What Do You Have to Worry About?

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let
petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful
what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
(Philippians 4:6-7 MSG).

Very simply, this passage tells us not to worry. Simple in theory, but difficult in application--right? Can you even imagine not worrying about anything? What would occupy our mind throughout our day if the worries of life did not consume our thoughts? You know the worries that seem to take center stage--family concerns, job security, financial well-being--to generally name a few. These things concern us, and, at times, we wonder what would life be like if one of these general areas was knocked off center.

The good news--God understands our concerns. So much so, He empowered the apostle Paul to write these words in a time when Paul had, from a wordly perspective, a great deal to worry about. To Paul, these were not just hollow words written on paper. These were words poured out by his own flesh and blood. God gave Paul His grace and strength to not worry. He does the same for you and I.

Rather than worry, God's word tells us to pray with a heart full of thanks. In doing so, He offers His peace. This is not some shallow peace found in the moment based upon positive thinking, absence of conflict, or in good feelings. God's peace defies our understanding. It is based upon the absolute fact that He is in control, that He is completely trustworthy, and that He is completely in love with you.

What do you have to worry about? I encourage you to allow His life, which is living through yours, to meet your worries at their source. And, allow His truth to show you that He is working everything together for good--your good. In this, you have His peace.

Enjoying His Peace,

Dave

The Strawberry

Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to this life. . . . Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6: 25-26; 34).

This is Jesus' encouragement to His disciples and those gathered around Him during what is known today as the Sermon on the Mount. As applicable as these words were then, they may be even more applicable today. Jesus knew that we would tend to worry about things around us. Things and circumstances, that many times we have very little if any control over, that absolutely weigh us down. Jesus does not want us to be burdened with these thoughts. Instead, He desires that we place our trust in Him. Sometimes, this is easier said than done.

Recently, I came across a story that really hit this point home for me.

There was a man out for a walk in the country. Soon, he caught sight of a ferocious tiger racing through the brush straight at him. Terrified, the man began to run, and soon was closing in on the edge of a cliff. As he neared the edge, he glanced back to see the tiger about ready to pounce. The man then noticed a rope dangling over the edge of the cliff. This rope was tied securely to a sturdy tree. So, he grabbed the rope and began climbing over the edge of the cliff--just out of the reach of the tiger. The man then looked down and saw a quarry of jagged rocks five hundred feet below. He looked up and saw the tiger poised atop the cliff. Just then, two mice began to nibble on the rope. What was he to do? Just then, he spotted a wonderful, ripe strawberry that had grown on the edge of the cliff. So, he plucked the strawberry, ate it, and exclaimed "that was the best strawberry I've ever tasted."

If this man would have been preoccupied upon the rocks (the future) or worried about the tiger (the past), he would have missed the strawberry (the present). Since my accident on May 11, 2008, God has taught me to appreciate the moment. There is little I can do about the past, and the future is unknown. I desire every day to trust God in the moment He has me in. Does this mean I never worry? No! But, His life is transforming my life moment by moment. Through His strength, I am learning to look for the strawberries. It is amazing how many there are around!

Stay Strong,

Dave