Words of Comfort

Originally I was going to write a big essay on the subject of bad feelings such as depression, doubt, guilt, etc. This isn't because I have been in a particularly bad or good place so if you know me in person - disclaimer - do not worry, I am simply writing about normal feelings that we all experience on occasion.

When it came down to it I realized that I didn't need to write a lot, I just had to revisit the word and retrieve some comforting words.

1.  Matthew 6:25 -  “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?


While we may not be able to consciously control our worries, it gives me comfort to know that Jesus has directly said not to worry, and not only not to worry about small things but not to worry about the things we require to survival. 


2. Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Worrying about the future is an unnecessary sin. one of the most valuable things I have ever been told is that worrying is a sin. When I was originally told this I got upset to the point of anger, "I can't help but worrying so it's unfair that doing it is a sin!" Then I thought about it I realized worry is thoughts, images and emotions of a negative nature in which mental attempts are made to avoid anticipated potential threats. Worry is a distrust, a reliance on our own anticipation of an imagined threat then staying prayerful and trusting in God. How do I handle worrying? Trust in God, focus on the word and pray even though it is hard. 



3. These feelings always reminds me of what Paul said in Romans 7:14–25


14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. [a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.



21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature [b] a slave to the law of sin. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!


Paul writes about the frustration with sin which I can equate directly to worry in my life. Thing I do that I do not want to do is worry, I want to trust in God and yet I drift back into trying to make sense of life myself. What I can do is dive into the word which let's the Lord talk to me and reassure me that he is always there whether I am trusting him or not, he reassures me that i am forgiven even if I drift back into sin. After being reassured I can be like Paul and proclaim "Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"


In conclusion, depression, worry, pain, and any of life's rigors whether they are triggered by an event or happening for no reason at all can be crazy. Thank God for God! Through the word and prayer we can be reminded to accept his embrace, he loves us and is helping us even though we are trying to do it on our own.


My prayer: 


Dear Lord, in the inevitable time that I fall away from me, please help me to remember that you are there. When things are going insane in my life please help me to be still and wait upon the strength you will bring that will come. Thank you for everything you have done, are doing, and will do. Praise to you in Heaven! 


In your ever present Holy Name,


Amen 

Do not worry about Tomorrow

I was reading Matthew 6 today. That's the one with the Lords Prayer and a lot of stuff about being humble and not making a big deal about good deeds to man. The end of the chapter struck me today to the point where I believe it is God speaking to me.

²⁵"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? ²⁶Look 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? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life

I am losing my job at the end of the month and these are definitely things I have been worrying about. I have read this before and read it now, the thoughts that come creeping up are "Who is God to tell me not to worry!? I am losing my job!?"

I quickly realize how foolish a statement this is when I think about it. The Bible is God's word for me and this is God flat out telling me not to worry, because I don't have to worry because he is with me. I may suffer trials in this world but I can take comfort in his promise to me.

Here is a little more from Matthew just because I love it so much.

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If 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? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Dear Lord,

I thank you for being my Lord and King who takes care of me. I am a weak sinner who let's sinful thoughts get into his head. I know that I do not have to worry and I have faith in you yet I still continue to worry. Thank you Lord for forgiving this sin. Please help me to be strong, to be faithful and to cast thoughts of worry from my mind no matter how bad it gets! Please Lord fill me with your spirit, help me to surrender my will and follow yours.

In your Holy name.
Amen

How to Stop Hitting the Worry Wall

A lot of times we worry about things and we don't feel like we have a choice. We can't stop worrying. To worry is to empty oneself, emptying it of God, Joy, Love, everything positive. We wonder "what if?" And "what if?" is always something negative.
* What if I don't get the job?
* What if everyone hates me?
* What if I get sick?
* What if I don't have enough money?
When I am worrying about something I often think I shouldn't be worrying and I want to stop and I don't know how. I hit the worry wall over and over again while trying to get the feelings to stop.
Worrying empties us out and the key to fixing something empty is to fill it. Replace the worry with wonder. Wonder at the awe and majesty of what God has in store for us. We can do this through prayer, journaling about what could be, writing, activity, just replacing what if something bad could happen with what if something wonderful could happen.
Replace emptying action with a filling action, replace despair with joy, trade worry for wonder.
The next time you are what ifing yourself into a worry wall start what ifing the wonder.
* What if I succeed?
* What if it is wonderful?
* What if everyone loves me?
* What if we end up having enough money?

God is always good so by doing this you are speaking truth. Fill yourself with so much God there is no room left to worry.