Worry or Not to Worry

As I woke this morning, I went through my morning routine, thoughtless of anything but what I needed to last till the next paycheck. I first went to the restroom, my thoughts were, I wonder if I have enough toilet paper for the rest of the month. As I went into the kitchen to make breakfast, I thought what meals will I need to make with the supplies I have, without going to the store. As I got dressed, I wondered if the laundry soap was going to last and if we were going to have enough sunny days to hang out the laundry. These are real worries I had. I haven’t been awake for an hour yet. I’m the type of person to spend hours trying to figure out how things can be fixed, but only a few minutes of prayers. I know there are very few people who never had to worry about provision. I know it is a very human nature and a Mother’s nature to worry. We also know that the Bible has a ton of verses on the topic…but does that stops us from worrying.

I struggle in this area. I’m not writing this because I’m trying to be spiritual and I’m preaching to myself. These are my real worries, this is a moment by moment struggle for me. I worry about Elizabeth’s safety, Suzanne’s feeds and health, Wesley’s driving, etc… I get so worried my voice becomes high pitched, break into tears, talk and think of nothing else, even get a headache, I become depressed. It is no longer just a thought of worry but now it is a physical worry. When I’m physically sick of worry it effects my spiritual thoughts. I stop praising God for the things He had previously provided. I stop thanking God for the things He currently provides. I lose hope in His promised provisions. My faith and trust in the God that sent His Son to be my Savior, has lowered.

Now let me tell you how I get beyond worry. First, I pray that God would not only take my worries away but give me peace in trusting Him. I’m reminded of memory verses and start reading scriptures on God’s providing. Second, I thank the Lord for his present provisions. This is a moment of moment gratitude. I thanked the Lord that Suzanna’s meals were already provided! That it was sunny this morning so I could hang out laundry and that I didn’t need to take them to be dried. I thanked Him for providing us a warm comfortable apartment. I try to think of as many things as possible to thank Him for. I start praising Him for things he had previously provided. I praise God for the safety He allowed us to have in our travels, even to the shops. I praise Him for providing us with support from churches each month. I praise God for the health and safety He has given us over the last years. Thirdly, after all this I can not help but start singing…poor neighbors…lol.

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” – Philippians 4:6