Matthew 6:34
WORRY – give way to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles.
I have always been a worrier… I remember worrying often, even as a small child. I was afraid of everything and worried about everything. I remember riding in my Grandparents’ car and I would sit on the floor of the car and cover my face when I knew we were going to be driving over a bridge, because bridges scared me. (We never wore seat belts back in those days. One would have thought that would have scared me more than a bridge). I worried about my Mom being alone with four little kids, and often worried about how we would survive, and sometimes where our next meal would come from. I worried every day about going to school because the other kids were never very nice to me. Worry, worry, worry, but what good did it ever really do for me to worry about all those things?
I still worry today, but especially now when so much scary stuff is happening in our world. Things that are completely out of our control. I worry that someone I know and care about will get sick with Covid, or that I might get it. I worry about my son’s brewery business surviving with the capacity limitations and less people feeling safe about going out these days, due to Covid. I worry about how my Grandchildren will learn and socialize if they can’t go back to school. I worry about my Mom living alone and rarely being able to visit her for fear of getting her sick. I worry about my nephew who is a Police Officer when there is so much hate for the Police these days, I worry about Grace and our people, and I wonder if we will ever be back to normal again, and what that normal might look like. I miss you all!
As many of us struggle with worry, control, loneliness, and anxiety during this season of Covid-19, we need to stay faithful, and now more than ever, put our trust in our God. I know it can be hard to trust when things are so scary, but we need to remember that our God is good, and he has a plan for us. By continuing to trust in Him and by praying, I do know that I begin to feel less doubt, worry and anxiety, and it brings me peace from some of my worry.
As we continue to face each day of this pandemic, take a moment and call someone you know who might be lonely, write someone you care about a note or send a card just to let them know you are thinking about them. It will be appreciated more than you will ever know. I recently received a sweet card in the mail and it really made my day. (Thanks, Annie) And thanks to all of you who have sent notes of encouragement to our Grace Staff. It is so appreciated!
I love the hymn Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms?
What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms,
Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear, Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms,
Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms.
