Being organized is absolutely fine. There's nothing wrong with writing down your homework so you won't forget, or making a to do list. It's when you want to be in control of your whole life that things get messy. As a planner, the unknown terrifies me. The future is one huge question mark that I can't pencil in. I can try to figure everything out: graduate, this grad school, this job, this kind of lifestyle, this kind of family life.
But, there's this thing called life.
It's unpredictable and spontaneous.
It's beautiful and painful.
And it doesn't follow your plan.
Worry typically comes in the unknown. Worrying about a grade or a test in a class, worrying about the outcome of an interview, worrying about who you're going to spend the rest of your life with, your career, your relationships...the list goes on and on. The truth is that if we knew the outcome, we wouldn't be worried. If you knew for a fact you were going to get an A on the test, ace the interview, marry Suzy, get hired at such and such, be best friends with John forever, have a house and whatever else, why would you worry? You already know.
But, we don't know. I began reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan a couple of days ago (I highly recommend it) and something he said in chapter two rocked my world. In the bible, it tells us
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6
It doesn't just say "hey, you probably shouldn't worry. It's bad for your health." It say DO NOT be anxious about ANYTHING." The bible commands us not to worry. Wait a second God, you don't understand. I have so much I have to do right now. My life feels like it's falling apart, I don't know what's going to happen in this situation. I can't help but to worry.
Here is another command from the bible. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Again, it doesn't end with rejoice only if everything is going according to plan in your life. It doesn't end with rejoice unless you're doing something really important. It says ALWAYS. Here is what Francis says....
"When I am consumed by my problems--stressed out about my life, my family, and my job--I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God's command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have a "right" to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities."
Ouch. To be honest, I have never really thought of it that way. Worry as disobedience. He also says this...
"Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.
Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control
Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small indeed."
I don't know about anyone else, but I had to seriously take a step back when I read that. My worry is a lack of trust that God won't take care of me.
That the God who created the universe,
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16
who knew me before I was born,
The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5
who knows everything about me,
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalms 139: 1 - 6
who sent His only son to die for me so that I could have a relationship with Him,
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
who forgives my sins,
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12
who calls me daughter, beloved, his bride, his heir, his precious child
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. . 1 John 3:1
whose love I cannot be separated from
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39
That this God won't take care of me.
Who do I think I am? Have I completely forgotten who God is? God holds the world, my life is in his hands. Why would I worry?
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
He knows my future, he has plans for me that far surpass my own. What have I to be afraid of?
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
We have nothing to fear, nothing to be afraid of. Our God is so trustworthy, more than anyone on this Earth. What could we possibly have to worry about in this life? Our God will provide, he will satisfy, he will sustain, he will take care of our deepest needs and desires. Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will keep your paths straight. I know I've posted a ton of bible verses, but they just keep coming. And I know there's a reason for it. God has shown through scripture and in our lives today that he is GOOD, he is TRUSTWORTHY, he is CAPABLE, he is POWERFUL, and he is LOVE. How could he not take care of our worries?
“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 than food, and the body more 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?" Matthew 6: 25 - 30
I believe there there is nothing left to do but rejoice. I will say it again: REJOICE! Our God is for us. We have nothing to fear! Rejoice in the Lord. Be filled with joy, just as he rejoices over us..
The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17
Time to let go of the illusion of control, time to let go of the stress and worries of our lives and rest. Rest in God. Rest in his abounding grace and steadfast love. Quit worrying. Let go and let God.
With Love
