More Thoughts on Worry

So I preached on "worry" yesterday ... not because I don't worry, but because I do ... way too much.

It was comforting to learn that I wasn't the only one in the room who worries.  In fact, no one admitted to "not worrying."

I defined worry as: "a failure to trust God for a future beyond our control and/or a past we can not change."

I wish I had said it slightly differently, "a failure in the present to trust God for a future beyond our control and/or a past we can not change.

As I preached I had to admit, not just to myself but to everyone I preached to, that when I worry about anything (present, future, or past) I am distrusting God.  When I worry I'm basically declaring that God either isn't able, doesn't care, or that God doesn't even exist.  This wasn't the first time I've admitted to my ongoing struggle with trusting God and I'm sure it won't be the last.  But I pray that as each day goes by I will somehow worry less and trust more.

I ended my sermon with the story of Mary and Martha.  Martha, it seems was a worry wart.  Instead of sitting at Jesus' feet like Mary, she was busy with her worries.  And when Martha asked Jesus to chastise Mary, Jesus responded,  “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

That I could learn to just sit at Jesus' feet ... to lay all my worries down before him ... and to rest in his presence ... to trust that he is able ... to truly trust that he is in control ... to acknowledge that he knows my present, future, and even my past and that he loves me nonetheless ... and to be confident that Jesus will meet my every need.  Few things are needed.  And my worries aren't one of them.  Indeed, there is only one thing that is needed:  to trust in God.