Day 25 – Not a Surge of Worry

Brother Lawrence said that “when he had some matter to take care of, he never thought about it in advance, but within the necessary time period he found in God, as in a clear mirror, what he needed at the moment. For some time now he acted in this manner with no apprehension, although before he had this experience of God’s prompt help he worried about everything.”

Brother Lawrence used to be a worrier. Yet by living in God’s presence, he saw his worries fade away.

He found that between the present now and the supposed then, God always came through. God helped him, enabled him, fortified him in the very concern he had worried about.

So he learned to pray over his worry until he was captured by a vision of God – “as in a clear mirror.”

With that fresh vision of God lodged in his mind, he steadied his gaze upon God and let only a glance fall toward his worry. And God showed him what to do when he needed to do it.

Family, health, finances, relationships, work, school – what do you worry about it? What if this? What if that?

We worry about the painful past. We worry about the stressful present. We worry about the uncertain future.

Learn like Brother Lawrence: Remind yourself who God is. Reflect on his attributes. Think about his ways. Allow his character to be imprinted upon your soul until worry-thoughts dissipate and God-thoughts dominate.

Instead of an anxious mind breeding a troubled heart, a heartfelt prayer can quiet your mind. A glance upon your worry. A gaze upon our God.

Some would say that good planning can rightly defuse our worries. But Brother Lawrence was not an organized person nor a good planner.

All he had was to trust God to help him and show him what to do when the time came. Thereby anchoring his soul in God, he didn’t expect difficulties to follow and his heart was at peace.

In reflecting on Isaiah 26:3 – “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (ESV) – Frances Havergal penned these words:

“Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care. Not a blast of hurry, touch the Spirit there. Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest. Finding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest.”

Action Step: What are you worried about? Burdens of yesterday? Troubles of today? Responsibilities of tomorrow? Give your worry over to God, and let it go.

This is God’s Word for you today,
Pastor Dave