Head Scratcher — Eutychus - Wednesday
Today’s Verse
Matthew 6:27
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (ESV)
I come from a family of mighty worriers. My grandmother, who lived a seemingly simple life in the remote hills of eastern Kentucky, far removed from the direct impact of global and domestic unrest, would sit and watch the evening news every night, wringing her hands. As each newscast signed off, you could sense she was carrying an even heavier weight. And if the nightly news wasn’t enough to concern her, there were always family members she would constantly fret about. You can see the impact of this generationally down the family line. One of her daughters, my precious aunt, who is now in her 90s, is cherished and well cared for by her family. She was recently visiting my mother and seemed to be in deep thought. She spoke up and said, “Well, I’m sure there’s something I need to be worried about, but I just can’t seem to think of anything at the moment.” Now that’s deeply embedded genetic worry! The tendency to worry has been passed down to me. I can quickly rush to every worst-case scenario when evaluating a situation. Worry is a thief that can rob us of rest. Not only that, but it can remove hours from our lives.
Preacher and author Warren Wiersbe says it’s easy to justify our worry by referring to it instead as just deep concern, a burden, or a cross to bear. But the outcome is the same. We can see how Satan uses our worry as a way to divide us. If we worry about money, we might be less generous. If we’re worried about food, we might store up more than we need. If we’re worried about getting hurt, we might withdraw from relationships. Worry always separates. And it always takes.
Over the years, I’ve come to learn that I am solely responsible for how much I worry or how I let it impact me. I’ve also learned that my level of worry can serve as a gauge as to how much I trust in Jesus at any given moment.
REFLECTION
The angel promised Mary that nothing is impossible with God. Embrace that truth as a way to put worry in its place today, and especially tonight as you drift off to sleep.
