So lately I feel
like God has really been teaching me about not worrying. I feel like this is a
lesson I continue to need to learn and often forget but lately it has been
everywhere I look.
A book I read the
other week defined worry as, " a disproportionate level of concern based
on an inappropriate measure of fear." There is a difference between having
legit concern and worry. Worry comes from a divided mind. We aren't focused on
what God is doing and can do in the situation but rather on the danger or
unrealistic fear we have of what is to come. This morning I was reading a
little devo and it talked about worry as well. It talked about focusing on
today and not worrying about tomorrow. One part of it said, "Most anxious
thoughts are related to the future…For today you need wisdom. For tomorrow you
need Faith." How often do I worry about tomorrow? And yet nothing good can
come from that worrying. It only hurts. Us. Our relationship with God. And even
our relationships with others at times. As well it can destroy our joy.
So why do we
continue to worry? As I was reading a book, the author gave an interesting
answer to this. It is because it makes us feel in control. We convince
ourselves that by worrying we can keep from harm and therefore have control.
But Jesus continually asks us to give him control and surrender those worries
to him. When we trust God, we focus on His kingdom and his abundant resources,
but when we live in worry we put ourselves on the throne and live for
ourselves. "Seeking the Kingdom first means facing our trials and troubles
not with anxiety but with trust that God can and will work through them."
Not worrying doesn't mean that we aren't going to have struggles in this life.
But rather that we know our Father has us in His hand and will use those things
for His glory. When we recognize that our identity is in Christ, and not
ourselves, those worries become less important and we are more focused on the
truth of the Kingdom.
"How much of
our prayer life is spent anxious? Spent trying to figure things out
ourselves?" Someone challenged me with this last week. I was challenged to
instead just sit with God about the things that make me worry or anxious, not
trying to change it. But just sitting with God and knowing that He is in
control. Psalm 46:10
Matt. 6:25-34
