Why worry? Stop Stressing!
This is an excerpt from Francis Chan's book, Crazy Love. I think it is fitting for me to post it since stress and worry are both feelings I've felt in preparing for this trip.
...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.
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 towards 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....
While preparing for this trip, I've worried and stressed a lot. It wasn't until I let it go and realized that God was in control of this trip and every aspect of it, that a real sense of peace came over me. What are you worrying about? What are you stressing about? Because worrying and stressing reek of arrogance, they are two evidences in your life that prove that you truly don't have full faith in God. God can handle any and every situation, let Him do it. Life is but a mist, here today and gone tomorrow, why spend any time worrying or stressing about any situation when you can use that time to rejoice in the Lord!
...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.
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 towards 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....
While preparing for this trip, I've worried and stressed a lot. It wasn't until I let it go and realized that God was in control of this trip and every aspect of it, that a real sense of peace came over me. What are you worrying about? What are you stressing about? Because worrying and stressing reek of arrogance, they are two evidences in your life that prove that you truly don't have full faith in God. God can handle any and every situation, let Him do it. Life is but a mist, here today and gone tomorrow, why spend any time worrying or stressing about any situation when you can use that time to rejoice in the Lord!
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