The Raw Reality – Worry

I would like to take a moment and discuss something I’ve really been struggling with lately – worry.  With a new baby coming and financial and life changes approaching, I have been finding it difficult to trust that all will work out.  Don’t get me wrong; I feel incredibly blessed to have two beautiful children, an amazing loving relationship with my husband, a healthy pregnancy and baby, a roof over our heads, food on the table, a support system filled with great family and friends, and most importantly a loving and saving God.  With all of these spectacular things in my life, why do I find the need to worry?  It is such a useless emotion.  Does it really do us any good?  It causes stress, friction within relationships, and even health problems.  Worst of all, it is a sin.  And with our Savior, there really is no need for it.  Although there have been hard times, He guarantees He will never leave our side and will never give us more than we can handle.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

He has never backed out on these promises and I say I trust them, yet I still find myself, up in the middle of the night, racking my brain over simple life issues that I know deep down are not worth worrying about.  Yes, I do believe that God gives us resources to provide us with answers and help us along the way.  I don’t think we should just stay stagnant.  We should use these tools.  For instance, if there is a medical treatment for something someone is going through, why would we not utilize the gifts that God has given such as trained medical professionals and modern medicine?  Yes, prayer is powerful and effective.  But sometimes the answer to our prayers is in the form of someone else’s talents or something right in front of our faces.  If we’re stranded on an island and praying to be rescued, do we pass up on the boat that stops?  No!  That is an answer to our prayer, a resource/tool that God has provided.  So yes, we should use resources to plan ahead and be financially smart.  But is worrying the answer?  No!  We would be so much more joyful if we trust that God will take care of us.

Isn’t that the truth?  Every day has so many problems already.  We could be using our talents to benefit others.  Worry is such a selfish thing, don’t you think?  Plus, it puts us in a dormant state.  We need to stay active, both in our physical and spiritual lives.  Goals are constantly being set in life, whether it be for our careers, relationships, housekeeping, what have you.  This allows us to move forward, to work towards something.  Staying active in our faith and trusting God to catch us when we fall is even more important.  If we focus on the gifts God has bestowed on us and the people we are surrounded by, we won’t feel the need to anguish over things we can’t necessarily control.  Let the One, who knows all, who created you and knows every hair on your head, guide you on your life journey.

This doesn’t mean staying idle, but moving forward and standing firm in the foundation of the Word.  THIS is our greatest tool.  THIS is what I need to stay focused on.  My prayer is this, taken from a popular hymn, Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee, take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.  My problems are minute and are there for a purpose.  Let me aim my thoughts, words, and actions toward God and His purpose.  As we find ourselves struggling with worry, please remember that He is in control, that He will not forget you, and that with Him all things are possible.