Answer to Anxiety

God's Answer to Anxious Thoughts

by Dr. Charles McHatton

"In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul..." (Ps. 94:19) The original translation of this text reveals that the word thoughts as it is used in this verse is a rather unique term which occurs very seldom in the Old Testament. It means literally: doubts, opinions and cares. There are other terms translated thought in the Hebrew Scriptures, the most common of which carries with it the idea of a plan or purpose firmly fixed. This can be either the plan and purpose of God or the the plan and purpose of man. For example, in Isaiah 55:7-9 we read, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his THOUGHTS: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For my THOUGHTS are not your THOUGHTS, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my THOUGHTS than your THOUGHTS."

This is the most common word in the Hebrew Scriptures translated thought, but it is NOT the word used in our text. The Psalmist NOT saying, "In the multitude of all my PLANS AND MY FIXED PURPOSES IN LIFE they comforts delight my soul." No, the context of the Psalm reveals that he is saying, "In the multitude of my ANXIOUS THOUGHTS - when I am filled with doubt and deep concern and care - the comforts of God move in and not only deliver me from fear but lift me to the high plane of spiritual delight."

Rotherham translates it, "In the multitude of my cares within me, the COMFORTS delight my soul." This is life on the highest plane: not just delivered from fear, but delivered and lifted to the place where the delight of God expels the depression and the despair that threaten to throttle life's highest energies and richest expectations. The comforts of God expel all of these anxieties and bring the delight of heaven home to the heart. It is not just the COMFORT THAT MAN KNOWS, but these are the comforts of GOD. This means that they are Divinely provided and tailor-made to fit out individual need. They have already passed the proving ground, and they are more than sufficient to do the job.

What are these COMFORTS possessing the ability to cancel out the fret, fear and anxiety which strangle the thought process of many Christians? These comforts reach the level in the life where they fill one with the might and light of heaven. If you are going through affliction of some kind and experiencing anxieties as a result of it, you need especially to heed to the testimony of the psalmist in Psalm 119:50. "This is my COMFORT in MY AFFLICTION: for they Word hath quickened me."

The New Testament counterpart of this verse is found in Romans 15:4 "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and COMFORT OF THE SCRIPTURES might have hope." This is not the FLIMSY COMFORT OF MAN. This is not the EMPTY SYMPATHY OF MAN. This is the SOLID STRENGTH OF THE SCRIPTURES, and it bring REAL COMFORT to the heart. This is one of the reasons why individuals should hide the Word of God in their hearts. As they do so, they find that in times of anxiety and affliction the Word of God buttresses the inner life in such a way that there is no collapse and no breakdown. In fact, there is not even any room for complaining.

The word translated comfort here is the word parakleis from which we get the word paraclete. In Acts 9:31 the same term is used in referring to the the comfort of the Holy Ghost. The sacred Scriptures are the intelligence of the "spiritual man". He does not give way to the intelligence of man on the natural plane. His intelligence is a much higher level. His is the intelligence of the sacred Scriptures, and the Scriptures are the revelation of the mind of the Holy Spirit. The reason why the sacred Scriptures have the ability to comfort when all else fails is because they are divine, and they bring the life into practical contact with the eternal Spirit of God.

Certainly there is a great need in the world today for solid, definite, deep comfort. Life has away of rising up and wounding us in various regards. Sometimes these woundings are so deep that no human word and no human work can effect a comfort. But God's Word can reach the deeper levels of life and bring the SOLID COMFORT of God home to the heart.

Another great comfort which delight the soul in the time of trial is referred to in Psalm 119:76. "Grant, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort according to thy word unto thy servant." THE MERCIFUL KINDNESS OF GOD IS A GREAT SOURCE OF COMFORT. When one is filled with anxiety and care, he should meditate much upon the merciful kindness of the Lord. It is one thing to be kind to someone; it is another thing to have that kindness bathed in mercy. This refers to being kind to one who does not deserve it. We are never more Godlike than when we are manifesting merciful kindness.

Another great source of comfort for the believer is that of the word of prophecy. "But he that PROPHESIETH speaketh unto men to edification, exhortation and comfort." ( I Cor.14:3) This does not refer to ordinary preaching, nor does it refer to the doctrine of last things. When one prophesies he speaks (in the language of the people) that which builds up, encourages and comforts them. But he does so under the rich anointing of the Holy Spirit so that this is really a LIVING WORD of the indwelling Christ flowing forth. "For ye may all PROPHESY one by one that all may learn and ALL MAY BE COMFORTED." ( I Cor. 14:13).

Many can testify of times when the heart was gripped by fear, anxieties, doubts, mental conflicts or even confusion, how God swept it all away and brought the delight of heaven home to them through a clear word of prophecy flowing forth in the assembly. It is possible to hear the word of prophecy flowing forth through a yielded vessel and know that this is the voice of God to your own heart.

"If there be any COMFORT OF LOVE, if any fellowship of the Spirit...." (Philippians 2:1) -this is the love of God, and it comforts the heart. The world is filled with individuals who are battling problems which stem directly from a sense of rejection. Perhaps they were rejected by their peers and their schoolmates. The wounds left in the wake of such experiences can be very deep and in some instances, even disastrous. What is the answer to this? It is the COMFORT OF THE LOVE OF GOD - to know that God loves! What great need there is for individuals who will become pure clean channels through which the love of God can flow.

