Copperhead Road from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

We were tearing out the floor to replace some of the joists and the sub-flooring in 90-degree heat with 90% humidity. It was the kind of day where your clothes cling to you before you even start working. It would rain just enough to wet the ground, then the sun would come back out and steam everything like a sauna. I changed into dry clothes three times that day after being soaked through with sweat. The week progressed like that, and by the time I laid down on Friday afternoon, I slept for fifteen hours. Pure exhaustion. At times, the whole project felt like it was swallowing us whole.

The following morning, I was praying for strength when I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, "How do you eat a pizza?" He knows I love pizza. Then came the answer: "One slice at a time."

That kind of says it all. We try to eat the whole pizza pie at once. We pile on what may happen next week, next month, and next year — and then wonder why we are paralyzed and can't move. Anything can be done when broken into small enough pieces. We get overwhelmed when we start stacking tomorrow's worries onto today's. We know better.

The primary word in the New Testament for anxiety is merimna, and it runs in two directions. Five times it describes a healthy sense of urgency - caring about something important. The other twenty times, it is used negatively and is built from two root words: merizo, which means "divide," and nous, which means "mind." A divided mind. Straddling the fence. Never fully trusting. As James put it, double-minded.

(James 1:5-8 NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

A divided mind cannot fully trust. It is always watching the door with one eye while trying to pray with the other. According to Matthew, anxiety grows out of exactly that - a lack of trust. We worry about what we treasure here on Earth and what may happen tomorrow. Yet the LORD promises He will take care of us.

(Matthew 6:28-33 NKJV) Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

(Matthew 6:34 NKJV) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Anxiety is a sub-species of fear. It can actually be useful - it gets you to work on time, keeps you from stepping off a curb without looking. But it can also get out of control and lock you in place. Fear is a natural response when we feel threatened. We are wired for it. But we are to fear nothing above God. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). The fear of God Almighty should make all others trivial.

A key difference between fear and anxiety is that fear always has an object, and that object is present. A clear and present danger that calls for a fight or flight response.

Growing up in South Carolina, I learned early to not like copperheads. We have woods all around us, and they live out there. But when one crosses into my yard, it is trespassing. I found three under our oak tree last year, in an area we now call Copperhead Road. The LORD said He would put enmity, hostility, between Eve and the serpent and their descendants, and I abide by that rule (Genesis 3:15). Yet, while writing this, I wasn't afraid because there weren't any snakes in the house. However, if a copperhead crawled past my desk, that would change fast. 

Anxiety is worrying that a snake is about to crawl out from under the desk when there is no reason to think one is there. It is the anticipation of danger without the presence of danger.

Fear looks at a snake on the floor. Anxiety looks for a snake that isn't there.

Eating a slice of pizza while worrying you won't have one tomorrow - that is anxiety. You have enough in your hand right now. There is no shortage at this moment. But that looming dread about the future is pulling you out of the present. We borrow pain from tomorrow as if today didn't bring enough of its own.

The LORD took care of you today. Trust that He will do it again tomorrow. When the need arises, so will His help. Don't try and eat the whole pie at once. Take one slice at a time, do what is in front of you, and leave tomorrow in His hands.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer

Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for borrowing trouble from tomorrow when You have already provided for today. Help me to keep my mind fixed on You and not on what might happen in the future. Teach me to trust You one day at a time, one slice at a time. When fear or anxiety tries to take root, help me remember Your faithfulness. You have never failed me yet, and I will not start doubting You now. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!