Don't Worry

...bet you were thinking I would finish with a "Be Happy". I'm not. In fact, I think I've found a better ending. "Don't Worry. Seek Christ." Now I just need someone to rewrite the song based on this new title...

Okay, getting off topic, but I just wanted to share a bit on a topic that is a daily struggle for me - worry.

On Sunday at Vintage, we continued our journey through the Sermon on the Mount. This week, we were in Matthew 6:25-34. Several times during his message, Rob encouraged us: Don't Worry. Seek Christ! These words have been in my head and on my heart since Sunday morning.

For those who know me at all, it is obvious that one of my most prominent characteristics is that I worry...about everything...all the time. I worry about whether I will be late to class. I worry about how I will do on this test or that project. I worry if Matt will like the dinner I made. I worry about my tail light being out. I also take on the worries of others. I worry if Matt is sleeping enough. I worry if my friend ever find a job. Get the picture? Basically, I spend a large portion of my time in this state of mind, constantly stressed, rarely at ease.

I was absolutely convicted when Rob shared a quote from a commentary he'd read in preparing this sermon. I'll paraphrase: In our worry, what we are really doing is dethroning God and saying that is is really us who control the future.

Wow.

Those words hit me hard. Took the wind out of me. Made me truly want to change my worrying ways. I am aware that a certain amount of caution and concern is good, but I know that my worry far surpasses a healthy level. As the text points out (in Matthew 6:25) "Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?". I feel like so often I worry about the food and clothing - all the little things - that are really quite significant in the grand scheme of life. And I have, in fact, been keeping all these little things (my worries) from God, refusing to surrender them, as if in my worry I could control them, as if I could fix them. It sounds so dumb. Clearly I can't control the future. Obviously I can only do so much to control my performance in school. But I've been holding on to these worries (and others) so long that I began to subconsciously convince myself that if I spent enough time fretting over things, eventually I would understand a solution or I would receive the desired outcome, simply because I cared so much. That in some way I could control things. How dumb, right? I know. It just took me a while to truly realize the depth of my worry and the truth of what my worry really does (ignores the power of God and His control and puts it in my own hands). So, now that I've realized my problem, what's next? How can I let go of this worry in a real way, not just in a lip service kind of way?

Matthew 6:33 provides me with a solution: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (ESV). So, if I am truly seek Christ with all that I am and all that I have, then I won't have time to worry or be anxious about everything. If my heart and mind are focused centered on the One who controls the future, then I don't have to worry about the future so much. I am thankful for an omnipotent Lord who loves me and cares for me. I am glad to say today that I am resting in this truth. I know this won't be an easy task, especially since my worry is something I've been holding on to for a LONG time, but I am praying that I will daily surrender my worries and choose to follow Rob's advice. I encourage y'all to think about it too: Don't worry. Seek Christ.