"Thy rod and thy staff, THEY COMFORT ME." (Psalm 23:4) This is an Oriental picture. It refers to the shepherd and the wandering or wounded sheep. The Oriental shepherd's staff was sometimes called a "crook" because of the way it was fashioned on one end. This crook was used to reach and lift the sheep that had fallen into a ravine. It is good to know that if one has fallen and been wounded, the Lord does not have leave the life alone to be ravaged by the wild beasts out of the pit. Rather, the Good Shepherd goes seeking the sheep. When he finds it, He uses the staff to lift it to the place of safety and comfort. It is the usual custom for the shepherd to carry the lamb close to his heart and to speak words of comfort to it on the way back to the fold.

Psalm 23:4 also speaks of the rod comforting. This likewise relates to the Oriental shepherd. At the close of the day each sheep passed under the rod and was counted. They were then carefully inspected to see if there had been any kind of wounding sustained through the day's journey. If the shepherd found wounding which needed his healing touch, he dropped the rod across the shoulders of the sheep. The sheep then know it was to turn aside and wait for the further PERSONAL WORD and PERSONAL WORK of the shepherd.

It is precious to know that the Lord looks us over at the close of each day. If we will wait before Him, He will not only inspect our lives carefully, but will also bring His healing touch to any area that might be in need of heaven's help and healing. Oh, that we might take more time at the close of the day to tarry in the presence of the Shepherd. I am sure we would rest better at night, and the ravages of sin, sickness and physical disease would not be allowed to increase in the life. It is also a great comfort to know that if one does happen to wander away and fall, the Lord will seek out that one who has fallen. He has His own special ways and means of contacting such and lifting that sheep to the place of safety, fellowship and comfort once again.

"And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I was praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away and THOU COMFORTESTS ME." (Isaiah 12:1) There is that within the nature of God which causes Him to flash out in anger against sin wherever He finds it. When the Lord Jesus Christ became sin for you and me, the righteous anger and holiness of God flashed and flamed out against the soul of the Savior who had become an offering for sin. Christ, for our sakes, became sin. The Word tells us in II Corinthians 5:21 that He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. If one feels that the anger of God has been directed toward because of sin or backsliding, let him turn to God in genuine confession of sin and true repentance, expressing the desire and determination by the grace of God to make a clean break with sin. The anger of the Lord is thus turned away, and more than that, the COMFORT OF GOD takes over.

As parents we could learn something here in relation to our children. If we have had to chastise and discipline them (perhaps because of sin and wrongdoing on their part) we many times will feel righteous anger in the process. But one there has been a change of attitude and repentance on the part of the child, there should be the manifestation of comfort, consolation and assurance.

The book of Isaiah is full of references to comfort. "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God" (Isaiah 40:1) "Sing O ye heavens; be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing O mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted." (Isaiah 49:13) "For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord: joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and voice of melody" (Isaiah 51:3) Here we learn that the comforts of God not only include consolation but also joy, gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.

"I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass" (Isaiah 51:12) The comfort of God, then, not brings forth joy and delight, but also COURAGE so that we are no longer afraid.

The comfort of God is also extended to all that mourn. "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; TO COMFORT ALL THAT MOURN.." (Isaiah 61:1-2) Are you mourning today for any reason? Then you are a qualified candidate for the comfort of God if you will simply call upon the Lord in obedience and faith.

The comfort of God is most tender. "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will comfort you" (Isaiah 66:13) Where does a mother get the ability to comfort a distraught child? Remember that both the strong fatherhood nature and the tender motherhood nature take their rise in God. God is both father and mother to His own.

"Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins" (Isaiah 40:2) The word translated comfort here means literally to speak upon or unto the heart. The comfort of God reaches the deepest areas and realms of man's need. The words of men may make an impact upon the intellect and even the reason in the human consciousness in certain regards. BUT THE COMFORT OF GOD REACHES THE HEART. It brings the healing, help and balm of Gilead to the life.

"I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners" (Isaiah 57:18) God is waiting even now to RESTORE to you the comforts of God which are rightfully yours if you belong to Him. Perhaps you have wandered, and as a direct result of your wandering, you are now in need of healing. God says He will heal you, and then He says He will lead you. As He leads you, the comforts of God will be restored to you.

"I create the fruits of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him" ( Isaiah 57:19 ) Thus the comforts of God not only delight the soul with great ecstasy and joy, but they also result in DEEP PEACE settling upon and enveloping the total life.

The word translated thoughts is found again in Psalm 139:23 -24. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." The word translated thoughts here refers to doubts, opinions, mental conflicts, etc. The psalmist brought all of his conflicts to the Lord, and he prayed for that deep heart searching. He did not want any wicked way in his life. He wanted to be led in the way everlasting. The way everlasting is the way of God's comfort which brings the delight of heaven into practical demonstration and manifestation in the midst of all the dilemmas of life.

One of the most precious verses of Scripture relative to thoughts of God is found in Jeremiah 29:11-13. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, not evil.....Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and ye shall find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

God's thought toward His people are thoughts of peace (not of trouble and calamity) which is the basic meaning of this term translated evil. We see these thoughts transformed into reality as we seek the Lord with all our hearts, and as we determine to do His will and be His COMPLETELY.

We can live in the delights of the Lord rather than the dilemmas of earth. GOD HAS AN ENVIRONMENT WITHIN AN ENVIRONMENT FOR HIS PEOPLE. In the multitude of anxious thoughts, the comforts of God bring delight to the soul.