Oak Hill Church of Christ 9-7-25 Message: "Tranquili-Tree"

Oak Hill Church of Christ Preaching Minister, Randy Sterling, delivers a message on the importance of turning to Jesus in times of doubt and anxiousness.

The human mind is a very complex and wonderful thing. We can replace almost every organ in the body, and in some cases, even provide artificial ones. But, the mind stands alone as a special thing. It cannot be transplanted or replicated, and some of the things it does are still beyond even our most advanced technology.

For all of its wonder and creativity and capacity for good, the mind still has its problems. One of those problems is fixation; the mind perceives a problem and will not stop thinking about it until it comes up with a solution. For sudoku puzzles, this is a good thing, but for life's tragedies, it can be a real detriment.

God provides another solution. Instead of hyper-fixating on a problem that may not even have a solution, even though it troubles you, stop thinking about it. Instead, focus on God. Leave those problems beyond your understanding with God, and turn to something else.

If you lose power, do you head out to go work on the lines? Of course not. You know that job belongs to someone else. Sure, the loss of power affects you, but it's not a problem you can solve. It's bigger than you, and the problem may actually be far away. While you wait for the solution, maybe you light a candle, or decide to cook barbecue outside. Maybe you go to bed early, or sit out under the stars.

Would it surprise you to learn that God feels the same way about your life struggles? Not everything is a problem for you to solve. They may be things you have to live through or deal with, but the root cause may be far away and completely unknown to you. While you're waiting for Him to solve it, do something else. Appreciate something else.

This week, consider giving up those struggles to God and admitting that they were never your problem to solve in the first place. Trust in Him who leads you, and just do something else. Surrender the root cause of your frustration and anxiety: the belief that fixing the problem is your job. Instead, spend some time appreciating the good things which are part of God's blessing. Witness the beauty of His Creation.

After all, the stars are always brighter and more plentiful when the lights are off.