Do Not Worry

A Reflection on the Second Reading for March 13th, 2022:
Second Sunday of Lent

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Philippians
3.20 – 4.1 (shorter)
(For the longer version, see the print edition of Living with Christ.)

But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm, my beloved, in the Lord in this way.
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There is so much to worry about these days.
 

It’s been a tough two years for pretty much everyone. From the stress around COVID to pandemic elections in many countries to the recent conflicts in Eastern Europe, it can feel like the world is overwhelming. And no matter where we live, it can be easy to look elsewhere – to be envious of another province that has stronger or weaker restrictions, to wish another political party was in power, to fear for extended family and friends trapped in a war-torn country.
 

As someone who struggles with anxiety, I’ve often found myself feeling resentful when scripture admonishes me not to worry. God might as well ask me to walk on water! Even if there weren’t so many very real things to worry about, my brain would invent a dozen a day. I’ve tried to just force myself to not worry, but I’ve learned – through therapy and through hard life experience – that that’s not possible or sustainable. It leads to pain, frustration, and burnout.
 

So when I read this scripture – “our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” – I try to let go of my all-or-nothing approach to my anxieties.
 

The worries of the world aren’t going anywhere, but they don’t have to run my life or have an iron grip on my mind. Our worldly citizenship matters – we each belong to a country, a state or province, and a city or region. We have voluntary worldly citizenships – political parties, ideologies, and cliques. But we also have a heavenly citizenship! By the grace of God’s love, we belong to one another in a way that destroys the boundaries we like to draw between ourselves.
 

Heavenly citizenship is both beautiful and hard. I love the idea of being healed of my worries – no more pandemics or wars or fights – but it’s also scary to imagine the same grace extended to my enemies, to the people I disagree with, the people who’ve hurt me or the ones I love. My anxiety works overtime and I find myself stressed about who I’ll be sitting next to at the heavenly banquet!
 

Thankfully, I don’t have to figure this out alone. I have a Saviour who wants to transform me. I love this about Him – He could choose to simply snap His fingers and perfect the world. Instead, He wants to work alongside me, to help me change and grow step by step. His grace is greater than my worries. He doesn’t erase my anxieties or take away my problems, but He reminds me that His love is so much bigger than anything that scares me. I can stand firm in Him, with all my anxiety and imperfections, knowing He is with me.  




Jenna Young
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