LESSON 2   
   *January 1 - 7   
   Divine Provision for Anxiety   
      
   SABBATH AFTERNOON   
      
   Read for This Week's Study: Gen. 3:6-10; 15:1-3; John 14:1, 2; Matt. 6:25-34;   
   18:3; Phil. 4:11, 12.   
      
   Memory Text:   
      
      
   "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7, NIV).   
    Scripture is filled with verses containing words such as afraid, anxiety,   
   anxious, fret, frightened, and terrified. Many references have to do with what   
   people are anxious and fearful about; others with the promises of divine   
   reassurance to those who are fearful or anxious. The message "Do not be   
   afraid" runs across Scripture with strength and persistence.   
      
   And why not? After all, fear and anxiety have been part of human existence   
   since sin entered this earth. Anxiety, or fear about what may happen, is one   
   of the most dangerous emotions for mental and physical health. A medieval   
   legend tells of the traveler who one night met Fear and Plague on their way to   
   London, where they expected to kill 10,000 people. The traveler asked Plague   
   if he would do all the killing. "Oh no," Plague answered. "I shall kill only a   
   few hundred. My friend Fear will kill the rest."   
      
   This week's lesson is about how, through divine power, we can have some relief   
   from fear and anxiety. Trust in God and contentment are key factors in looking   
   at the future with confidence.    
   *Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 8.   
   SUNDAY   
   January 2   
      
   The First Fearful Experience   
      
   Read Genesis 3:6-10. It is difficult to relate to Adam and Eve's first   
   encounter with fear, because none of us can remember the first time we   
   experienced this emotion. Developmental psychologists have confirmed that   
   infants from early life face definite fears, mostly of going hungry and of   
   sharp noises. Growing children and adolescents go through a variety of fears,   
   as well: fear of animals, of darkness, of being alone; fear of school-related   
   situations, separation from parents, fear of not growing up, or of being   
   rejected by peers. Adults also are subject to common apprehensions associated   
   with their particular life circumstances: fear of not finding a suitable life   
   partner, of not finding the right job, of terrorist attacks, of contracting a   
   chronic or fatal disease, of being assaulted, of dying, etc.   
      
   Ellen G. White says that after Adam ate the forbidden fruit, "the thought of   
   his sin filled him with terror" and that the mild temperature of Eden chilled   
   the guilty couple. They were left with "a sense of sin, a dread of the future,   
   a nakedness of soul."--Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 57.   
      
   Consider the following sample of promises against fear and anxiety. Identify   
   the distinctive component of each of them.   
   	o 	Ps. 23:4   
      
   	o 	Prov. 1:33   
   	o 	Hag. 2:5   
      
   	o 	1 Pet. 3:14   
   	o 	1 John 4:18, 19   
      
      
   Fear and anxiety are very common. They also are frequent, destructive, and   
   painful. Common anxiety symptoms include apprehension, worry, insomnia,   
   jitters, tension, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, breathlessness,   
   sweating, difficulty in concentrating, and hypervigilance. Anxiety also may   
   come with panic attacks. God is interested in freeing us from such undesirable   
   experiences and invites us to trust in Him.   
   What things make you especially afraid, and why? How rational is your fear?   
   What practical steps can you take either to remove the thing that makes you   
   afraid or to alleviate the fear itself? MONDAY   
   January 3   
      
   Do Not Be Afraid   
      
   Read Genesis 15:1-3. What was Abram's source of fear? What valid reasons did   
   he have to fear?    
   God called Abram and promised to make him into a great nation. Seeing that   
   years passed by and he had no heir, Abram dwelt on this issue, and it became   
   his favorite worry. Verses 2 and 3 (NIV) reveal the core of Abram's fear: "   
   'Who will inherit my estate? . . . A servant in my household will be my heir!'   
   " The attitude seems a generalized reaction inherent to human nature, which is   
   to perpetuate something of ourselves, something to carry on our influence even   
   after we die.   
      
   God's response to Abram's concerns was, " 'Do not be afraid. . . . I am your   
   shield, your very great reward' " (Gen. 15:1, NIV). The future of our lives,   
   and even our future even after our death, is in the hands of our heavenly   
   Father. He knows that freedom from anxiety is one of our greatest needs, and   
   He wants us to be content today and confident about tomorrow.   
      
