My past few posts have been, seemingly, about life balance – as women, as parents, as wives.
But I think if we poke around beneath the surface, we’ll find that much of what drives life imbalance is worry.
Worry about what?
Worry about how our children’s lives will turn out, worry about whether we’re doing enough, or moving fast enough to keep up with the rest of the world.
Scratch beneath the surface of worry, and we find the issue of control. We can’t control the very issues we worry about. We can’t even control the next five minutes of our lives!
So who can?
Worry and need for control are age-old enemies. God definitely knows this about us. He wants us to turn over our needs for security and significance to Him. And here is what Scripture has to say about it:
Matthew 6:31-33, NIV: So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:31-33, King James Version: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:31-33, The Message: If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
So, do you tend to worry? If so, how do you deal with it?
Warmly,
