by Beth Vogt @BethVogt
If I let myself, I could spend a lot of hours worrying.
About people I
love.
About decisions
I’ve made … or have to make … or about decisions others’ might make that affect
me.
About finances.
Isn’t there always a reason to worry about finances?
About my writing
career.
About the future …
in so many ways.
Worry, in the
moment, feels oddly productive. I’m doing something. But in reality, I’m only
pondering mights and maybes — all the future
possibilities that cast a looming shadow over right here and now. I waste time
and emotional energy conjuring up all sorts of negative scenarios instead of
anchoring myself to the present — and to the very real trustworthy presence of
God.
Someone once said you
can choose to either worry or to pray — but you can’t do both. Ever since then,
I’ve tried to pray when confronted with both the little things in life that
trouble me, as well as the big things in life that bring me to my knees.
Oftentimes, I hold on to an anchor verse like: In God I have put my
trust, I shall not be afraid. Psalm 56:11 NASB
In Your Words:
How do you stop worry from gaining control in your life?
TWEETABLES
I can relate to the statement that worry feels productive because I'm doing something, even if it doesn't solve the problem or what I see could be a problem in the future. Thanks for validating that, Beth. I thought I was the only one! You're absolutely right when you say that you can't worry and pray at the same time. If only we would remember that.
ReplyDeleteEllen: That's the funny thing about worry: We think we're doing something -- being productive -- but we're not. But prayer? Prayer changes things. It changes my attitude. My thoughts. And yes, it changes things eternally. Praying for you today!
DeleteI'm such a worry wart. I like how you said that worry is not "productive." In my times of worry and anxiety I always remember Matthew 6: "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries." That passage always eases my fears and brings comfort. Because, as you said, there's always *something* to worry about! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteEmily: Matthew 6 is such a foundational truth that helps replace worry with comfort. It's always a choice, isn't it? Thank you for reminding us all of that verse.
DeleteSomeone wise once told me that often what we worry about never happens. That's so true. I once worried about my daughter going out of state to college, but then she decided to attend a college near home. My worry was all for nothing.
ReplyDelete"...what we worry about never happens." As you said, this is so true. And it's a waste of not only our time, but our emotions. And it undermines our faith and our relationship with others.
DeleteI love to sing and worship to combat worry. And definitely pray 🙂
ReplyDelete