What does worrying do? If you could be relaxing by the sea with a cool wind blowing in your hair right now would you be able to enjoy it? Or would you be worrying about what’s going on back home?
Most of us can probably think of someone we know who seems to worry about every litttle thing
Having a chronic illness can seem to present us with a long list of justified reasons to worry. We worry if we should take it easy and rest for tomorrow’s tasks or if we should do all we can now, in case we end up feeling worse the next day. We limit ourelves as we ask ‘can I do it all?’ and even worry that we might not even be able to do some of it. We worry when our body goes downhill and we also worry when we are in remission. Maybe it won’t last. We worry about countless other things like raising our children, financial burdens, if we could be an adequate partner, mother, sister etc, about how to keep a positive attitude or whether we are in denial and we probably all have those intimate moments when we worry and wonder whether God is listening to our prayers.
He does hear our prayers and knows our worries, but our worries are in vain because everything is already in His hands. He’s already taken care of everything.
So you don’t ever need to worry about tomorrow or about anything that is happening in and around you. We have nothing to worry about! God knows our needs better than we know our own needs. And He knows not only what we need today, but also what we will need in the future; He’s already taken care of it. He promises to not only take care of our needs, but that he will fill our need in a glorious way. Besides, worry doesn’t do any good! What solutions can it offer? It is our attitude about the perceived lack of control that makes our experience seem much worse than it is. Worrying does not add an hour to our life. If anything it probably takes a few hours off of our life through the sheer stress of worrying. It has the opposite effect of laughter, depleting the immune system instead of boosting it so maybe a laugh or two at your situation could be a real turnaround.
Occasional worrying is a part of our human nature. The important thing is to not let it consume us. Allow yourself to relax, breathe deeply and meditate or visualise yourself being surrounded by soothing compassion. Soothe means to calm or comfort with soft words. Imagine God’s soft voice in answer to your prayers about your worries and allow God the opportunity to soothe you.
Worry can control you, even consume you; when you are overwhelmed with anxiety your focus has moved away from trust in God and apprciation of life. Do not be anxious about anything, but give thanks and trust that there is a greater wisdom here. Often if you look you can find the gift in any adversity that makes it all worthwhile. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds.
Whatever troubles we are experiencing, whatever illness we are going through they are always temporary and smaller than the bigger universal and eternal picture and we are also given the means to cope and the opportunity to learn and find peace.
