Letting Go of Worry

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This morning I am reflecting on the fragility of my well-thought plans.  I had some stuff all worked out, and now whatever I worked out is kind of falling apart.  

 I have the best intentions when it comes to planning, mind you.  But it seems that no matter how much I fret and worry, my fragile plans often don't work out exactly the way I envisioned them. 

 Worrying over the outcomes of our planning and arranging can keep us awake at night.  It can also steal our joy, and rob us of hope when our planning comes to nothing, and we find ourselves where we had no intentions of going.  

 Oswald Chambers has a hard word for that kind of worrying and fretting:  
"It is not only wrong to worry, it is unbelief; worrying means we do not believe that God can look after the practical details of our lives..." 

Sometimes the best way we can renew our belief in God's sovereign love for us is to pay attention to the moments when our worrying and fretting fade away, and we simply rest, connect, renew and find restoration.  

 Yesterday I had some hard things to do---things I worried about, plans I fretted over and generally had a hard time turning over to God.  

 But then I was also given the opportunity to see the preschoolers at our preschool celebrate their graduation, which was unbelievable joy. I had an incredible conversation about faith and life with a friend, which turned my mind to things above.  

 Last night we gathered with friends for dinner at our house after a long day of work, parenting and adult-ing.  It was pure grace.  We ate, laughed, drank good wine, and played with the kids in the pool until late in the evening.  

 It's those kinds of moments that can re-fill you with energy, light and life.  They can also help you put into perspective the events of a challenging day, or a difficult season in your life.  

 Psalm 55:22 offers some incredible encouragement that speaks into this so clearly:  

 "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."  

 May you discover moments of grace, joy and hope in the midst of your day today.  Pay attention to how you feel in those moments, and let yourself be free from worry and anxiety as you allow yourself to be filled with the Spirit of peace.  Turn over your plans to God, and trust that God has your best interests at heart. 

 And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen. 

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