Worry Warts.

 Worry Warts.

 

Years ago, my daddy used to say that he was the only one in the family who needed to be a worry wart. Mom would just look away or look at the ceiling. Uh huh. Eventually, Daddy said that he thought the worry wart gene ran in the family. The only difference between his jeans and Mom’s genes was that she could hand down the practice to her children. Both of my parents seemed to spend a lot of time thinking about things that never even occurred to me. Now it seems to me that this old woman just spends an inordinate amount of time being concerned about things over which she has absolutely no control. This is one reason for not watching the news—besides the fact that it is so depressing, what can we really do about things? Some of my friends—thinking about Kay Burroughs, Robin Christian, and Carla Beard—would be praying about the things that bother them. My cousin TJ and his wife Lynn are also among the group that take a proactive approach to prayer. Some things we can do. Some things we need to leave in the hands of the Lord. But a few of us have to come back and remind him more than once about our concerns. So let me tell you one of my concerns this evening and see if you want to add it to your list.

 

Depression. No one sees depression. It has been around probably as long as when man first realized that he could not be perfect. We have such glorious expectations of ourselves and others. But we can’t be perfect. We might be able to recognize the futility of expectations in ourselves and in others, but the hard part is trying to give comfort to either one. Remember Elijah? He was miserable, totally miserable. He pointed out that he was the ONLY one who listened to God. And what did it get him? He was pursued and abused verbally. He ran away as far as he could go, but he still had fears and lack of confidence. Oh, he knew that God was the one in charge, but he forgot that he was being used by God. So, he became terribly depressed. God didn’t tell him to buck up and just go on and get over it. Nope. God sent an angel to comfort him.

 

Have you ever wondered what an angel would look like if God sent one to you? A few times in my life, it seemed to me that something special happened to help me understand whatever was bothering me at the time. Once it happened that my horse stopped totally still and put her head up as if her reins had been pulled back. But they had not been pulled. Maybe the “voice” we heard—for it seemed to me that she reacted to it also—was in my head.

 

Another time something made me stop and turn around to go back home—quickly, right then! My mother was waiting for me, standing and praying out in the yard for her child. Protection from a man with bad intentions was given to me that day. But most importantly, it was evident that God listened to my mother’s concerns. He gave her His answer.

 

None of us will likely be expected to build altars and pour water on them and ask God to bring fire down on a sacrifice. But sometimes, just once in a long while, we may be the one who comforts another. We need to be open to whatever needs we find in another. Let us give of ourselves—even if we can’t be perfect or do things perfectly.

 

Remember His voice: Be still and know that I am God.