Worry

Worry
by Cindy Jones

I have a disease commonly known as being a certifiable worry wort. I can't stop it seems. I try, but the key word in that statement is "I". I can't stop by myself. After reading grandmother's devotional on worry, it really got me to thinking about exactly what the bible says well commands about worry. Simply put - Don't do it - Do not worry. It doesn't say it is okay sometimes just when you feel like it or you just can't help it - I mean really what else can you do sometimes if you don't have anything to worry about just think you might actually have peace. I suffer from the worst type. I have long since crossed the line between concern and worry. My imagination is a deep pit full of anxieties of the unknown, unsaid, and unbelievable. I have the uncanny ability to worry myself to death. I say all that to say this - I am slowly being cured of this pretentious disease. I have to constantly repeat it all day every day, but it is finally sinking in my very heart. Do not worry! Do not worry! I think all this means is I am not capable of handling anything apart from Jesus. I need him and he can take it all. He wants to, but I am stubborn and try desperately in my mind not to bother him. But...He says Do not worry and that should be enough for me. Which brings me to my next thought about the whole chapter in Matthew 6. Birds..."Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" Matthew 6:26. To continue he adds - "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" I think when we worry we actually decrease our hours because our bodies were not designed or equipped to handle the misery we constantly put on them by worry and stress. God designed us to rely on Him! We can't possible handle life without Him!

Today, we went to the Hummingbird migration festival at Strawberry Plains in Holly Springs. It was extremely cool. In fact, we watched them get banded and Olivia actually held one in her hand. It was so neat to watch this small, fragile creature rest for what seemed like minutes in her hand before embracing his freedom. It made me think of how all of God's creatures are so intertwined. And how God provides for us all... Even this precious bird whose heart was beating roughly 250 beats a minute as he laid so peacefully for those moments in her hand. But even minutes after he flew away, she could still feel his heartbeat in her hand. Amazing stuff! God has us in his hands if we just allow ourselves to rest peacefully before we fly off into the unknown world that awaits us. We are so quick to fly away. He doesn't want us to fly away but stay safely in his hands - in his arms where He takes our worries and burdens and we can truly rest knowing that He is with us always. He can feel our heartbeat in his hands forever because we have left it there with Him. We are no longer in control if we would just surrender ourselves - our hearts - our lives to His hands!