I'm Different When I Don't Worry

Today I did a thing.

I yielded!

I prayed about a situation that had been going on for a while. I brought it to the Lord with humility and sincerity; I expressed my concern. I asked for God's hand to move in the situation, then I worshiped him.

Peace was His response.

Shouldn't I have known that? I did. But I had been worrying for so long that I forgot that peace doesn't come when the problem is worked out. It comes when the problem is surrendered to the problem solver. Only God can issue true peace. My problem still stood, but I was no longer focused on it. My sights had shifted. Suddenly I was filled with Light, with peace, and with hope. I was laughing and smiling from the inside out. I had joy again.

I realized that I'm different when I choose not to worry.

I can think clearly. I can sing. I can commune with God. I can enjoy my family. I can LIVE! I guess that's why Christ says He came to give abundant life (John 10:10). I think abundant life has little to do with having an abundance of things, instead I think it's about having an overwhelming amount of Spiritual fruit. As mentioned in Galatians 5:22 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. I believe that bearing those fruits to overflowing IS abundant life.

In this season I am learning that it's not about perfectly weathering the storms of life. It's about who/what you focus on while the storm is raging. When Peter focused on the wind and the waves he began to sink. What is even more amazing to me is that Jesus did not end the storm even though He could. He displayed his authority and power over the storm by walking on top of waters that were untamed, unpredictable, and down right scary...to us. This parallels the season that I am in. I know Jesus has authority over my storm and can end it all with a Word. But even if he doesn't, even if the storm continues raging, I know that I can reach out and grab my Savior's hand.