Worry

It's funny how you can read something once, and not even blink- but when you read it again two weeks later, it hits hard. I was just re-reading some early chapters of Crazy Love in preparation for a message I'm giving on Friday, and this paragraph jumped out at me:

"I used to believe that in this world there are two kinds of people: natural worriers and naturally joyful people. I couldn't help it that I was the worrying kind. I'm a problem solver, so I have to focus on things that need fixing. God can see that my intensity and anxiety are ministry related. I worry because I take His work seriously.

Right?

But then there's that perplexing command: 'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!' (Phil. 4:4)."

[Francis Chan, Crazy Love, Pg 41.]

The reason this paragraph connected with me is that just this week I was using the same excuses as Francis Chan uses. When two individuals, on two separate occasions, mentioned my worries about ministry and the things I'm involved in, I responded with excuses like: "I'm very passionate about this ministry... I care a lot about it... I love the people in it..." Don't get me wrong- I AM passionate... I DO care a lot... I DO love the people... And to be honest, at times I think others aren't worried enough!

But... does all that give me a right to WORRY?

Chan goes on to point out how, when we worry- even over GOOD causes- we say that our care about a ministry is more important than God's command to rejoice. And then there's the continuation of that command- to "Not be anxious about anything." (Phil. 4:6).

One thing I'm noticing is how easily we make exemptions when God makes rules with words like "all" or "anything." He wants ALL of me... except this relationship. I can't be anxious about ANYTHING except my financial burdens.

We don't ever say those things OUT LOUD, but we certainly live like that.

The truth is... I love my church and its ministries. There's something about our youth group that gets me SO excited for God and his works. I am more passionate about that ministry and those people than any other ministry or church or group or work that I have seen. So I WANT to worry about it all. When the church seems a little empty on a particular Sunday, I worry. When my youth group is having problems, I worry. And in case you don't realize, worrying is the same as being "anxious."

What I realize is that my passion and love for these ministries is taking place OVER God because my worries- It's causing me to disobey the commands to "rejoice always" and the command to "not be anxious about anything." And not only that, but my worry shows how little I trust God. Time and time again He has provided for me, opened doors, given me what I needed. I've seen him change lives in ways most people would NEVER believe. And yet... I can't rejoice when something goes wrong, because I believe I have to work to change it- I don't trust that God, out of love and care for his children, will provide the change and healing.

I'm going to choose to trust. When I start worrying about my church, my youth group, or any ministry... I'll turn it back over to God. I will learn to rejoice in the fact that I believe HE will take care of the problem. That HE will heal. HE will bring life change.

And He will do it. He is the redeemer.

With love,

Art