Worry

God's plan for my life is not that I would be happy. It is that I would find joy and be satisfied in Him. Not in my husband, not in my job, not in my role as a wife, not in my excitement over a new baby, not in any of those things. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Not my self, not my marriage, not my dreams. In Christ alone my hope is found.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that there is always something you will be waiting for and worrying about in life. But God wants us to live in the present. He commands us "Do not worry." My worrying is sinful. It is an announcement to God that I do not trust Him and His plan for my life. Ouch, huh?

So instead of worrying while I wait, instead I'm taking time to reflect on God's goodness to me. I remember how I used to worry if I would ever meet the right man and get married. I look back now at how abundantly God has blessed me with my husband. In him, God has surpassed any dreams I had about my future husband. Why do I so quickly forget to trust Him?

There will always be something to worry and fret about. I can worry now about this pregnancy, I can worry about my children as they grow, I can worry over their friends and their schooling and the bump they got on their head when they fell, and the list goes on and on. God wants me to start to get this battle under control now. With His help I'm working on letting my worries go.

Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 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. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always.I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.