Christ saves from fear and anxiety

The Parable of the Lost Sheep shows us that the Lord our Shepherd is not in the business of disflocking, beating or abandoning His sheep that go astray or leaving us to the devices of the devourer. His eyes never leave us. His rod and His staff they comfort us. Covered on every side!

There is comfort in knowing that as Christ's sheep, He saves us ALWAYS, even when all seems to be going downhill, the troubles are of our own making and it looks like the lion already has us in its mouth. Remember what David said to Saul as Saul tried to dissuade him from facing Goliath in 1 Samuel 17: 34-37:

"34....David said, “I take care of my father's sheep. Any time a lion or a bear carries off a lamb, 35 I go after it, attack it, and rescue the lamb. And if the lion or bear turns on me, I grab it by the throat and beat it to death."

36 I have killed lions and bears, and I will do the same to this heathen Philistine, who has defied the army of the living God. 37 The Lord has saved me from lions and bears; He will save me from this Philistine.”

Just imagine what was going on in the mind of the lamb that David saved while it was in the mouth of the lion or bear: acute fear and anxiety akin to what many of us deal with today as we get carried off by lions and bears of bills to pay, poor health prognoses, work targets, kids' homework, the safety of our loved ones, acts of sin and addictions, thoughts of what the future holds and what other people think of us! David here is a picture of Christ. One with Him and not cut off from Him by trying to make ourselves right with God by doing what the law commands (Galatians 5:4,) He says to us:

“I take care of my father's sheep. Any time a lion or a bear carries off a lamb, 35 I go after it, attack it, and rescue the lamb. And if the lion or bear turns on me, I grab it by the throat and beat it to death."

The lamb cannot rescue itself from the mouth of the lion. The lamb gets rescued ONLY because it is a part of the flock and even our being a part of the flock is by grace. See how we are a member of Christ's flock in John 6: 

"43-46 Jesus said, “Don’t bicker among yourselves over Me. You’re not in charge here. The Father who sent Me is in charge. He draws people to Me—that’s the only way you’ll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End."

Only Christ can rescue you from all your anxieties. By grace believe, "for He who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23.

Also consider verse 36-37 of 1 Samuel 17- "I have killed lions and bears, and I will do the same to this heathen Philistine, who has defied the army of the living God. 37 The Lord has saved me from lions and bears; He will save me from this Philistine.”

The "Philistine" here represents anything that puts terror in you or causes you to worry, just as Goliath put terror in the hearts of the Israelites. "The same yesterday, today and forever-" Jesus Christ - will save you from all that strikes terror in you.

Believer, know that no matter the turmoil that is going on in your heart right now, no matter the multitude of worries and anxieties that beset you because it seems like life's problems are carrying you away in its mouth, like a shepherd with its sheep that gets in trouble, even troubles of its own making, Jesus Christ The Good Shepherd will never condemn you, leave you to get yourself out of the pit or ask you to go and sow seed or fast before He rescues you. He will save you. In Him, we don't GIVE TO GET; we GET TO GIVE.

That barter arrangement of "play your part or else God will not bless you" is how to get cut off from Christ. Our part is to believe Jesus Christ and even this we do by Grace (John 6:44.) His salvation (from everything we need saving from- worry, anxiety, acts of sin, lack, fear, disease, depression, accidents, oppression, silly mistakes, stress, too much kids' homework, whatever) is not a reward for the good things we have done: Ephesians 2:

"8 For it was only through this wonderful grace that we believed in Him. Nothing we did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the gracious gift from God that brought us to Christ! 9 So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving."

Live life loved by the Lord our Shepherd. He leads us on the path of righteousness. He keeps us from going astray. He sets us on our feet when we fall. Know that even as you go through those phases in life where it seems like the lion/bear of life's challenges is carrying you (Christ's lamb) off and your heart is "cutting" from fear and anxiety, this is happening:

“I take care of my father's sheep. Any time a lion or a bear carries off a lamb, 35 I go after it, attack it, and rescue the lamb. And if the lion or bear turns on me, I grab it by the throat and beat it to death."

The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.