Wednesday Wonder

“Worrying is praying for what I don’t want.”

Saw this quote somewhere the other day. It got me thinking. And the first thought was what an interesting way to look at worry.

It also made me think of a verse from Matthew’s gospel. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matt. 6:34 NRSV)

What a wonder that we do this to ourselves. We spend time worrying about something that may happen, or something that has happened which we can do nothing about now. All this worrying only adds to the day’s burden. And don’t we carry enough each day as it is?

There are those in what is often referred to as the ‘new age’ movement who would say that by worrying about something negative we actually help manifest it into being. Now, there is a scary thought. If we had not let it occupy our minds might the very worry we had, not have come to pass?

Recently, the Bible study groups touched on the idea of predestination. The idea that there is a plan already in place and things will simply unfold as they are meant to do. Then, what is the point of worrying? What will be will be if we have that belief.

The verses just before the one above from Matthew, speak of the flowers of the field and the birds of the air. It says they don’t worry about anything, including what we might consider the daily basics. Jesus is reminding us that God knows our needs, God cares for us and is with us.

Now, no one would ever accuse me of being a Pollyanna. I can do the glass half full just like everyone else. We all have those days. We have all spent days worrying about this, that and the other thing. They are, or were, important to us. We worried. We are humans. Worry is one of the things humans do.

And while I am not an advocate for predestination, I am one for remembering that God is with us, always. Jesus promised to be with us to the ‘end of the age.’ Jesus also told us the Spirit was to come to be with us always. Wherever you might search for comfort within the trinity, you will find they are there. You will find the promise of being with us.

Does this mean we will stop worrying? Probably not. Does this mean that our worrying will make a difference? Probably not. Before saying not to worry about tomorrow, Jesus reminds us that worrying adds no time to our lives. Science has discovered that constant worry is likely to take time from our lives.

If we are going to worry about anything, let us worry about living up to our full potential as God’s child. Let us worry about living as faithfully as we can in God’s way of love shown to us by Jesus.

Humans are going to worry. Some of us are better at not worrying than others. Life seems to hand each one of us times when we can’t help but worry about the outcome. So be it.

When we do find ourselves worrying, let’s do so knowing that the God of Love, who loves us, is right there in the midst of it with us. Let us trust that Love enough to hand over the day’s worry rather than letting it become our prayer for something we do not want.

Let our lives be a prayer which echoes that Love, as human, imperfect and worried as we may be.