Failure to trust God is a sin. This seems a strong statement, but it is true. The Scriptures never give any excuse for lack of faith. Jesus was really tough on his disciples when they showed fear rather than faith. ‘Why are you so afraid?’ he asked them. ‘Do you still have no faith?’ (Mark 4:40). And he demanded of Peter, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ (Matthew 14:31).
Even when it seems that there is no hope, we must still trust God, for who knows what he can do? There is one passage of Scripture which is particularly relevant at this point.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
This passage tells us exactly what to do in time of stress and anxiety.
- Don’t be anxious about anything
- In everything–pray
- Present your requests to God
- Give thanks to God
When we do these four things, God promises that his peace will guard our hearts and our minds. This means that our thoughts become peaceful and relaxed, and so, as a result, do our bodies. Tension is gone.
To read more on this topic see Living in the Image of God, Barry Chant (Miranda: Tabor, 2012 available in eBook and Paperback) from which this edited extract is taken.