August 30, 2018
I wrote the following blog 7 years ago and I can't remember what was weighing so heavily on my mind. Health? Finances? Loved ones? I do not know. What I do know is when I reread it tonight, it rang as true now as it did then. There are many issues I could list right this minute. Dear friends with life threatening illnesses being the biggest on the forefront. I'm concerned. And there's not one thing I can do in the natural realm to help them. Then there are health issues of ours, not life threatening, that hinder day to day living. Most of these worries are health related, some are financial, some are relational, some are of the future for us. One worry, albeit small, is what to do before we cannot do it anymore. Do we travel and if we do, where do we go? Along with this one comes thoughts of our old age and mortality. It's not exactly light dinner conversation. Everyone of these is simply life in action and sometimes it confuses, often it hurts, and it can be weighty and painful.
The beauty of all this is that our father, God of all creation, loves us and hears our cries of pain and confusion and he will often answer our prayer for healing or guidance and our friends or family receive miracles! This is how the Lord's children handle worry.
July 31, 2011
...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...Hebrews 12:1
I wrote the following blog 7 years ago and I can't remember what was weighing so heavily on my mind. Health? Finances? Loved ones? I do not know. What I do know is when I reread it tonight, it rang as true now as it did then. There are many issues I could list right this minute. Dear friends with life threatening illnesses being the biggest on the forefront. I'm concerned. And there's not one thing I can do in the natural realm to help them. Then there are health issues of ours, not life threatening, that hinder day to day living. Most of these worries are health related, some are financial, some are relational, some are of the future for us. One worry, albeit small, is what to do before we cannot do it anymore. Do we travel and if we do, where do we go? Along with this one comes thoughts of our old age and mortality. It's not exactly light dinner conversation. Everyone of these is simply life in action and sometimes it confuses, often it hurts, and it can be weighty and painful.
The beauty of all this is that our father, God of all creation, loves us and hears our cries of pain and confusion and he will often answer our prayer for healing or guidance and our friends or family receive miracles! This is how the Lord's children handle worry.
July 31, 2011
...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...Hebrews 12:1
When the Lord tells us to lay aside the things that bother us, it means that it's possible to lay them aside. There's nothing too pressing, too big, too important, or too worrisome that we cannot lay it aside so we can draw closer to the Lord.
It's like wearing a big, ugly, dirty, heavy coat in the middle of our summer. We don't need it, we don't want it and it does nothing to help us. It makes us stinky and miserable. It keeps our focus on issues that will not be remedied by worrying about them.
Prayer makes a difference. Worry does not!
We are perfectly able to unbutton the awful thing and take it off, allowing ourselves to breathe easier, move more freely and give our minds space to think about what the Lord has for us today. Worry is fruitless and harmful. I've been worrying about some things, and if I am worrying, then I'm not trusting.
Tonight, as I sat on the porch at dusk, swinging and praying, I wondered just what steps to take--you know, like 1. 2. 3..., to lay aside my worries and draw near to the Lord, because I know this is where true joy resides. I thought of, "Come near to God and he will come near to you..." James 4:8, and I talked to the Lord some more about all those things I'd been carrying around. I took each one and I gave it to my Father. It was hard to let go of some of them because I'd grown so accustomed to holding them closely and worrying about them so much, but because He said I could lay them aside, I laid them aside.
As I lay each one down, I felt irresponsible--putting these important issues away like this--giving them to someone else--not worrying about them anymore. But it was necessary. The Lord said He will take all my burdens, so I'm not irresponsible but responsible for giving these worries to the only One who can do something about them!
I cried and prayed and my coat of many worries fell to the ground at the feet of my Father. My heart lightened, and as I thought about my Father, I looked up and saw the first star of the night twinkling through the clouds...at first, a tiny glimmer, but moment by moment, it brightened. As I considered His goodness and grace, I saw another star and thought of Jesus, my elder brother, my advocate, my friend. Just as I was about to go inside, I saw the third star of the night and was reminded of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, my Helper. I felt surrounded by strength and love. It was wonderful!
Father, Thank you for taking my worries and bothersome issues for me. I know I am not able to fix them but you are able to take care of them in the very best way. I love you! Help me to always hear your voice clearly and to do what you say. No one loves me more than you do!
Suz
