“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matt. 6:27)
I AM A WORRYWART. I know that my worry indicates I don’t trust God, but still, I worry. I worry when my husband faces surgery. What if he does not survive? I worry about my own health. What if I become a burden to my family? I worry about having sufficient resources to see us through our senior years. What if we outlive our savings?
Jesus plainly told us we are not to worry. After all, God provides food and feathers for the birds; will He not also provide for our physical needs? Worry affects my health and occupies my mind. It adds stress to my life and keeps me from thinking about more important things.
I’ve found I cannot worry and pray at the same time. As I tell God my worries, He erases them. He assures me that He is in control. I can trust Him, whatever the outcome of a situation may be. Oh, sure, I may later start worrying all over again, but that simply serves as a call to once again connect with God. Since worry disrupts my relationship with God, I counter worry by building up that relationship through praying and reading God’s Word and other inspirational books. I spend time with other Christians because they remind me that God is loving and kind and works through the very problems I tend to worry about.
Pray about something that worries you, then watch for God to act.
Shirley Brosius writes from Millersburg, Pennsylvania. She is enjoys reading, walking, and playing board games with her five grandchildren.
© 2017 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
