Getting Where You're Going (Friday Devotional)

 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 4:4-7

As you read this devotional, my family and I are overseas on a trip to Scotland and Ireland, seeing the  sights and enjoying the time together. You may have already seen some of the photos that Lindsey’s uploaded on Facebook or the daily diaries I’ve posted. Travel’s an important thing for our family, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to do so.

But of course, before the fun of overseas travel comes the stress of making the necessary arrangements. How are we going to get around once we’re there? Where are we going to stay? How much money should we change, and where will we change it? Do we have the right kinds of adaptor plugs to charge various electronic devices? When do we call the credit card and phone companies? And for goodness’ sake, what all should we pack?

There are a million little details to attend to before a trip like this one, all of which matter, all of which need to be dealt with before you get on an airplane. It’s enough to make you jittery and anxious when the trip begins, worried you’ve missed something along the way. But then, inevitably, something wonderful happens when you arrive at your destination—the worries largely melt away, overcome by the fun of vacation. The anxiety of the preparation gives way to the joy of the experience.

Life in Christ is a lot like that. The world will pile on burden after burden, a million different things it insists you need to stress over. From the practical—do we have enough saved for retirement?—to the petty—is our car the oldest on the block?—your mind can constantly fixate on different points of anxiety.

But for those who are in Christ, there is freedom from such concerns, or at least a bigger perspective about what ultimately matters. Because we can turn our worries over to the Lord, because we can trust his providence more than our plans, we can rejoice when others fret. What brings fear to an unbeliever is the first step towards joy for a believer. For where there is reason to worry, there is also reason to pray—and in turning our fears over to God, there is peace.

Today, don’t let fear win out over joy. In Christ, you’ve got what you need—so get where you’re going and enjoy the experience!