Daily Reflections on Phil. 4:4-7 (Worry)

When you first read today's passage the little tune by Bobby McFerrin, "Don't Worry, Be Happy," might come to mind. The thought seems almost as ridiculous as the song. Rejoice always? Right! Don't be anxious about anything? Right! How? Paul obviously must not have faced the same things I face. Telling people not to worry is like telling water not to run downhill.

I fight a little blood pressure problem and have rightly been accused of having "white coat" blood pressure (that means when they take my pressure in the doctor's office it always goes up). When I was first diagnosed and monitored they'd take my blood pressure and it would be high, so they would make me lie down in a dark room and tell me not to think about my pressure. They'd come back in twenty minutes or so and my blood pressure would be ten points higher. A friend of mine said he would quote the 23rd Psalm to make his go down. I tried it and mine still went up. How spiritual am I?

Let's face it, we all worry about something. We all face situations that seem overwhelming or unbearable. Anxiety and worry are a part of life. But do they have to be? Anxiety and worry occur when things are out of our control. We bite our nails, fidget, wring our hands, sweat, shake, pace, become full of nervous energy when we lose our ability to manipulate our environment or make something happen.

Rejoicing in the Lord isn't about walking around with an empty mind and a fake smile plastered to our face. Rejoicing in the Lord is more about resting in Him, trusting Him, finding our confidence in Him. It's being aware that the Lord is near and He's in control. Things may be out of my control, but they are certainly not out of God's control. So I release my anxiety to Him through prayer, petition, and praise. I can walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I can sit in the presence of my enemies or an unforeseen future because God is with me. That gives me confidence and peace as I walk through the uncertainties of life.

God, I'm rejoicing in you today. I choose you to focus on you and not circumstances or challenges. You created life to enjoy in you and I plan to do that today. God, I can't control every circumstance in life any more than I can control the weather, but you can. Even the wind and the waves obey your command. God, I want to live today by your peace and let tomorrow take care of itself.