My blogging friend, Cindy Beall, once wrote “worry is a four-letter word.” This couldn’t ring more true for me. I wish, oh how I wish, I could just cease all worry once and for all. It doesn’t work that way for me. Pastor Craig Groeschel of Lifechurch.tv once illustrated that we have two boxes: the “God box” and the “Me box”. Those things we have control over go into the “Me box”. Everything else….those things we cannot control…..go into the “God box”. Here’s the kicker: the “God box” should be much larger than the “Me box”. As a matter of fact, it should reach heights of biblical proportions. Get it? Biblical proportions? Anyway, back to worry.
I am really good at putting my “stuff” in the God box only to take it out when He chooses to keep me waiting. Oh, please tell me I’m not the only one. My worry has caused me do some really drastic things….and also reach some pretty ridiculous conclusions. I thought I’d share a few. WebMd. Been there? Don’t go. I’ve turned headaches into brain tumors with only 2 weeks left to live. Oh, and that pain in my chest? Well, we all know where I must have taken that one. Then, there are my children. I do not go to bed most nights without checking in on my youngins just one more time. And, I actually look to see that their little tummies are pumping up and down. Can any other moms out there admit to similar obsessions? Yes, yes, I see that hand. Thank you, Sharon. Let’s not stop here. It would be wrong to omit the time that I called the emergency flight services to track my husband while he was flying home….then I had our local control tower contact Kris upon his approach into our home airport. The message the controller gave him? “Mr. Takle, you better call your wife as soon as you land. You’re in trouble, Captain.” For real. Okay, so he wasn’t in trouble. But, when I could no longer track his flight on our flight tracker system (as I always do), I, well, you know……I worried. Drastic times call for drastic measures. Can I get an Amen?
Matthew 6:34 says “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today”. I have to be honest. This doesn’t make me feel any better. But this does: 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) Here, Paul is prescribing prayer, good thoughts, and gratitude as the cure for worry. You see, when we pray and count our blessings, it puts our worries into perspective. If you can do something about it, get busy. If not, go to the God of peace in prayer.
What’s got you worried?
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