Worry is Like a Rocking Chair

I can’t remember when I last had those “knots-in-the-stomach” feelings. Those almost paralyzing feelings. Those, “What if?” feelings. But they hit me last week. I’d pray and quote scriptures and I’d rehearse those times when Jesus schooled his followers about fear and worry, “Oh you of little faith,” and “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” and “Don’t worry about tomorrow for tomorrow takes care of itself.” and “Woman, you have great faith.” I heard what He said, but somehow that “worry bug” was having a hay day inside my tummy. How well I know better.

In the words of the great philosopher, Erma Bombeck ;-) ...“Worry is like a rocking chair: It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.” From firsthand experience, I can tell you that statement is true. I've done my share of worrying.....and it has NEVER gotten me anywhere! I realized that it is a time waster, energy sucker, stomach nauseater, and a depression maker -- not to mention, that I disappointed God when I was a "Worry Wart". The Merriam Webster says a worry wart is someone who worries too much or who worries about things that are not important. But more than anything, it's admitting that I'm not trusting God to take care of the situations in my life.

Sometimes….as stalwart as I profess to be in my faith and trusting in God implicitly, I’m still vulnerable to the lies of the enemy. But thanks be to God, like rebooting a computer that is on the fritz or a cell phone that is on the fritz, I do a “refresh” and a “reboot” on my mental page and remember what I know to be true. "Cast the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you." (I Peter 5:6, 7) I love that image! I've been doing a lot of CASTING for fish with my grandsons, but we keep reeling the bait back in. But in that scripture, it means CASTING the cares -- all of them -- on Him....and NOT reeling them back in. We CAST them to Him....and let go of them.

I'm learning my lessons well. When worry starts knocking on my door.....I MUST quickly put my heart and mind on HIM who is my worry-bearer. "Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me" (Isaiah 26:3) I quickly go to His sweet place of peace and ease and comfort when I cast the cares, the worries and pressures to Him -- after all HE is the Prince of Peace so why should I worry or fret? And why should YOU worry or fret? He's sending a little love note to us right now: "My child, you worry too much! Remember? I've got this! Love, Your Dad (God)"