Last week, my son Chris packed his car and headed back to start his second year at the University of Kentucky, leaving my housebound wife and me with our worries. I used to think parental concerns decrease as children age, but we’ve realized they become more complex. Over 18 years, we’ve tried to prepare him for this unpredictable world, yet we still wonder if we’ve missed something. Will his car handle the long trip? If it breaks down, will he know what to do? Will he get lost without his cell phone? (He’s not great with directions!) The worries keep coming.
Despite all we’ve taught him, our worries remain. He did well in his first year, earning good grades and making friends, but he is still learning to be on his own and to build a future for himself. College is a normal mix of growing, trying, failing, and trying again. Even though we know that, we still worry, hope, and pray that he’s learned enough to face life’s challenges.
It must be human nature to worry, which would explain why there are so many songs and even scripture verses about it. I remember Prince’s song “Let’s Go Crazy,” which starts like this. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called ‘life’. Electric word, life, it means forever, and that’s a mighty long time, but I’m here to tell you there’s something else: the afterworld-a world of never-ending happiness; you can always see the sun, day or night. So when you call up that shrink in Beverly Hills, you know the one... ’Cause in this life, things are much harder than in the afterworld. In this life, you’re on your own.”
When I hear this, I know this is not true. When you give your life to Christ, you’re not on your own. You have someone you can depend on to help you through life. When you attend church and are with other Christians, you’re not alone; you can depend on them, and they on you. Yes, worry happens, but as a Christian friend from college once told me, “Worry is the opposite of faith!”
When worried, we can depend on Scripture, which says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 55:22: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.” Matthew 6:25-34 teaches us not to worry about life—our needs are met by God, as with the birds and flowers. If God clothes the grass and feeds the birds, He will care for you, too. “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and everything else will be provided. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
It’s like that church sign I recently saw: “Give it to God and go to sleep.” Help us, Lord, to stop worrying so much and instead place our faith and trust in you.
Take care,
Bill R
