Consider the Sparrow

Anxiety: a topic that has become increasingly prominent in America. According to recent statistics, over 40 million adults in America struggle with anxiety. That is over 18% of American adults. Not only is this topic widely talked about in culture, it is also one that the Bible has a lot to say about. So let’s look at what Jesus teaches us about it. 

Matthew 6:25-33 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat? Or What shall we drink? Or What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

This passage has always been such an encouragement and a good reminder to me about the character of God. God sees the sparrows and he perfectly provides for their needs. And are you not of more value then them?! God cares so much for you and has a perfect plan for you!

Now we know that the gospel brings salvation but it brings so much more than just salvation. With that salvation it also brings freedom. Freedom from anxiety. Though we often may not know what God’s plan is for us or understand it, we can always be confident that he does have a plan and he will provide for us. We can trust him for that no matter what.

Tim Keller said, “Non-clinical everyday anxiety is a daily statement to God saying, ‘I don’t think you have my best interest in mind.’” Do you truly believe that God always has your best interest in mind? If you do then anxiety has no place in your life. (To be very clear, I am talking here about what Tim Keller laid out: non-clinical, everyday anxiety, the anxiety that Jesus is talking about in Matthew 6).

Romans 8:32 further confirms God’s care and provision for us. It says, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” We serve a GOOD God. He wants to bless us and give us good things. Now, our version of what we think we need and God’s version may be different. But the question is, do we truly trust a good God to give us what we need in his perfect timing? If we have not yet received something whether it is an answer to a question, clarity on life’s next step, or a gift we desire, then we do not yet need that. The end of our passage today says to seek first the kingdom of God. So another question I may ask, is what is your first priority in life? What are you seeking after? For what we are seeking after will inform how we live our lives.

A poem that also speaks to anxiety was written by Elizabeth Cheney in 1859. This is what she wrote:

“Said the Robin to the Sparrow: 

‘I should really like to know

Why these anxious human beings

Rush about and worry so.’

Said the Sparrow to the Robin:

‘Friend, I think that is must be

That they have no Heavenly Father

Such as cares for you and me.’”

The God of the universe cares deeply, intimately, and personally about you as an individual. Let that truth sink in. Charles Spurgeon said, “Come boldly believer, for despite the whisperings of Satan and the doubting of your own heart, you are greatly loved.”

You are so loved, dear friend.

Today may you be reminded of the sparrow and know that in Christ you can have freedom from anxiety.

LEAH REIST / GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

The Depressed Christian

In February of this year, I had the joy and privilege of teaching at our annual women’s retreat. I spoke to the women of our church about God being our refuge, our strength, a subject I had been studying for months leading up to it. Imagine my surprise then when, 17 days later, I would find myself being led in a wheelchair into station 32 of the psychiatric wing of the hospital, where I would spend the next eight days clawing my way out of the literal depths of despair. Those eight days are their own story in and of themselves, of which I would happily spend an hour or two discussing over a cup of coffee, but the question I want to try and answer in a small way here is this: How does a Christian bear up under the burden of mental health illnesses, of any variety, while maintaining a “give it all to Jesus” mentality? Is it possible? Is there an imaginary line somewhere where medicine and self-compassion stop helping so Jesus steps in (or vice-versa)? Or should we not even have these mental health issues to begin with because we should just believe/pray/fast/love/etc more because the gospel of Jesus Christ is definitely “here’s your shovel, now dig your way out”? 

The answer, I feel, is two-fold, and I am going to steal our pastor’s terminology for this. This is a sun/moon issue, where we have a bigger issue, with a bigger answer, and a smaller issue, with a smaller answer, which really is just a reflection of the bigger answer. Clear as mud? Good, let’s move on.

The bigger issue is this: our separation from God. The bigger issue is this chasm that is so deep and so wide that we would never be able to cross it on our own, even if our mental health was at its peak. We could never have a sad thought again for the rest of our lives, and still our happy little smile-factories would not even be able to put a dent in the wide gap that separates us from our holy and good God. And yet, this gap was bridged, by a love that was wider and deeper than the forces that kept us apart. And the Gap-Bridger, the Chasm-Leaper, his name is Jesus, and the work that he did on the cross was far more powerful than the dark that may have surrounded you in the past, or perhaps surrounds you now. And the beauty of it all? You don’t have to see it to believe it. You don’t have to feel it to be so incredibly assured of its truth that you can sense a piece of calm, even if it’s a tiny piece, in the chaos of the storm. Because God doesn’t wait for the horizon. God IS the horizon. God spoke, and Light broke into the world, first in creation, then in Jesus. The darkness didn’t stand a chance. 

The beauty of this, outside of the breathtaking beauty of the gritty and real and overwhelming love that God has for you, is that absolutely none of it depends on you, and especially on your mental health status. The bloody work that Jesus did on the cross happened outside of you, for you. You cannot make it better; you cannot mess it up. When you look to your heart and see its innate brokenness, which perhaps is even a bit easier to do when trapped in the dark, and you hand those broken pieces to Jesus, you leave yourself empty-handed… blessedly, comfortingly empty-handed. And when you are in the dark, that is a very good thing to be.

