The Worry Pit

“As a dream comes when there are many cares…”
Ecclesiastes 5:3

I had a horrible nightmare last night. It’s a recurring one that I have had many times over the years. I dreamed that I was standing before a less than enthusiastic crowd and couldn’t find my notes. As I went through my notebook laying on the podium, I tried to stall for time. The room was only a third full when I started my stammering around. By the time I had given up on my notes and decided to just “wing” it, there were only about ten people in the crowd, not one of them a familiar face. I panicked and then…woke up.

I have had that same dream in which I am a student showing up for a final exam that I have not studied for all semester. In fact, I haven’t even attended the class. I give some kind of lame excuse to the teacher who reiterates how important class attendance and this final exam is for a passing grade. I always wonder in my dream why I have not remembered to go to class. Yes, the class in my dream usually has something to do with either math or science–oh, that explains my absence!

I don’t take stock in dreams. I don’t look for signs behind the images I have in a restless sleep. But I do think that my unconscious thoughts can reflect my conscious thoughts. I admit it–I have fretted quite a bit with the busyness of this week coming up. This is what Jesus told His disciples about why I shouldn’t worry:

25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27″Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” Luke 12:25-31 (NIV)

I forget that this day has been ordained for me since before the creation of the world. The Lord knows exactly what this day holds me for. He longs to show up and show off in a stunning way, if I let Him. But if my eyes of faith are dimmed and focused on those things that I cannot control, I will miss Him! Jesus points out in this passage that all that time I spend worrying is wasted time. Nothing constructive ever comes out of worrying. In fact, it robs me of those hours I spent fretting over something only He has the power to take care of. I belong to my heavenly Father who knows what I need today, even better than I do. Our job today, girlfriends, is to seek His face and cast all our cares on Him. He promises that He will take care of the rest.

So what is it that has you in the worry pit today? What is our heart set on–paying the bills, the clothes we or our children need, paying the tuition for that college student of ours that is so far away, the havoc that Wall Street has wreaked on our finances, the doctor’s report that we are dreading? All of those worries turn our eyes away from the truth–our Abba Daddy knows all these cares we have. We are always on His mind. He has got the answer for each worry. Let’s not spend our day worrying and stressing out about what we are not in control of anyway. Where can we serve today? Let’s brag on the faithfulness of our God to someone who doesn’t know Jesus’ power in her life. Let’s write that note of encouragement, make that phone call to start reconciling with the person we have even forgotten why we were upset at, and love on our families and friends. Our Jehovah Jireh (God our Provider) will take care of the rest.

Jesus, help me not to fret–it only leads to evil as Proverbs says. Give me the peace that passes all understanding, which guards my heart and mind, because I have lifted up my requests to You and have left them there.