In this edition of UBC Sermon Discussions Jason answers questions that originated from his sermon out of Matthew 6:25-34. Part 2 of UBC’s “When We Pray” series.

The main idea for the sermon was: When we pray we pray for our needs with hearts of faith.

Questions discussed in this episode:

Q. How would you counsel someone who is struggling because they have prayed in faith for the salvation of a loved one, but their loved one passed away without ever receiving salvation?

Q. This week’s passage was from Matt 6:25-34. It talked a lot about “anxiety” and being “anxious.” Jesus mentions the word anxious six different times in the passage. But, people have a lot of presumptions about what being anxious or having anxiety means. Can you clarify?

Q. Is it possible that someone can experience anxiety and that it’s not always due to a lack of faith, but rather to a hormonal imbalance or an unregulated nervous system?

Q. What would you say to believers who truly trust that God loves them, but they feel like they’re “failing spiritually” because they take anxiety medication? These are people who  are regularly praying and seeking God in the Word, but because they take anxiety meds, they’re thinking “What is wrong with me?” Is there any encouragement for them?

Q. We take medication without shame for many physical disorders (diabetes, heart conditions, hormonal imbalances), yet mental health medication often carries a stigma in Christian spaces…and it seems many leaders just avoid addressing it.  Why do you think that is?

Q. How can the church better support people who are walking faithfully with God while also needing therapy or medication for anxiety?

Q. Is it okay to plan for the future? Planning helps me to not be anxious. Yet, Jesus says "Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Does that mean we shouldn’t make plans for the future?

Resources: Daily Prayer Prompts

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