We had a houseful of guests for dinner, lounging around and visiting our table after our meal. That's when Asa's girlfriend called.
It's a good thing she sounded chipper, because it wasn't great news that she had to share. Asa was traveling home from a video job/date with Kara in Omaha when he briefly fell asleep at the wheel, spun around on the interstate, and hit a muddy ditch.
Praise God, he and his car were fine. But his car was stuck, his phone battery was almost dead, and he wasn't sure what to do. I handed off our foster Boy Babe that I was holding, got on the phone with Emergency Roadside Assistance....
Blah, blah, blah, details and an hour and a half later - Asa's phone stayed charged just long enough for us to communicate about his needs and rescue. It sure was great to see him walk through the door later last night! And here's what I've been thinking ever since:
Would worry over my son's safety have prevented or changed any of yesterday's events? Of course not. Does worry about any of my teen and adult sons (and now our new little sons) keep them alive, keep them from sinning, or help me to be a better mom? Not even a little bit.
You and I love our family members intensely, no doubt. We want the best for them, we want their safety, we want them to be emotionally and spiritually healthy. That's why we're so tempted to worry, fret, be anxious, live in fear, harbor regrets...
We know better than to worry (hello, Matthew 6:25-34) but I would say that for many of us, it's one of our biggest temptations.
Asa's ordeal last night could have been so much worse. I'm so thankful that it wasn't. But even so, the truth is that not one of us knows what today might bring. The Lord gives. The Lord takes away. Worry doesn't change one thing about my circumstances.
But prayer changes my heart.
I can worry, or I can pray. It is also worth noting that I can worry-pray, which is when I fretfully cry out to God as I hold onto my worry and continue to live in fear. Or I can confidently pray, which is when I fully let go of fear, trust God's sovereignty, and allow His gift of peace to fill me.
I'm learning. Often I begin with worry-prayer, then remember that it is GOD I am talking to and HE is truly sovereign over my needs and the needs of my loved ones.
So join me today in striving to confidently pray. Humbly, with a heart full of trust in our good, gracious, loving, all-knowing Father - let's breathe deeply and know without a doubt that He carries our burdens. Because of this, we can live in peace.
Prayerfully,
