Friday, July 31, 2009

Not Helpful......

On this Faithful Friday, it's been on my heart to touch on worry, fear and apprehension.

Right about now, I know I'm a little fearful and apprehensive about giving birth.  Even though I've done it two other times, the apprehension doesn't seem to go away.  I will hopefully be trying for a VBAC, (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean), and if that doesn't pan out, then I will ultimately have to have a C-Section.  Neither option is ideal or 100% safe, because there are risks involved with both and that does put a little fear in me.   Sometimes my mind can't stop thinking of the things that COULD go wrong.  I'm not dwelling on these things all the time, but I have to admit that my mind wanders to the "dark" side of giving birth and I start to worry.

We ALL worry at times.  None of us can say that we have never been fearful or apprehensive about something in our lives, including myself!!  So, I ask us all to contemplate on these four things:

1.  WORRYING ACCOMPLISHES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

I don't know about you, but I don't have any time to waste these days, and worrying is a waste of very precious time. Worrying won't help you solve a problem or bring about a solution, so why waste your time and energy on it?

Matthew 6:27-29
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

2.  WORRYING IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU


Worrying is destructive to us in many ways. It becomes a mental burden that can even cause us to grow physically sick.

Proverbs 12:25
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

3.  WORRYING IS THE OPPOSITE OF TRUSTING GOD


The energy that we spend worrying can be put to much better use in prayer. Here's a little formula to remember: Worry replaced by Prayer equals Trust.
    Matthew 6:30
    And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Jesus Christ.

4.  WORRYING PUTS YOUR FOCUS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION


When we keep our eyes focused on God, we remember His love for us and we realize we truly have nothing to worry about. God has a wonderful plan for our lives, and part of that plan includes taking care of us. Even in the difficult times, when it seems like God doesn't care, we can put our trust in the Lord and focus on his kingdom. God will take care of our every need.
    Matthew 6:25
    That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

    Matthew 6:31-33
    So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Worrying is basically thinking on things that aren't true.  All of our fears and worries are things that haven't even happened, things that we are fearful that might happen, or might fail, or might go wrong, but, all we're really focusing on is a lie.

About a year ago I was watching a Dateline-type show on Randy Pausch.  Have you heard of him?  Among many other things, he was a man given only a few months to live.  He was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and was trying to fight it as hard as he could.  I won't go into his history or background, because it's quite an extensive and amazing one, but if you have time, do go HERE to see his "Last Lecture."  (You will laugh, you will cry, and you will be inspired!)  But, as I was watching this show on his life, they did an interview with his wife, and I'll NEVER forget what she said.  As she was being asked questions about how she's getting through this, how the kids are coping, etc, she said it was hard to even get out of bed, it was hard to see Randy with the kids, laughing and playing, knowing that it might be the last time that happens.  She said she cried non-stop and just was in a horrible depressed state, until she saw a therapist who gave her two simple, yet, very powerful words.  "NOT HELPFUL."

None of her depression, crying, thinking and worrying on the future was helpful to her.  She was "wasting" her time with Randy NOW, because she was so worried and fearful for the future.  So, everytime she wanted to worry about herself or the kids, be fearful about her husband's disease, or worry when he was going to die, she always said to herself, "NOT HELPFUL."  And, ultimately, those two simple words helped her to get past the worry, fear and doubt, and enjoy the time that she had left with her husband.

So inspiring.

We all worry, but I urge us all to stop.

When is worrying helpful??  Never.

It's NOT HELPFUL.






2 comments:

  1. Excellent, Sarah, and so true! What a waste of time worrying is! There is a Scripture that says to think on those things that are...true... You're right; worrying is thinking on lies. Lord forgive us and help us to think on truth!!

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  2. Good word, Sarah. Very encouraging! Thanks for sharing, Sister.

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