Alfred E. Neuman, the jug
eared, tousle-headed, gap-toothed grinning icon that has graced the cover of
Mad Magazine for decades, appears perpetually unperturbed by whatever is going
on around him. His is an absurdly anxiety free existence. No matter what
transpires, “What, me worry?”
Ah, if it were only so easy.
In truth, only a fictitious character is capable of uttering such a statement.
Real life is fraught with too many opportunities to fret. Whether close at hand
or coming to us from thousands of miles away through various forms of media, an
uncertain and threatening future looms, troubling our souls.
There’s no denying the many
sources of uncertainty, but is there an alternative to worry? The Scriptures
clearly teach that there is. Jesus acknowledges the reasons for why we might be
troubled, but he urges us to look above the temporal circumstance to the One
who dwells in eternity. This is not some “pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by” pitch on
his part. On the contrary, he is asserting that we can have a bold assurance
that our “heavenly Father,” the one who “clothes the grass of the field” in
raiment more wonderful than anything Solomon wore, and feeds the birds of the
air who “neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,” will take care of us, for we
are “of more value” than the other beloved objects of his creation. (Cf.
Matthew 6:25-34)
The apostle Paul similarly
encourages confidence in the face of circumstances that give rise to worry. As
Jesus assured that he would never leave or forsake us, and he fulfilled his
promise by sending the Holy Spirit to communicate his love and care for us, the
apostle, knowing that “the Lord is at hand,” instructs us to “not be anxious
about anything.” Rather than worry, he teaches that we should pray: “in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God.” What will result from this, he assures, is our worry being
replaced with “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” that “will
guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:5-7).
On this side of life, I
don’t think we’ll ever get to the place of blissful, unperturbed equanimity
suggested by Mad Magazine’s front man. But we can pursue the promised peace that
God offers by turning to him in prayer, “casting all [our] anxieties on him
because he cares for [us]” (Cf. 1 Peter 5:7).
