“Worry-itis”

I hate to admit it, but I come from a long line of “worriers.” My grandmother is famous for worrying.

When my husband and I went on our honeymoon, we left our car at her house. She asked for the keys so in case a storm came up and lightning hit the house and it caught on fire, she could move the car. She says “you never know what might happen.”

I know… it seems ridiculous. She lets her imagination run wild. She comes up with all sorts of worse case scenarios. But if we are honest, how many of us spend precious moments of our lives worrying about what might happen? We make up things in our minds that never come to pass.

I’ve shared before here at Faith Lifts that my son Spencer has epilepsy. He’s had a great many health challenges lately and was in the hospital once again this past week. He is always coming up with something that amazes me. He’s also always more concerned about everyone else than himself.

One day in the hospital, a nurse came in to check his vitals. He told her she should check on his mom instead. It seems he thinks I have a new disease – “worry-itis.” He went into great detail explaining to the nurse how I worry too much about him. The nurse began to question him about this disease. She wanted to know if there was a cure. “Sure,” he said, “just trust Jesus – that’s what I do.”

Such simple words but so profound. I couldn’t help but think of the words of Jesus.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15 NIV

The faith of a little child. It amazes me. And he’s right you know, God’s Word tells us not to worry, but to trust Him.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?… Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:25-34 NIV

I know the cure to this troubled, worried mother’s heart is to trust Jesus… I just needed a reminder. Perhaps you needed a reminder today too.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God.” John 14:1 NIV