day 7, love that soothes the worried

    As far back as I can remember I have worried. I’ve worried about everything from peoples' opinions of me to whether or not I would graduate from college and become a successful adult. I have been told many things that were intended to help from some well-meaning Christians. Some told me to “just stop worrying,” or that I was choosing to worry because it was my “pet sin,” much like how some people chose drugs or porn. I found neither of those responses particularly helpful. They only made me feel like I was more of a failure; like, “Oh great, here is another thing I’m failing at!”. 
But Jesus has much to say about worry: 


“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are” 
-Matthew 6:25-26 (NET Bible) 


    This doesn't sound like a God who is angry with me because of my constant worrying, but rather a God who gently reminds me of how important I am to Him. God feeds the birds of the sky, but we are more important to Him. So what does that mean for us? God is concerned about our anxieties and desires to soothe them. Jesus’ reassuring words depict a God who comforts. “Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are?”.
     Those of us who worry often carry wounds very few see. Some of us may have become traumatized by stressful life events like divorce, death or other losses. Our worry is a survival mechanism to help us come up with a plan to keep us safe. If we have experienced times where our emotional, physical, and or spiritual safety has been jeopardized, we may fall back into survival mode. But survival mode says, “I can’t trust anyone and I must do this on my own.” While that last statement may have felt true at times, it is not the whole story. Jesus out stretches his hand to us saying, “You don't have do this alone. Don't worry. I understand, and I will provide for you.” 
Devotional Questions
    •    What is God asking you to trust him with?
    •    Were there times when you had to go into survival mode? What were they and why?
    •    Take time today to list out your worries to God.