Another chapter in our study...another area of weakness for me. I am a perpetual worrier. Sometimes I put on "worry" like an article of clothing and I wear it all day long. And it crushes my spirit.
What do I worry about? It varies from day to day, but let's start here: Is Brandi making it to school okay? Will she have a wreck? Is Drew having a good day? Did he remember his bookbag, homework? Where is my dog? Why did she run off again? Is he / she mad at me? Did I do a good job at work today? Will my boss forgive me for messing up? My dog needs water. I need to lay out supper. The laundry needs folding. My car needs gas. I need to pay my bills. I need to balance my checkbook. My kids need new clothes. I've got to get groceries. My husband needs me to be still. Drew needs a hug. And a glass of tea. And to be tucked in bed...again. On and on it goes. Not so bad. Just the average day, right?
"When I take one day at a time, life looks like a piece of cake! But more often then not, my mind is stretching forward, and I begin to worry about my tomorrow. Don't you? I hope it doesn't rain for Saturday's game. I hope my new boss isn't a tyrant. ... What if the house burns down? What if the plane crashes. I wonder if we have enough life insurance? What if I lose my job? What if it's cancer? Will we ever pay off the second mortgage? Do we have enough money for retirement? Sure, we need to plan ahead, but don't go borrowing trouble from tomorrow!" (A quote from the book, Managing My Moods.)
Here's what David says about worry:
Psalm 139:23, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties" The God who knows our hearts so well understands we get worried. He sees our fears.
Proverbs 12:25 puts it like this, "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad" Constant worry can haul us downwards into depression. Conversely, fear can be driven away quite easily. All that is needed is a good word from a friend.
And my personal favorite..."In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?" (Psalm 56:4). No matter what might come - struggles, disease, conflict, death - none of it can really touch the part of us that will live forever.
As Robert reminded us Sunday, "Our God is bigger." He's bigger than my problems. He's bigger than my worries. He's bigger than any circumstance. He's bigger than the building I'm sitting in. He's bigger than time. He's the Creator, the Master of everything. The Chief Builder, The Cornerstone. Why in the world would I worry? Surely, I can trust Him.
Say something nice to someone today. Smile. Laugh. And no worries,
