I worry.
Worry is a sin.
I don’t want to sin.
Worry begins as a slippery, benign thought that worms its way into your soul (after it has morphed into a weird little brain train in your head) that ends up being heart palpitations and insomniac nights.
My son is taking his three little boys on a mission trip. I can only think of drug war lords and intestinal parasites. My mom and dad are getting close to the 80 year mark and I live seven hours away if I leave right now. My son and daughter in law are expecting a baby this summer and she has cystic fibrosis and is an insulin dependent diabetic. They live in another state and I can’t wash her dishes and mop her floors so she can rest. Fox News keeps telling me there will be no social security when I am 65 and my pastor is in the middle of a series on the book of James. The stucco on the foundation of my house seems to be developing cracks. I think I might have offended someone today on Face book.
See. You are probably worried about me now.
Jesus asked us why we worry. I guess it was as close to sarcastic as Jesus got.
Matthew 6:27 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
Seriously… what good does it do?
I have spent a lifetime living the motto “got a problem-solve it.” You would think I have accumulated enough insight to realize the absurdity of worry. Why would I need God to help me understand something so simple?
Instead I have to talk myself down, out of my emotional tree, and process Jesus words. Can I add a single hour to my life if I worry? No.
Again I shove my face in my pillow, talking into the dark of night to the One who knows me best and loves me most, the One who is awake and attuned. David said, “From the ends of the earth He heard me. He attended unto my cry.”
I need Him. I need His presence to flush the worry out of my soul. Ever faithful… He hears me. Ever faithful… He attends unto me.
Oh the sweet release of giving it to the One who can handle it all, the sovereign God who is above all and over all.
His mercy makes us strong!
Phyllis
This is one of the hardest for most people to get into their hearts. We know that it does no good to worry, it only brings on more worry, sickness and depression. Yet sometimes we feel like if we don’t worry we don’t care enough. That is a lie. I am learning to worry less, but I want to get better and better about letting God do my worrying for me. With the help of His Spirit I can.
2 Corinthians 10: 4-5- “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
I constantly quote these verses when I’m worried or anxious. I take those thoughts captive and MAKE them obedient to Christ! I know there is warfare going on around me and I want to be as prepared as I can!
Wow, I read Oswald Chambers the other day. He called worry infidelity! Now there is something to ponder. I know my life has changed so much; I worry more now than I used to. I am looking forward to this slower summer season so I can get on top of these thoughts.
He will keep in perfect peace he whose mind is stayed on thee..
I love it!