Do Not Worry

just imagine the scene, a sudden squall arising on the lake with darkening skies and increasing winds. Impetuous Peter had plunged into the water to meet his Master. Then things began to look dangerous, he wasn’t walking on the water, he was drowning in it. Then Jesus stretched out His hand and gripped hold of Peter’s. As skin touched skin Peter was held tight; he was safe.

For us to have the same experience we don’t need to plunge into freezing water, life throws up enough problems of it’s own. I sometimes think that human beings are programmed to worry, because there are even times when we worry because we have nothing to worry about.

As I was waiting for medical tests and then for the results, I worried. Was it a big problem or was it nothing at all? In my head I thought about every ensuing scenario. The answer to my worry was in the Bible. Someone has researched out how many times we are told in the Bible not to worry. God knows that there are times in our lives which will be hard. He knows we will need these encouragements. As our hand is grasped in the hand of God, may we remember ‘Do not fear, for I am with you.’

Work, Worry, Worship,

It is possible for our lives to be all work and worry. Wall to wall work to give us the money to worry about what we can’t afford. It can be vicious circle. We work to eat, to work, to eat and so on. Is this what God has planned for us? If we add the third ‘W’ we will take our eyes off ourselves and look up to God. It is said ‘My God will supply all your need.’

We don’t need to worry. God has everything in His plan. ‘He will not let our foot be moved.’ Worship is the essential ingredient. We are programmed to worship, it will lead us up instead of downwards. It is worship that leaves no place for worry. We can work and worship and leave worry behind.

Worry

Why do we humans worry about the problems which should be handed over to God? Our God is all-seeing and all-knowing, He knows the end from the beginning. He knows and understands every facet of a problem. The phrase ‘why worry when you can pray?’ I often turn into ‘Why pray when you can worry.’ Pray is the answer to our problems.

Paul tells us in his letter to the Philippians ‘I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.’ Philippians 4:13 We can achieve so much more with God at our side, as we walk alongside Him. To let go is difficult for us. But we need to remember how fallible we are. At the moment i have a few problems which I tend to worry about in the night. With a real effort I try to turn my worries into prayer.

‘O what peace we often forfeit ….. all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.’ From ‘What a Friend we have in Jesus.’ Joseph Scrivener