Lenten Devotional // Day 15

March 18th, 2022
by Mike DePope

Friday, March 18
WORRY by Suzanne Bassler

Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, what you’ll wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds in the sky. They don’t sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than they are? Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? Notice how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth. But I say to you that even Solomon in all of his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these. If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it’s alive today and tomorrow it’s thrown into the furnace, won’t God do much more for you, you people of weak faith? Therefore, don’t worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ Gentiles long for all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Reflection
If you are anything like me, worry seeps in when you least expect it. It is over very random things, generally ones that will never happen. I don’t think of myself as an anxious person, at least I didn’t use to. Then I got married and had kids and I think that has completely changed me, who wouldn’t be changed by these milestones. I am sure all the moms and dads out there can relate. But, I don’t say this lightly as we have faced many obstacles that would change anyone from carefree to anxious. In 2015, my husband was diagnosed with Leukemia. In 2016 we found out we would not be able to have children on our own. We went through IVF and ended up having our first son in 2017. Things were stable and good, but I often found myself consumed with scenarios that will probably never happen. In 2019 we got pregnant with our other son. That happy news quickly became very scary. I was labeled as high risk and even put on bed rest for a good chunk of my pregnancy. When our son was born, we found out that he has a rare skin condition and he was assigned a whole team of doctors. Between my husband and son, our lives are filled with doctors and appointments. For my husband, any illness can be severe and potentially life threatening. For my son, any bump, bruise, or new unexplained mark is unsettling and generally warrants a call to his doctor.

When we are anxious or worrying, there are so many things we can turn to. Sometimes seeing friends and talking, meditation and relaxation, listening to music or calming sounds can be very beneficial. For some, therapy is best. In the uncertain times that we have had, we have learned to lean into our faith more than anything else. God has brought us through some truly tough valleys. We have learned to give all of these things to God, to focus on the good and enjoy the moments we have together. I, personally, have learned that spending my time and energy worrying about things I cannot change is useless. It takes away from the wife and mother I want to be. Does it still happen, absolutely, I am only human. But, I know now, that everything is done on God’s time and that is where I find peace.

Question for Contemplation
How often is Jesus the first one we turn to? How often is our natural instinct to turn to prayer? What are some worries that you can put to God and let go of?

Prayer
God, we ask that you are with us right now. Whatever we are struggling with or worrying about, we give it to you. Fill our hearts and minds with peace. Remind us of all the good, all the peaks in our life, that deserve the energy we are putting towards worrying. Give us the rest we need so that we can serve you better. In your holy name we pray. Amen