Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Anxious (over the Uncontrollable)

I wish it were true to say I was a man of faith that had no inclinations to excessively and needlessly worry at times over a variety of situations that I have little (or no) ability to control the outcome.

Matthew 6:25-34 (MSG) has always been the Almighty’s prescription to prevent worry. Would you be a much happier person if you made this scripture a reality? What’s preventing you from doing this?


“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion.

There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving.

People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

As a father, one thing that is always source of concern for me is the well-being of my child. It’s at those times when I think of both the positives (and negatives) in the life of my adult daughter that I feel both pride (and fear over all that is beyond my control).

At times, I also find myself anxiously wondering if Allena will figure out her passion in life one day. Does her future spouse exist? What character qualities will that person have?

Will he find her unique personality charming enough to start a family with? Will my daughter make a good mother? Someday, will I get the opportunity to be a grandfather?

Will Allena’s relationship with God be strong enough to sustain her through all life gives her? And the concerns continue endlessly.

It’s at those times that I hear the voice of God quiet me and whisper, “She was my daughter before I loaned her to you (and Bobbi) to raise her for me. Do your best to trust my will. I know her story from the beginning to the end.”

As in the post “Mother Tongue,” the Johnson’s: For Every Wonder campaign tackled fatherhood with the same emotional tenacity as they did motherhood.

This time fathers are interacting with young children to an older teenager. The narrator is an unseen child off camera. If you are a father, read these words. What important feelings do they stir inside you?

“Be prepared, Dad. I will change you. Change your goals to get you home earlier every day. Sometimes, I will give you super powers. But sometimes I will make you feel like the weakest man in the world.

I will test your patience to make your heart softer, and your limits to make you tougher. But I promise, Dad, it will be the greatest journey of your life.”


As I close this post, below are seven reminders about not worrying taken from Matthew 6:25-34 (at the beginning of this post). Can any of these be applied to you?
1.  The same God that created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life. (Matthew 6:25)
2.  Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today. (Matthew 6:26)
3.  Worrying is more harmful than helpful. (Matthew 6:27)
4.  God does not ignore those who depend on Him. (Matthew 6:28-30)
5.  Worry shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God. (Matthew 6:31-32)
6.  There are real challenges God wants us to pursue, and worrying keeps us from them. (Matthew 6:33)
7.  Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry. (Matthew 6:34)*

*Taken from the article, “Seven Reasons Not to Worry,” from The Life Application Bible, New International Version edition.


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