I am thinking about the unproductivity and fruitlessness of worry this morning. Matthew 6:25-34 instructs us not to waste our time on worry, yet we all do it – probably more often than we are willing to admit! I worried about having children, birthing, nursing, weaning, potty-training, shots, first day of school, money to provide for all of their needs, sleep-overs, sicknesses, whether or not to adopt, getting our children home from Guatemala, about them getting hurt, Tim’s health, job changes, moving to Florida, leaving Lydia behind in St. Louis, the best way to step back into Guatemala for Dennis & Rebekah, and 1000s and 1000s and 1000s of other things over the course of my life.
This morning I’m looking behind me and seeing how life naturally moves us forward (i.e. I am no longer potty training 5 children) and how God has met us at every step of the way. Maybe this is because age brings us a different perspective, I’m certainly growing older! More importantly, I think it’s because God is faithful. Life is not easy; it’s full of pain, sorrow, and trials. However, in the midst of those moments, I need to try harder to not worry too. Here I am in Guatemala exploring the country with my two 10-year-olds that I worried would never come home in the first place.[1] None of the fretting, sleepless nights, or angst during that process changed them coming home to the US or helped bring us back here today.
I woke up with this song rolling over and over inside my heart this morning and I think know why. Father, please continue to heal my heart and change my perspective to trust more completely in your faithful care:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee,
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above;
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.
[1] For more pictures of my children’s first homecoming trip, please visit my Facebook album: shorturl.at/rsJO5
