Tonight I find myself faced with a choice.  Option #1: I can sit and worry about my troubles, mulling them over, rolling them around in my brain, trying to figure out this and that and running the mental loop of “what ifs” and “I really should haves,” and twist my thinking and emotions into pretzel knots without solving anything.

Or, I can take up option #2: I can sit and prayerfully ponder the Lord our God and take Him at His Word.  I can focus on Jesus and not myself.  I can converse with my Heavenly Father – my Redeemer, my Savior, my Protector – not like He is my buddy, but like a child going to His Father. 

My strength falters.  The Lord’s strength is never failing.  As Jesus said to Paul, “’My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV).  In other words, the strength I need is not mine.  It is found in Jesus Christ.  It is found in resting in Him.  It is found through the Holy Spirit Who lives inside me. 

It is the reason Jesus tells us to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:33-34, NIV).  It’s why the Lord tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, ESV).

It is why Paul exhorts us to “rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7, ESV). 

It is why Peter warns us, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:6-11, ESV).

The truth is that God is the Truth.  Not how I view my circumstances.  Not the stuff that awakens me at 3:00am.  If the subject of our worry has no eternal value, it isn’t worthy of worry.  Give it to the Lord in faith, trusting that He has a plan and is able to handle whatever we throw His way.  And, if the subject of our worry does have eternal value, it shouldn’t be handled with worry.  Give it to the Lord in faith, trusting that He has a plan and is able to handle whatever we throw His way.

So tonight, I choose option #2.  I choose to concentrate on the Lord Who loves me more than I can imagine.  I choose to spend time with God, seeking His will – His kingdom – and praying for the grace to please Him.  I choose to believe what Jesus said over what I think or feel.  I choose to trust the Lord Most High, Creator and Sustainer of all.  I choose to rest in Him, accepting that His grace is sufficient, His strength is perfect and His love is eternal. 

God loves me, and I am safely in His grip.

So are you, if you believe in Him.