What...Me? Worry?

I am sure I am dating myself here......but when ever I hear that phrase......I cannot help but think of that fictional mascot Alfred E. Newman from my older brother's MAD magazines. I was not old enough to even understand/read them, but basically the magazine was a satirical look at American life, including politics, celebrities and pop culture. It was most assuredly politically incorrect. If I could read a copy now, I probably would go have my parents' head examined for allowing my brother to read it.....but then again.....we had Archie Bunker on the TV at supper time, so that gives ya a little insight, eh?


OK, so going back to the subject of worrying......I watched this preacher one time who made an excellent simple example of why we shouldn't worry about things in our life. How we should give it over to God who will handle it, because it is His situation. Think about it, when we give our life to Him, it (our life/the trials we face) is no longer "ours" to be in control. That actually is quite relieving to think about, isn't it?

So he asked the congregation....."Who here is worrying about *insert random person's name here*'s air conditioning unit going in his house? Who lost sleep about last night? Who had it on their mind all day, so that it distracted them from doing their job, tending to their family.....worse, focusing on serving God?"

Of course no-one was worrying about so-and-so's problem. They might have had sympathy for him, or even offered some help/suggestions......but it wasn't their issue to stress about.

That is how God wants us to do when we face trials/issues in our lives.

He tells us to come to Him, all who are weary and heavy laden......He will give us peace and rest.

That is to remind us that we should bring all our cares and worries to Him and let Him take on the yoke and burden. It will not only bring us peace (of mind and body)......it will allow us to live our life and do what we are created to do, serve Him.

Worrying is futile and steals time from us:
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life~ Matthew 6:27

Gee, that sounds like the thief to me.....doesn't it? The Enemy will do whatever he can to rob from us and keep us from focusing on God. When he creeps in our mind and starts poking around, he causes us to turn from God and start looking at ourselves. Not good. All I know is that I lived a life where I called all the shots and all it did was bring me into a dark place......so I know I don't want to go there again.

Worrying also is a sign that we are not trusting in God.....it's like.....OK God, I know you are awesome when everything is going well....you ROCK, thanks! But now that things are a little shaky.....I am not so sure I can rely on You fully to handle this. I need to take matters back in my own hands, OK?

It doesn't change anything:
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.~ Matthew 6:34

It's like living the nightmare twice.....we play out the scenario of the issue happening and then if this issue does come to pass....(which it very well could)......we live it all over again. But the fact is, that God will be with us if/when it comes to pass.

If He brings it to you, He will see you through it.

But He isn't with us with the worrying, well let me backtrack here......of course He is with us.....but maybe it is better to say, He isn't part of the worrying scene, we've left Him out when we took over the reins of control/worry.

So is it easy to Let go, Let God?

Nope. Not for me anyway.......but I'm working on it. ;)

When I find myself getting sucked into the worrying vacuum (that is what it feels like to me).....I try to rebuke the thoughts with powerful reminders such as If God is for us, who can be against us? and no weapon forged against you will prevail

Or then I can look at something so simple as one of our hens.......for whatever reason, she made her nest on the outside of our barn, in a pile of leaves....and poison ivy. great. So not only is she getting rained on.....she is totally subjecting herself to becoming a fox or coyote's midnight snack of chicken nuggets.
She is a dedicated mama and will not budge. She is laying on her nine babies (eggs) and has not gotten up to even eat for days.
Not sure why she made this decision......Josh just says, because she is chicken and is stupid. I like to believe that she trusts.

Every morning I would run out and check on her to make sure she was safe.....then we had one night where it rained all night and I couldn't take it.
So, I guess we took on her worrying/cares on us, because we ended up building her a shelter and brought her food and water. She didn't really understand and got very fierce when we were coming close to her.....but I kept telling her that we loved her and wanted to keep her safe. She needed to concentrate on hatching her babies.

I believe that she is thankful. Can you see her all camouflaged in the leaves? See the lovely poison ivy too?

So really sure if it "worked"......but I was trying to tie in how happy it made me to take care of our little hen's problems, so I can only imagine that God delights when He is able to take care of ours, especially when we trust and willingly hand it over to Him.

Happy Monday!
Peace~
*~Michelle~*