Putting My Heart to Rest

Hello, my dear friend! My prayer today is that you are worrying less and trusting more!

The English word for "worry" comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word meaning "strangle or to choke". When you think about it, that is exactly what "worry" does. Worry strangles our trust as we try to handle situations with our strength. Worry chokes our gratitude and praise as we are preoccupied trying to change something that hasn't even happened yet! Worry cuts off the air to our hopes and dreams as it replaces them with despair and anxiety. Worry steals the song in our hearts, and in our trust in the God who holds the future.

I have been preaching to you (and to myself) to overcome worry with prayer, trust, worship, and entering into the presence of God. On this journey, I found a better preacher than I am through the words of Martin Luther. In this autobiography, Martin Luther says:

"I have one preacher that I love better than any other on earth; it is my little tame robin, who preaches to me daily. I put some crumbs upon my window sill, especially at night. He hops onto the window sill when he wants his supply, and takes as much as he desires to satisfy his need. From thence he always hops to a little tree close by, lifts up his voice to God and sings his carol of praise and gratitude, then tucks his little head under his wing, goes fast to sleep, and leaves tomorrow to care for itself. He is the best preacher that I have on earth!"

The little robin is a powerful preacher with a powerful message. He knows the truth of Isaiah 41:10:

Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

(Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

You may want to pause and allow those words to wash over your anxious thoughts again. Don’t rush past them and allow the miracle of God’s words to bring hope into your most hopeless situation.

Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Honestly. right now I am anxious about a few things. I am anxious about a conversation I have to have with a co-worker next week that I know will challenge us both. I am worried about several members of my church family who are, or who have just lost a loved one. I am concerned about my message at the church this weekend because I am not confident that I listened to God well this past week. I am burdened with a heavy heart for several reasons and I worry that I can do what God has called me to do.

Just like you, I worry. But I also hear the voice of my Savior calling, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Today, let’s choose to overcome worry with the power of God. In defeating worry, one day at a time, we will be experiencing a true miracle of God!

You are a miracle!

Grant

P.S. The texts of this reading come from the daily email A Miracle Every Day. If you would like to receive a daily encouragement,, I invite you to subscribe to A Miracle Every Day.