Happy New Year!
It is something we all say with such enthusiasm, but for many people there is an underlying dread to those words. When we start the new year, we can't help but wonder what the year will hold. It is full of such uncertainty and questions.
These days there are many people who are worrying about their jobs and finances in the coming year. Some of us worry about health and if our situation will get worse. Many of us worry about our children and the temptations that are out there. Will they make good decisions? Aging parents can be a big concern. Sadly, there were some deaths of young dads this year, and our heart hurts for their families as they face the new year with continued grief.
Cast your anxiety upon Him, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34
I am thankful to know that God cares about all of our worries and wants to shoulder the burdens for us. This does not mean that He will take away our hurts immediately. Sometimes we need to travel these difficult roads so that we learn to draw closer to Him and rely on His direction. There are often times that we want immediate help and a quick fix. I have found that God's timing is not our timing. The quick fix is usually not in His plan, but if patient, the wait is by far the best road because God is working behind the scenes on our behalf. Prayer and trust always leads to a better ending to our problems.
I know it is easier said than done to just cast your worries on Him and trust that He will work everything out. I am a worrier, like everyone else. But, I also know the feeling of complete peace in the midst of darkness. There are times that it takes me awhile to just let go and trust. When I do, it is the best feeling. Nothing beats the benefit of peace of mind and knowing that Jesus is at work on my behalf. Even when I get myself into my own mess, I know that I can go to Him and confess my shortcomings, and He will guide me (by scripture) to a better solution. Humbleness is often required in these moments. It is humbling for me to know that when I fall short, God is always there to help me get back up.
Pastor Jim had a wonderful sermon today from the book of 1 Samuel 8:1-22. We learned that the Jewish people asked for a King instead of a Judge to help them keep order in the land. God told them, through Samuel, that a King would cause them great misery. The people still insisted on having a King, and so God gave them what they asked for. Sadly, this did not work out at all like the people envisioned. What they wanted was not in line with God's will for them. They chose to put someone ahead of God instead of trusting in the plan that God had for them.
We often do the same thing as the people in the book of Samuel. We want our own way, and put our own desires ahead of God. This is breaking the greatest commandment of all, which is to not put anything above God. This brings me back to the thought about worrying. I should not put my own worries and desires before God. He is better at working things out than I am, so I need to trust is His ways.
Like the scripture says in Matthew 6:34, we all need to work on not getting ahead of God by worrying about tomorrow. If we are trusting in Him, then He will be 100 steps ahead of us working on our behalf.
Striving to be worry-less in 2011,
Sandy
