"Don't go Borrowing Trouble!"

“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? Look 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” – Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV)

Patty often cautioned those around her against “borrowing trouble”, and I am sure the basis for her advice was probably inspired by the passage of scripture from the book of Matthew. This passage of scripture is an excerpt from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount where His teaching on the subject of worry is very direct and beautifully illustrated. I often recall Patty’s words and remind myself of Jesus’ teachings when I feel the “worry monster” overwhelming me.

Do we have a human tendency to worry? Oh yes! Are any of us perfect enough to say in all honesty that we never worry? Oh no! There are plenty of circumstances in life to provoke us to worry constantly if we so choose. Will I keep my job? How am I going to pay for college for my kids? Will I be able to afford gas to get to work if prices go any higher? Where will my family and I live if the bank forecloses on our home? All of these issues and more are certainly cause for concern, but we have a choice. We can live in the land of worry and “what if” scenarios or choose a healthy level of caution and proactive living and enjoy the blessings of our everyday lives. If we are able to keep the time spent in worry and outright fretting to a minimum, our lives have room for those things that really matter.

If we don’t “borrow trouble”, then we are bound to be much healthier. Chronic worry feeds chronic stress, which leads to a watershed of physical and psychological problems. High blood pressure, heart disease, stomach problems, depression, sleep disorders, and so much more all have ties to a lifestyle of high levels of chronic stress and worry. In essence, worry will not add that additional hour to our life; it can even shorten our life. I believe that is why Jesus was so adamant in His teaching on that subject.

When I reflect on those times that I spent fretting over a situation (usually something out of my control), I wonder how much of that time could have been spent finding joy. I wonder how many times I missed hearing a bird sing or watching a beautiful sunset. How many times did I miss the music in the laughter of a child? As I grow a little older and wiser and closer to God in my faith walk, I realize it is the small things of joy that should take priority over needless worry. After all, God is there to supply our needs and care for us in times of trouble. Who are we to tell Him in our fretting and worry that He is not big enough to handle that? Live in an attitude of intentional joy and “don’t go borrowing trouble!” Wise advice from a dear friend and mentor. Thanks Patty….

Be Blessed Always -- Winnie