The smaller issue then is where do we go from that truth? Should that be enough? The answer is yes, it is enough, but also no, we don’t stop there. I told you, clear as mud. The truth is we are broken physical creatures, living in a broken physical world. There are things that, though they hold no bearing on our salvation and everlasting joy and peace with Jesus, can and should be attended to, and our mental health is most certainly one of those things. We have a God who has given us creative minds, minds that instinctually (for the most part) see a problem and want to fix it. And this is a good thing. This is a way that God has made us in His image. And we have minds among us that are passionate about learning about the brain, and learning how to help when things go awry. Use those minds. Seek help. It was not meant to be like this. Living in the dark is something that we can do if that is what the Lord has planned for us, but let it not be for setting aside the resources that He Himself has set before you. The weird, tricky call of Christianity is that we are to be prepared for suffering, expect it even. But the awesome, magnificent call of Christianity is also to cry out to the God who loves you in times of distress! And we can do that because of the gospel. We can do that because the gap is already closed. We can do that because having an illness does not mean that you are not redeemable, and we serve a God who delights to help His children.

In a group therapy session recently, the subject of hope was brought up. We were asked to talk about if we had it, and what we could do to bring more of it into our lives. I thought about that for a long time, and came away with this answer. There are days when I have no hope, where I am convinced that this is what my life will be for the rest of my days, the dark pushing in with no rhyme or reason, and me just barely surviving it. Those days come and those days go. But every day, I have Hope. I have a Hope that, though this feels unbearable at times, it is just a blip in eternity, and that regardless of how this plays out or if I ever find freedom from depression, the last chapter reads the same. It is a Hope unaffected by the amount of tears I shed, or the amount of hours I sleep to dull the pain. It is a Hope that can never be scared off by the thoughts that play in my head, because it has seen worse and prevailed. It is a Hope that has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with Him. 

One of the most debilitating things for my own personal depression was the isolation, so if you are reading this and are currently experiencing depression or have and never sought help, I encourage you to start here: Pray. Tell God of your suffering, and then tell a trusted friend or family member. We were promised suffering, yes, but we were never promised isolation. We were promised a body with which to mourn and to rejoice. Let those around you help you. And on the days when you can do no more than that, rest easy, for the biggest work has already been done. 

LAURA RINAS / GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

Summer in the City, Living on Mission Together

Summers in Minnesota are incredible and there is nothing like them. Between the weekends at the cabin, music festivals, late night patio seating at your favorite pub/restaurant, and exploring all our city has to offer, it is one of the best times of year that school kids and adults alike look forward to. 

And even though summers may look different (youth will soon be off of school, most of us will take vacations, we move to just one service on Sundays starting June 9th, Community Groups and HLI take a break, etc.), Hiawatha Church’s mission (and our mission as an extension) of making disciples continues. Pastor Chris reminded us this past Sunday of the importance of being on mission together and how that demonstrates the gospel and also the nature of our God (who himself is trinity, an eternal community).

Below are some ideas for us as individuals, community groups, families, or as a church to be strategic as we live on mission this summer. Minnesotans come out of hibernating, yards are full of neighbors, students aren’t in classes, and the lakes, parks, and streets are full of people. Think of what you’re already doing (gardening, concerts, kids’ sports, vacation, etc.) and intentionally look for ways to build relationships with those around you. “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity” -Ephesians 5:15-16. 

Hiawatha Church, let’s be used by Jesus this summer!

• First, join your church family in prayer. As we desire to see our city transformed with the gospel, we start with prayer. Pray for more conversions, for God to use us and bless our neighborhood and city, for current and future church plants, and for mission in general.

• Host a neighborhood BBQ: invite those you know and use this as an easy excuse to show hospitality and meet neighbors you haven’t yet.

• Get or make a fire pit: invite people over to make smores and have great conversations deep into the night.

• Holidays/Celebrations: host a party or get together with a group of friends to attend one of our many summer festivities: 4th of July, National Night Out, Longfellow Corn Feed, State Fair, Open Streets, outdoor movies, and countless festivals, concerts, and activities across the city.

• Sign your kid(s) up for a sport or activity at one of the local parks (or gymnastics that meets at our building). Then show up. Meet other parents. Connect with other families. Want more ideas about connecting youth sports in the park system with missional living? Contact one of our locally supported ministries: R.O.C.K.

• What are you good at or excited about? Host it at your home or in your yard. Whether it is an acoustic concert on your deck or porch, a lawn game tournament, a stop on the Lola art crawl, or an outdoor movie, connect your passion and talents with opportunities to build relationships.

• Enjoy our local green spaces (here's our local favorite). Meet new people or meet up with friends and neighbors.

• Invite someone out for lunch after a Sunday service.

• Visit your local Farmer’s Market: go often and to the same vendors, learning their names, and building a relationship with them as well as participate in the community that many Farmer’s Markets create.

• Join a local garden (if you don’t already have one in your yard). There are a number of them in South Minneapolis. There will be lots of opportunities to meet people as you garden alongside others.

 "I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people" -1 Timothy 2:1

Through the power of the Spirit, let’s be a church (individually and corporately) that intentionally moves into our city this summer to reach those who don’t yet know the saving power of Jesus!

SPENCER PETERSON / COMMUNITY LIFE PASTOR