Because of Him, We Don’t Need to Worry.

In case you missed it, I had an eventful last weekend! My little brother is now a married man, and the wedding was a great success! But, before the wedding? I was a little bit of a mess.

Despite my strongest efforts, I am a worrier. I’ve been battling this my entire adult life, and several of my younger years. It’s an issue I have come to accept – I have a problem with letting go of control. That being said, I’ve acknowledged my problems and can move on. It has taken time but I am now panic and medicine free! Unfortunately though, the panics and the worrying will be something I struggle with my whole life I’m sure. When stressors present themselves, I almost always struggle a little bit initially. I’ll admit: before my brother’s wedding, I did struggle to keep myself in check.

Friday night I got really sick. Like, trying-not-to-throw-up-for-two-hours sick. I wasn’t sure what hit me, but it threw me into a spiral that was hard to stop. I was asleep before the nausea hit, but once I was awake it was so difficult not to worry that I would get sick, in turn get dehydrated, in turn start contracting, and in turn miss my brother’s wedding because I would be in the hospital having a baby.

The Lord and I had some serious conversations that night. I knew I could keep it together, and I knew He was there to help me. We have been through this routine a number of times before. The devil had a grip on my thoughts, though, and I was having a hard time redirecting them. So I just started praying. I started my breathing exercises and remembered all the times the Lord has carried me through moments I thought I couldn’t handle.

I started praying for peace, that the Lord would carry me through this darkness yet again. And then I realized something: how fortunate I was that this was the worst thing I have to worry about. Really, Jessa? There are Christians being persecuted for their faith, who live each day literally not knowing if they will make it to the next. There are soldiers who wake up each day and walk into a battlefield not knowing if the next bullet that flies by will hit them, or their comrade. And you’re worried about making a speech and standing in front of people? Keep it in perspective. 

The bible is pretty clear in its instruction when it comes to worrying. Don’t worry, worry about nothing, let the day worry about itself, worrying won’t do anything to help the situation, etc. etc. {Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:6-7, John 14:27 to name a few}. Because of Him, we don’t need to worry. There is a One who reigns over all, and who knows the future that has not yet been laid before us. There is a One who holds the whole world in His hands, and who yearns for us to enjoy His creation – not to worry over it. The One who knows all, sees all, controls all, and who has plenty that He could be worried about, doesn’t and instructs us not to waste our lives worrying over it either. He has fought the battles worth fighting, and He’s on your side – fighting for you.

If you’re like me and struggle with anxiety, I pray that you find peace today in these words.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Matthew 6:25-34