REMEMBERING HENNY PENNY

“The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” the chicken called. People today believe the end is imminent, too. And it is, according to God’s Word. But unlike Henny Penny, we need not fear. God controls the universe and we need only look to Him for peace and freedom from fear. Hallelujah!

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES       by Sally Bair

What’s your worry?

I’m surrounded by worriers. Every day I hear someone say, “I can’t sleep because my son is out partying.” “I worry about not having enough money to pay all my bills.” “I’m sick with worrying about my baby’s health.”

Someone said women in particular are born to worry; that’s their role in life. It may seem so, but it shouldn’t be so. Worry robs us of our health—physical, emotional, and spiritual. It also robs us of our time.

As fragile humans, we’re prone to worry. But we’re told not to. Worry and faith, after all, are poles apart and shouldn’t even be spoken of in the same sentence. James 1:6-8 says if we doubt God’s Word, we’re like a wind-tossed wave, double-minded in all our ways.

Part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount speaks of the futility of worrying. We shouldn’t worry about what we will eat, drink, or wear, He tells us. “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:32-34)

Paul also exhorts us to not worry. “Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

I read of a man who couldn’t sleep as he faced a crisis. He thought of the verse from Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” The man decided that since there was no need for both him and the Lord to stay up all night, he’d let the Lord stay awake and he would sleep.

Sounds like a good solution, doesn’t it? Why not let the Lord take our worries and deal with the problems and crises so we can sleep in peace? If you’re a worrier, why not memorize the above verses and use them every time you become anxious? Then you too will find God’s peace, which really does pass human understanding.

Lord, thank You for promising to take over our worries and for Your incredible peace that comes when we hand them over to you. Strengthen our faith in Your Word so we’ll remain free from all worries. In Jesus’ name, amen.