Do Not Worry: Challenge Accepted?

The Bible says not to worry and to cast our anxieties on the Lord. We are to be thankful and pray instead. Sometimes I cannot help but to think that this is the biggest vice I deal with--and perhaps it is for many who have grown up in a safe environment, practically raised by the church. I have never had a drinking problem or dealt with substance abuse. Physical impurity has never been a big vice for me either. However, I look at the many Bible verses referring to this idea of remembering how much God cares for you and how powerful thankfulness is.....And realize what a terrible spiritual crime I am committing.

To worry is practically to doubt God. Perhaps the knowledge of God was never enough for a mustard seed-size faith to exist, but instead to act upon that knowledge in courageous ways. I, for one, have not kept that pace whatsoever. I am far behind in the race, even after following Christ for nearly 16 years. So. Far. Behind.

With every new day arises new challenges, and with new challenges emerges new hopes, disappointments, thoughts, peace, questions, answers, and other paradoxical sorts of results.I wonder sometimes how much I fall into the category of not putting enough faith, hope, and trust into the One who is so faithful to me, so hopeful for me and my life, and so trusting in me that He would never consider breaking any of His promises (and, random thought, but He blessed me with a brain....That seems rather trusting to me), regardless of what I choose to do with my time, my thoughts, and my treasure.

My point in saying all this? I have allowed myself to be covered in worry, and it is a terrible crime. I come from a background where this might be easy to say is a vice. However, I do not want to continue living in it, nor do I want to make excuses any longer. I worry about the future, about the past, about the present. I worry about friends and family, their futures, and their further worries. I question where I will be a year from now, this summer, or even tomorrow. Is it my place or duty to do so? Perhaps, because of the God-given brain in my head, it is up to me to use wisdom and the knowledge I have attained, but to allow what my brain cannot comprehend to be placed in the hands of God, the One who knows all and cares for all. After all, if I were to know everything and to delegate every plan I have ever made, I would have already been equipped with that knowledge, for God's Word says that we have already been equipped for godliness in 2 Peter 1:3. We have all we need to carry out what He has called us to do. Anything we are not equipped with (and even that which we are equipped with) comes from Him in His perfect timing.

What are we called to do with what we do not know?

To wait upon the Lord (Is 40:31 and Ps. 27:14).
To be joyful (Romans 12:12, Nehemiah 8:10, 1 Thess. 5:16-17).
To be thankful (1 Thess 5:16-17).
To endure (Josh. 1:9, Rom 12:12, 2 Tim. 2:3).
To trust Him (Prov 3:5-6).
To be still and remember who is fighting for us (Ps. 46:10, Ps. 68:28).
Pray and petition at the feet of Jesus (1 Thess. 5:16-17, Luke 10:38-42).
To fight through praise (1 Chron. 16:34-36).

I write this as if I know it all too well myself, but I must make the disclaimer that though I have faced some hard seasons in life, I will face many more in which I will need this blog post times a million--no, I will simply need my heavenly Father-- to get me through whatever it is I am dealing with. I know next to nothing--much is yet to be endured, to be experienced, and to be learned.

However, that is not for me to worry about. I will focus on the race before my eyes and trust God that He will equip me for godliness in the season of life He calls me to next.

Acts 27
Matthew 6:25-34
1 Peter 5:7
Isaiah 41:10-20