Daily Devotional for June 8, 2022

Due to the nature of my job, I keep strange hours.  Sometimes I come home pretty late.
 
Awhile back, I told Shannon that if it was late at night and I wasn’t home, if she heard an unsettling noise, she was to forcefully yell, “I have a gun.”  Then, I could tell her it was me and everything was all right. 
 
Shannon smiled and said, “I’ll start shooting and then say, ‘I have a gun.’”
 
I didn’t appreciate her enthusiastic tone.  I started to worry.
 
This got me thinking.
 
The most unproductive thing in the world is needless, useless worry.  And yet, too often I find myself worrying about things I cannot control.
 
Shannon may shoot me one night when I come home late.  The stock market may drop through the floor erasing any hopes of retirement.  A drunk driver may cross the center line.  The current drought may continue for months.  My next sermon may be a real stinker. My bull may jump the fence to introduce himself to the neighbor’s cows.  A tornado may tear through my property.  Either it will or will not happen.  Worrying about any of this won’t change a thing.  
 
If you find yourself in my shoes, remember, worry will take a toll on you, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  It will suck all the joy out of your day and replace it will anxiety and stress.  This is not God’s will for your life.
 
There are too many contingencies in life to have everything buttoned up tight.  The unexpected and unforeseen will happen.  It always does.
 
Our task as Christians is to remember who is ultimately in control.  The One who created this beautiful universe and loves you more than life itself, does not want you to waste your time and energy on worry.
 
In Jesus’ ministry, he worked with extremely anxious people who faced the very real threat of famine, draught, heavy taxes, and violent Roman soldiers who took and did whatever they wanted. 
 
To these worried people Jesus said, “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 than food, and the body more 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?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”  (Matthew 6:25-57)
 
I don’t know what your worries are, but I am certain you have some.  Everyone does.  Let me offer a way to deal with them.
 
Whenever the clouds of worry begin to gather in your mind, make the conscious decision to give your worry to God.  You will have to do this more than once, but the more you do it, the easier it will become.  I speak from experience.  It works.
 
God can carry your worry much easier than you can.  All you have to do is trust.
 
Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, today I place my worries in your hands.  Please ease my anxious mind and remind me you have everything under control.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.
 
 God has big plans for you.  Worry is not part of it.
 
Also, just for the record, please pray for my marriage.  Shannon’s understanding of shooting first, then saying, “I have a gun,” is very concerning.
 
I wonder if I should worry?
 
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins