A few years ago, I was using a hole saw on a drill to cut a hole in the wood floor of a trailer.  When the saw broke through the wood, it hit the metal underneath and the hole saw simply stopped.  When it stopped, the drill itself rotated around and the handlehit me up side the head.  No it did not break the drill, but it hit me so hard that it knocked me across the trailer.  I decided that I was done cutting holes for the day and went into the house to wash my hands and clean up.  When I looked in the mirror, I realized that my eye was bleeding from the inside.  My family medical expert (you know – my wife) decided that I needed to go to the ER.  Sitting in the ER, my wife commented that my heart rate was in the low 60s eventhough I had just been hurt.  I replied:” I am already hurt so I can’t change it so why worry about what I can’t change.  There is an old prayer that says God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I. cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

Worry, can use up a lot of time, energy, and personal resources.  One of my favorite worry comments is don’t pole vault over mouse turds.  In the big picture, they are often trivial and not life changing.  Life changing, that is the key word.  It may be only the test in school you are dreading or the sad event that cost you a loved one.  The mouse turds are tiny so remember that you don’t need a huge step or a high jump to go around or over them.  Let God lift you over them. Worry about mouse turds can get in the way of your work in the Kingdom.  There are charts about panic, stress and anxiety where you add up points.  New job equals points.  New house mortgage means points.  Death in the family means points.  Moving to a new place or starting at a new school means points.  There are many more.  The more points that you have, the more stress that you have.  Too much stress leads to anxiety and panic.  Your body reacts instead of your spiritual brain.  Your spiritual brain is the one that is telling you to have the serenity to accept things that you cannot change.

When we visited Jamaica once, we were greeted by a guide.  She explained two expressions that we needed to know: Arrry (Alright) and don’t worry, be happy.  Everything is alright and don’t worry.  I just want to remind you Jesus has the perfect solution for worry.  For Him, don’t worry – be happy is more than just a mantra.  Jesus invites us to put your faith and trust in God’s care and ability to provide. That will free us from the anxiety that is caused by worry.  Chapter 12 in the Book of Luke is called “Warnings and Encouragements”. 

In Luke 12: 22-34, Do Not Worry

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life[b]? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Warfare – both spiritually and earthly, is full of stories of people who panicked, ran, and lost.  You can only beat panic by facing it.  You can only beat your fears by facing them and acting upon them to use your courage to change them.  This total trust does not mean not chasing your goals, plans, dreams etc. and saying God has this so I don’t have to do anything.  You still need to change things that you can change.  Your goals, plans, dreams are what God has given you with the gifts to achieve them.  Just like when we pray for healing, we should ask God to provide healing.  God is sometimes subtle.  He does not perform miracles but he will guide the person who can heal you to your door or hospital bed.  He can help you chase your dreams.  This all simply means we should trust in God to provide and always place Him first in our lives.  Worrying means you do not trust God is in charge.  You know God can carry your burdens whether they be grief, panic, anger or worry.  So act like it.  The wisdom to know the difference comes with experience.  Hopefully, you don’t have to get hit up side the head with a drill to get some of that experience, but fight hard and courageously to make sure that you truly can’t change it, never give up on the possible and then lay it at God’s feet.

God told us many times to trust him.  My favorite is Matthew 11: 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.  28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  In God speak that means: Let it go, I got this.  Those burdens that you carry can be handed over to God.  God will give you rest over grief, anxiety or worry.  You need to ask yourself if you truly trust God or are you only saying it.  Give God your burden, 

Dear Lord, worry is infecting us.  We are in need of You.