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There are many reasons we worry. We worry about planning something. We worry when we are doing that thing we planned. And then, afterward, we worry if we did the right thing. Later, we worry what others think about what we just did or said. Worry, worry, worry.
Our family is worrying because we are experiencing the unknown. Maybe, your family is like our family. Your family may be facing something unknown. When we are faced with the unknown, it creates worry that may escalate to anxiety. The anxiety occurs because we are not in control. We cannot see the unknown, so we think about it constantly and we worry. What we fail to remember is that we are never really in control. We make plans and decisions and hope for positive outcomes. We pray for positive outcomes. And, if it is His will, we have positive outcomes.
There are times when we will not know the outcome right away. This extended period of time, when we do not know what will happen next, causes worry. The period of time may be days, weeks, months, or years. Such is the case when our loved ones are critically ill, our loved ones are serving in the military, our loved ones go off to college alone for the first time, or our loved ones leave the house each day to patrol our cities or fight our fires. We wait. We pray. We worry. That is our nature.
Giving in to worry and anxiety is not what God wants for us. Jesus talked about anxiety and worry with His disciples when He asked:
“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” Luke 12: 25-26.
Being human, we cannot help ourselves. Try as we might, we still worry. We are still anxious. So, what can we do? What should we do?
We lean on each other. We talk to each other. We have fellowship together. We celebrate our good times. And we wait together. We wake each day with hearts full of thankfulness for the gifts we have. For guidance, we turn to Scripture. Scripture can calm our souls, free our minds, give us hope, and help us pray.
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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Remembering that God’s ways are higher than our ways, we know that all things will work together for the good for those who are His children. So take a moment, say a prayer of thanks, and look forward to the times ahead with thankfulness. This is the way to peacefulness in times of worry.
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