Friday, January 2, 2009

Don't Worry

Therefore,do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

I did not expect to go into the New Year with pneumonia--again; but here I am. On December 30, 2009, I received the news that my illness was back.I was in shock. I had just been on a two month leave from work and normal activity and had finally been declared free of illness. In one week I was scheduled to return to my normal routine and frankly I was more than ready to get out of the house and back into the swing of things; to be less dependent on friends and family. So how do I live with illness until God heals me? I want it gone NOW, but how do I keep working, living and growing in spite of my disappointment?

You may be as "healthy as an ox" and may not be able to identify with this issue. Perhaps your "thorn in the flesh" has been a frightening financial situation or a relationship that is fraught with challenge, but most of us encounter situations that come upon us and that we are powerless to change in spite of our wishes.

It is not uncommon for us to worry about things that don't go according to plan. For me, I worried that I wouldn't be able to return to work before "they" fired me. I was concerned that I not be a burden to my friends and family as they cared for me. I worried that I would not be able to return to service for my Lord in ways I was used to. I didn't want to be home bound and in the back of my mind, I had concerns about death. I wasn't ready to go.I had children to love, grandchildren to play with, places to travel to and things to do.

Most of the time I dealt with my situation with grace. I accepted where I was for now and kept on doing the things I could do--watch and pray. But if you have ever been in that place of longing for that which is not-- as you wait for what will be--you know it is obvious that I needed a word from the Lord. As always He did not let me down and He reminded me of a few things in the Scriptures.

I was directed by the Holy Spirit to re-read a familiar passage from Matthew 6:19-34 about the futility of worrying about material things. Though it speaks specifically to not being concerned about food and clothing,I also understood it to be an assurance of God's provision in general.

In this passage we are told not to worry about where our next meal will come from because God takes care of the birds of the air. Though they don't sow or reap or gather into barns God feeds them and we, who are created in His image, are more valuable to God than they. v.26. We are admonished not to be concerned about what we will wear because if we look at the lilies of the field, God arrays them in more splendor than Solomon in all his glory.v.26. Won't our good God take care of His children even more than that which is in the field today and burned as garbage tomorrow? Further,why worry, since it does not change anything?v.27

Verse 31-34 goes on to say, "Therefore, do not worry...for your heavenly Father knows what you have need of." Rather, we are told to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." In other words, as we seek salvation and the righteous of God-as we are more kingdom focused and less self absorbed- we are assured of the care and provision of God. He cares for us and He hears our prayers, and He is faithful to keep His promises. "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."v.34.

In summary, we are reminded not to worry:

it doesn't change anything

it can affect our health and well being adversely

it serves to highlight our fears rather than our faith.

It has been said in Values for Life that "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength." I have found this to be true.

So in spite of my sickness and your challenges, whatever they might be, God is still Sovereign and is bigger than anything that may come upon us. Since I also know that He is kind and loving,I choose to trust Him for care and provision. I choose to hold on by His grace, even when it gets difficult- because as I look back over my shoulder, He has always been with me. He has brought me safe thus far. What about you? His word says He will provide.

"Lord, help me to more fully trust you to provide for all of my needs according to your riches in Christ Jesus. Help me to focus on your graciousness and love, rather than my limitations and lacks. Help me to continue to pray and trust you to work out what I can not figure out.Strengthen me to do the things that I can do and to stop doing anything that may hinder my blessing.Thank you for your faithfulness and loving kindness. Praise God, that I need not worry."