He created them but let’s keep in mind that faith is trust in God and in His revealed word and will. So faith to move an actual mountain will happen only when God reveals it to be His will, but you get my point. 

Luke 17:6

In Luke Jesus’ reference to faith the size of a mustard seed came at a time when He was giving instructions to His disciples in how they should respond to offenses against them. 

Luke 17:1-4 (HCSB) ¹  He said to His disciples, “Offenses will certainly come, but woe to the one they come through! ²  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble. ³  Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴  And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

After  telling them that they have to forgive and forgive and forgive, the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith so that they can forgive someone that continues to offend.  He tells them that it’s not how much faith it’s the spirit and exuberance in which it’s exercised. 

Just as the example of the mustard seed in Jesus parable in Matthew 13:31-32 becomes a tree large enough for the birds to build nests the amount of faith, in God, that we need is very small. 

Matthew 13:31-32 (HCSB) ³¹  He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. ³²  It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but

Mustard

when grown, it’s taller than the vegetables and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”

 Just as the few disciples of Jesus, after His death, burial, resurrection and ascension, exercised that “mustard seed faith” to start a movement that has spread the gospel of salvation throughout the world. Jesus was illustrating the power of God when unleashed in the lives of those with true faith.

Who are some of the people with mustard seed faith?

I was going to include the names of great people of faith who over the centuries have exercised “mustard seed faith” but the list is inexhaustible. You can find some of them in these following books:

• Foxes Book of Martyrs
• Jesus Freaks: Martyrs: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus: The Ultimate Jesus Freaks
•  All the Men/All the Women of the Bible 
• Heroes of the Faith

The people in these books are just as much heroes of the faith as those in Hebrews Chapter 11. They all started with faith the size of a mustard seed just like you and me. In our own ways we can become heroes of the faith to somebody who needs to know how Jesus can change and bless their lives through using the measure of faith  that God gives everybody, that mustard seed faith. Maybe just maybe our mustard seed faith can move the on to “saving faith“. 

Romans 12:3 (HCSB) For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.

Who are your heroes of faith?  Not those listed in Hebrews 11 but the people that you know personally, or have heard about that have become your heroes of faith.

Worry Ends Where Faith Begins

This is for me too

This post is as much for me as it is for you.  I am going through a stressful situation right now but I know that worry ends where stress begins so I’m writing this for me too.

Stress, anxiety and worry are something we all struggle with at some point in our lives.  We are bombarded with advertisements, enticing us with things that we don’t really need or can afford,  and left with the feeling that if we don’t get or don’t have those things that we are

losers, or we’ll never achieve any significance.  So given that jolt we can easily become overwhelmed with worry,  fear of failure and fear of the unknown.  

But God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love and power and a sound mind.  Yes a spirit of courage not fear.   The ultimate end to worry  is to put your trust in God.  Worry ends where faith begins.

What is worry?

Here are some definitions for worry;

1. give way to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles; 
2. a state of anxiety and uncertainty of actual or potential problems;  
3. to think about problems or fears : to feel or show fear and concern because you think that something bad has happened or could happen.

Worry is to give way or give in to anxiety or unease, to ponder or consider intently about things that may or may not happen.  If what you are worrying about has already happened then you may need to do something about it.  Worrying about it without doing anything doesn't solve or change anything.  

If what you’re worrying about is a hasn't happened we may be giving in to something that may not happen all.  So we spent time worrying about nothing.  We may need to do some things to prevent what it is we are worrying about but if it hasn't happened yet why give in in advance?  Remember worry ends where faith begins and if our faith is in God then we need to give in to Him and His promises, not to the problems, difficulty or trouble.   In a blog not too long ago I gave you a list of who God is (Lord I Believe; Help My Unbelief).  Look at that list when you start to worry and become overwhelmed.  When you consider who God is then the problem becomes nothing.  

Worry robs us

 Worry robs us of time that we will never get back and,  if we look back at our past most, if not all of the things we worried about never happened or were solved and the worry wasn't the solution.  The scriptures encourage us to keep our minds on Jesus and the peace He brings. 

John 14:27 (HCSB)  “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.

John 16:33 (HCSB) I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” 

Isaiah says that our faith will be expressed as complete trust in the sufficiency of God and the perfection of his will.

Isaiah 26:3 (HCSB) You will keep the mind ⌊that is⌋ dependent ⌊on You⌋ in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.

The Hebrew word for perfect peace here is shalom shalom or peace peace.  This is “a peace that really is peace”  the kind that only God can give not the temporary peace that man gives.

4 Things about worry

Worry doesn’t accomplish anything 

Matthew 6:25-29 (HCSB) “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body

more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying?And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these!”

Worry can be destructive and can even make you ill

Proverbs 12:25 (HCSB) “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up. “

If we worry we are not trusting God

Philippians 4:6-7 (HCSB) “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Direct your attention on God not the problem 

1 Peter 5:6-7 (HCSB) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.”

9 more Scriptures to strengthen you

When you start to have anxiety, stress and worry use them to strengthen your faith in God.  Worry is just that,  it’s not the real thing.

1. Matthew 11:28-30 (HCSB) “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
2. Colossians 3:15 (HCSB) “And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.”
3. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (HCSB) May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
4. Psalm 55:22 (HCSB)  “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”
5. Psalm 23:4 (HCSB) “Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me. “
6. Hebrews 13:5 (HCSB) “Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. “
7. Psalm 56:3 (HCSB) “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
8. Proverbs 3:5-6 (HCSB) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”
9. Romans 8:38 (HCSB) “For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come,⌊hostile⌋ powers, “

If you are worried, anxious, or stressed give it to God.  Remember worry ends where faith begins.

I would love to talk to you about those things that are stressing you out, causing you sleepless nights, and affecting your health.  I’ve been there and I found the answer in trusting God.   In fact I am fighting stress and anxiety over some stuff that is going on in my life right now so like I said before, this post is for me as much as it is for you.