   Look up the following texts. What were the circumstances into which the Lord's   
   reassuring message " 'Do not be afraid' " (NIV) is introduced? 	o 	Deut. 31:8   
   	o 	2 Chron. 20:17   
   	o 	Luke 21:9   
   	o 	John 14:27   
      
   Anxiety is manifested through distress about uncertainties. Such uncertainties   
   may be near or far in the future, and they may not even happen; for the time   
   being, they exist only in the mind. Yet, the symptoms of anxiety are quite   
   real, both emotionally and physically, and can be painful. No wonder the Lord   
   wishes to free us from them.   
   How can you best use God's assurance--"Do not fear"--in whatever situation you   
   are in? How can you remember that no matter what you are facing, God is   
   stronger and bigger than that challenge and that He loves you with a love   
   greater than the fears you have? TUESDAY   
   January 4   
      
   Trust Against Anxiety   
      
   Reflect on the comforting words of Jesus to His disciples in John 14:1, 2.   
   What happened immediately before? Where does He direct their thoughts?    
   These loving words encourage trust. Trust in the Father, trust in Jesus,   
   because this is a trust that can free the troubled heart from gazing at the   
   future in distress. Jesus immediately takes the disciples' attention to the   
   kingdom that He is preparing for them. In other words, no matter what happens   
   to you here, no matter how bad things are, this is what you have waiting for   
   you. Thus, trust in Me and My promises. This is what Jesus said to them then   
   and is saying to us now.   
      
   In some counseling sessions clients act out roles relevant to real-life   
   situations that lead to increased self-confidence and enhanced self-esteem. In   
   addition, they learn how to manage their thoughts when anxiety is near, so   
   that the mind may be focused on safe themes. They also are taught relaxation   
   and breathing techniques to be used in critical situations.   
      
   Although those strategies enjoy a relatively high level of success, they focus   
   on gaining trust in oneself in order to reduce the chances of feeling anxious.   
   This is acceptable but incomplete, because trust in ourselves is but a small   
   step. We need, in the end, to learn to trust in God.   
      
   How does the psalmist compare trust in God with trust in humanity? Ps. 118:8,   
   9.    
   Humans can be fickle and moody, whereas God and His promises never change. The   
   king of Italy and the king of Bohemia promised reformer Jan Hus safe transport   
   and safe custody. They broke their promises, and Hus was martyred. In a   
   separate case, King Charles I sent Thomas Wentworth, an English statesman, a   
   document saying, "Upon the word of a king you shall not suffer in life,   
   honour, or fortune." Shortly afterward, however, Wentworth's death warrant was   
   signed by the same ruler.   
      
   What is Jesus saying to us in Matthew 18:3?    
   The first task of infants is to develop trust in their mother or caregiver.   
   Once this has been accomplished, little ones will feel content and confident   
   about the world and the future that awaits them. This is the beginning of   
   trust. Jesus asked us to relate to Him as a child to his or her mother,   
   allowing ourselves to be soothed and comforted by His tender care. We, though,   
   have to make a conscious choice to do just that.   
   Spend a few moments remembering the times when God has answered your prayers   
   or provided the best for you. How can previous experiences such as these help   
   you to enhance your trust in your heavenly Father today for whatever difficult   
   situation you are facing and for whatever is making you feel anxious and   
   worried? WEDNESDAY   
   January 5   
      
   Of Birds and Lilies   
      
   Aside from Jesus' kind advice to avoid worry, what lessons can we obtain from   
   this segment of the Sermon on the Mount? Matt. 6:25-33.    
   Through this powerful text Jesus teaches a number of principles that, if   
   seriously followed, can protect the believer from much distress.   
      
   Keep things in perspective (vs. 25). A hectic schedule may make us lose sight   
   of the truly important things. Daily routines may distract us from what we   
   believe to be fundamental. God gave us life. God created our bodies. If He has   
   the power and the willingness to do that, will He not provide food to maintain   
   His creation? Will He not arrange for the necessary garments to dress our   
   bodies?   
      
   Become inspired by simple things from nature (vss. 26, 28-30). Sparrows and   
   lilies are among the most common things in nature. Jesus chose them as a   
   contrast to the immense complexity of human beings. It is obvious that   
   sparrows do not worry about tomorrow and that lilies do not toil to obtain the   
   latest fashion, yet they are well taken care of. " 'Will he not much more   
   clothe you?' " (vs. 30, NIV).   
      
   Worry is useless and pointless (vs. 27). Examining problems in order to find   
   possible solutions may be productive, but worrying for the sake of worrying   
   not only does nothing to solve the issue but magnifies the negative side of   
   things.   
      
