Why the Worry?

Recently, I accidentally sent a full month’s salary to a friend. Following the error, the account I used for expenses had a noteworthy balance of $0.02. To say I panicked when I realized my error would be the understatement of the year.

However, I am not one to just sit and dwell on the problem so I immediately jumped into action, hunting for solutions. I called my friend to be on the lookout for when the sum landed in her account and then called my bank. I got impatient when I didn’t get through and tried again and again, getting more upset. Eventually, I got through only to be told by the agent that the matter was out of their hands. The transfer was final. Knowing that sometimes the reps didn’t know the process loopholes, I thanked the rep and hung up and proceeded to reach out to a contact who had contacts at the bank.

My contact’s contact told me the same thing that the rep had told me. There was nothing I could do but wait because the transfer was final.

What is your reaction when the outcome seems final?

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
Psalms 62:5 NLT

Now I must confess that worry and stressing hit me hard! I had completed my monthly grocery shopping a few days before. My credit card bill was due. None of my utility bills had yet been paid and I had other bills on the horizon. It didn’t matter that I had other accounts that I could pull funds from. My focus was on what I had lost, not what I still had. I wanted the solution now!

As I sat at my desk, trying to work, the thought hit me that I could not focus on the task at hand because of my focus on the present situation. A part of me immediately justified that my reaction was correct. A small voice rose up “you shouldn’t be this way if you are trusting God.” I agreed with that small voice. I paused, took a deep breath and said a short prayer, handing everything over into God’s hands.

More settled, I went back to work. Eventually the matter was sorted and the money was returned to my account before the deadline of when I needed it.

The Point? I assure you there is one… 🙂

Jesus took my burden and left me with a song.

Constant worrying and Christ do not walk hand-in-hand. As Christians we are not called to stress ourselves out worrying. We are called to act in obedience, have faith and let God handle the rest.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3 NLT

When you truly hand over your burdens to Jesus, you will feel lighter and more at peace (after all, burdens are meant to weigh us down).

From my experience I realized that once I handed things over to God, I stopped stressing and worrying about it. In fact, I didn’t think about my problem until my friend messaged me to give me an update. Only then did I remember to share the tale with my best friend, and not with the frantic energy I had had in the morning. With the worrying over, I could focus on the present. Sometimes our worry blinds us to the opportunities at hand. It is time we stop trusting what we believe will be the outcome and trust God who is coordinating the outcome. Not as we will it God, but let Your will be done.

Note: As I completed this post I got some news that increased my stress and worry levels… essentially messing with the good vibes and energy that I had been feeling. When I realized the effect that the news had on me, I took a deep breath and acknowledged that there was nothing I could do about it. With that energy I told God, “All Yours! I’m trusting You with the outcome.” and went back to my Reggae night. After that, I felt so much better (mellow without a drop of wine) knowing I can wait patiently in the One in whom I put my trust and whom is project managing my life and its ups and downs to a beautiful outcome. I’m excited! Aren’t you?