I’m not Jewish.  I’ve acted the part of many Jewish women in my life and I’ve pretty much mastered the accent.  Jesus was born a Jew and I’m willing to bet His mother worried about Him.  Maybe that’s why He spent a lot of time talking about this dreadful trait. 

We worry about life altering things – like getting married, graduating from college, getting a job, entering the military.  We worry about things we can’t control – like the weather, our environment, wars and disasters.  We worry about money, our children, our careers, our relationships.  We fret over things we can’t change –  like our looks, our circumstances, our strengths and weakness.  We just plain worry!

It’s easy to tell someone not to worry, but that isn’t going to stop them.  We may not have experienced what they are going through. Maybe our lives have never involved this emotion.  We might not be able to relate.  Jesus walked in our shoes.  He knows all our frailties and shortcomings.  That’s why He can look into our hearts and know what we are going through.  Because He is also God, He invites us to depend on Him to get us through these disheartening fears and doubts.

Isaiah 41:10  ” fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

In fact our God is telling us not to sweat the small stuff.  He’s got our back – He’s at our side – He will never leave us and we can depend on that!

I will undoubtedly continue to worry until I die, but my worries don’t have to depress me or dominate my thinking. When I turn my anxieties over to Him, He promises to give me peace – and God always keeps His promises.

Thank you, Lord, for giving rest to my weary mind and body, but mostly for relieving the doubts, worries and fears of my soul.  Be with me today and every day as you have promised.  Lift me up when I am down and help me to do the same for others.