   Straighten out your priorities (vs. 33). Christians sometimes may be caught in   
   the whirl of materialism or other things that can distract them from what   
   really matters in life; thus Jesus reminds them: " 'Seek first the kingdom of   
   God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you' "   
   (NKJV).   
      
   Winston Churchill said: "I remember the story of the old man who said on his   
   deathbed that he had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never   
   happened."-[http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/quotes/political/winston_churchill].   
   Take a look at the things that worry you, and then kneel down and pray, asking   
   God to take charge of all your worries. What are the concerns that you can   
   have a part in fixing? What are things that are absolutely beyond your   
   control? Do what you can to fix what you can, and then ask the Lord to help   
   you learn to trust in Him for the rest. THURSDAY   
   January 6   
      
   One Day at a Time   
      
   Read Matthew 6:34. What is Jesus telling us here? How can we learn to do what   
   He says? Why is it so important?    
   Putting into practice the message of Matthew 6:34 would bring so much peace to   
   people today. Jesus is not asking us to ignore planning or to be careless. He   
   simply is telling us not to worry about what may happen, not to use the   
   typical "What if" thoughts: "What if I get sick?" "What if I lose my job?"   
   "What if I have an accident?" "What if my child dies?" "What if someone   
   attacks me?"   
      
   The following list shows the various things that make up an average person's   
   anxiety. Anxious individuals focus on:   
   	o 	Fifty percent of events that will never happen   
   	o 	Twenty-five percent of occurrences of the past that cannot be changed   
   	o 	Ten percent about unconfirmed criticism by others   
   	o 	Ten percent about health (much of it apprehensive)   
   	o 	Five percent about real problems that will be faced   
      
   How can you gain inspiration from Paul's experience of contentment? Phil.   
   4:11, 12.    
   One of the keys for living one day at a time is contentment, an effective   
   antidote for worry. Contentment is not an inheritable attitude but an acquired   
   characteristic. Paul said that "I have learned the secret of being content in   
   any and every situation" (vs. 12, NIV). In this day and age, in which we face   
   so many problems, there is a need to develop a sense of contentment for what   
   we presently have and not to worry about what might come tomorrow.   
   Jesus said: " 'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to   
   you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be   
   afraid' " (John 14:27, NIV). In practical terms, how do you benefit from   
   Jesus' assurance of peace of mind? Share your answer in class on Sabbath. What   
   can you learn from each other? FRIDAY   
   January 7   
      
   Further Study:    
      
   "It is not work that kills; it is worry. The only way to avoid worry is to   
   take every trouble to Christ. Let us not look on the dark side. Let us   
   cultivate cheerfulness of spirit."--Ellen G. White, Mind, Character, and   
   Personality, p. 466.   
      
   "If we educated our souls to have more faith, more love, greater patience, a   
   more perfect trust in our heavenly Father, we would have more peace and   
   happiness as we pass through the conflicts of this life. The Lord is not   
   pleased to have us fret and worry ourselves out of the arms of Jesus. He is   
   the only source of every grace, the fulfillment of every promise, the   
   realization of every blessing. . . . Our pilgrimage would indeed be lonely   
   were it not for Jesus. 'I will not leave you comfortless' (John 14:18), He   
   says to us. Let us cherish His words, believe His promises, repeat them by day   
   and meditate upon them in the night season, and be happy."--Ellen G. White,   
   Mind, Character, and Personality, p. 468.    
   Discussion Questions:   
      
     As a class, go over your answer to Thursday's final question.    
     Some, without any real immediate reason for concern, are afraid to suffer   
   and die; others actually are experiencing a debilitating or terminal disease   
   that will likely kill them. Others perhaps truly are facing another   
   life-threatening situation. How can people in those circumstances be   
   comforted?    
     Jacob showed "great fear and distress" (Gen. 32:7, NIV) in preparing to meet   
   Esau. Joseph's brothers were "terrified" (Gen. 45:3, NIV) when Joseph revealed   
   his true identity. Discuss acceptable ways to deal with fears that come from   
   our own wrongdoing. Is there a difference in dealing with fears that we have   
   brought upon ourselves through our own wrong actions? If so, what is the   
   difference?    
    Job affirmed: "What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to   
   me" (Job 3:25, NIV). Can our fears become real by the "self-fulfilling   
   prophecy" effect? In other words, can a constant worry about something   
   happening actually help bring about the thing feared? Discuss.    
    Think about all the things you have worried about that never came to pass.   
   What lessons can you learn from these experiences that should, ideally, help   
   you worry less about the future now?   
      
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