Sunday, November 15, 2009

don't worry. be happy?

The following is on a note card that I have posted on my bathroom mirror (thanks to Cryssie who printed it out for me):

Worry implies we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.

Stress says that the things we are involve in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's ok to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance.

Francis Chan, Crazy Love (pg. 42)

Wow! If this doesn't spell out conviction in my life, I don't know what does. Every single moment I spend worrying or stressing about the minuscule details of my life, I am sinning against God.

As someone who is constantly worrying about money, where I'm going to live, what job I'm going to hold, how I'm ever going to pay off my student loans (ha), and so on, this hit home with me in more ways than one. According to this, I REEK of arrogance. You can smell me from a mile away and the stench is distinctly arrogant.

Forgive me God. I desperately plead for your mercy to cover this sin. May you redeem this pattern and draw me into a peace which transcends all understanding.

3 comments:

Kori said...

WOW!!! I need to print those quotes out and hang them on my bathroom mirror ASAP! Thanks for the post :) Love you!

Anonymous said...

I could not agree more. Some people may mistake a lack of worry with irresponsibility, or some sort of Pollyanna attitude, but, for a Christian who is trusting God amid all of the contrary circumstances in life, it is a simple act of child-like faith that says, "I am not God. I do not have the ability to control everything that happens in my life, but You, God, are God. You know me, love me, and care for me. Therefore I will put my life, along with all of its cares and worries, in Your capable hands, for you are well able to take care of me and all my needs, no matter what. Thank you, Lord, for loving me."

RL said...

yes, i think the key is giving EVERYTHING to God as opposed to giving Him only those things we feel "comfortable" letting go of. oh, how i am so guilty of this...