Josh McGuire - Humility Cures Anxiety | Austin CFC | 2023-04-23
Summary
The speaker recounts a period of financial and personal strain after moving to Austin, detailing how his income sources dried up due to receiving a 'no pay no points' letter from the Air Force. This sudden loss of expected income and status triggered deep doubts about his place in the church community. The message uses this experience to illustrate that when life circumstances create uncertainty, one must rely on God rather than external stability.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Moving to Austin and facing financial pressureJosh describes moving to Austin in 2012 with an unsold home in Wichita Falls, a tight budget as a middle-school teacher, and a growing family.
Receiving the no pay no points letterJosh receives a shock letter from the Air Force stating his autoimmune condition makes him too sick to serve, threatening his reserve income and medical insurance.
The reality of ulcerative colitis and stressJosh explains his incurable autoimmune condition, ulcerative colitis, noting that stress and anxiety severely exacerbate physical symptoms.
The clash between anxiety and biblical commandsJosh reflects on the tension between feeling the need to carry his own burdens and God's clear commandment not to be anxious.
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humbleLooking at First Peter, Josh establishes that humility is the foundational principle for receiving God's grace and overcoming worry.
Humble yourself under the mighty hand of GodJosh uses the legal concept of force majeure to illustrate that humans are not in control and must submit to God's all-powerful governance.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for youBelievers are commanded to throw their heavy stresses and worries directly onto their heavenly Father, who deeply cares for them.
Why children ask for helpA congregant shares an analogy about watching his son struggle with blocks and realizing that God similarly waits for his children to ask for help.
Anxiety is a form of prideAnother speaker reflects that airplane turbulence and daily worries reveal an underlying pride of wanting to be in control instead of trusting God.
Time-boxing anxiety to todayApplying biblical wisdom from Matthew, the speaker explains that believers must confine their focus to today's troubles rather than worrying about tomorrow.
