Worry

For most English-speaking people, the word worry brings to mind concern or fretting over some real or imagined possibility or happening in one's life. But other meanings include "to harass by tearing, biting, or snapping" or "to assail with rough or aggressive attack or treatment". The word is descended from the Old English word wyrgan, which is a cognate of the Old High German word wurgen, which means "to strangle".

Isn't that interesting? When we worry, we essentially harass and assail ourselves with thoughts and "what-ifs" that end up strangling us in our lives and cause us more problems than we had from the outset.

Over what do we worry?

We worry over health issues--unknown pains, chronic illness, possible accidents, etc.

We worry over financial matters--will there be enough to cover this month's bills?, from where will my next meal come?, will the economy ever recover?, etc.

We worry over political issues--will we ever have peace?, what will happen when such and such a bill is passed?, etc.

Why do we worry?

We worry because we do not turn our concerns over to God. We try to solve the problems ourselves instead of letting Him do it for us. Since He already knows the outcome, He knows what we will need and when we will need it.

Why do we not turn over our worries to God?

We want to maintain control. The pride in us wants to say that we solved the problem, we were able to get out of this jam in our life by our own efforts. But our own pitiful attempts fail and we begin to worry more and end up strangling the life out of us. We become more and more concerned about the problem instead of letting God use it to help us grow more into the likeness of His Son.

I am like my father. He and I have this God-given ability to not worry over much of anything. We view life with the knowledge that God is in control and that nothing will happed to us or anyone that we love without His foreknowledge of the esperience and outcome. Nothing catches God off guard. Back in May, 2005, Mom was very sick with a bacterial infection and had to stay in the hospital for three weeks. The day after we admitted her into the hospital, I had to begin my new position at work. I couldn't call in and say I can't come in because my mom is deathly ill. I was forced to be away from her. But during this very difficult time, I always had a peace that everything would be fine. There were several very scary moments when we didn't know if she would make it, but through it all, I knew that God knew the situation and was accomplishing His will through it. Thankfully, He healed her and she is still with us today.

Instead of pondering on our problems and concerns, why not turn them over to our all-knowing, loving God who will take our burdens from us and will use them to accomplish His will in our lives. We certainly will be the better for it.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath
are the everylasting arms: and he shall thrust
out the enemy from before thee; and shall say,
Destroy them.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith
without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)