I have a lot to be worried about right now. I have been attending grad school and have amassed a fair amount of debt. Six months from graduation, I will be expected to start paying it off. School library jobs are few and far between right now. I just got a message on my Facebook account from a classmate who lives in Rochester and finished school in May. She said that she has not had a single interview yet. (And I consider her to be one of the best students.)From the words on John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
It's hard not to be disturbed by all of these worries. We have bills to pay. We have three kids to take care of. We would like to see those three kids go to college too. We have a house that needs some major repairs. We would like to be able to relax a little with our budget, instead of stressing so much.
Jesus should be my peace, not money. Not getting a good job. Most of the time, I look for peace in the wrong place. Here is a quote from Chambers.
"Reflected peace is the proof that you are right with God because you are at liberty to turn your mind to Him.If you are not right with God, you can never turn your mind anywhere but on yourself. If you allow anything to hide the face of Jesus Christ from you, you are either disturbed (worrying) or you have a false security."
So I am going to try not to worry. As I admitted yesterday, I cannot do this on my own. On my own strength, I will just think about it in worldly sense. And then I will receive the peace that the world gives...which is no peace at all. I must look in the face of Jesus Christ.
Photo: Taken during hike on Beach Mill Pond, Lowville area, NY.
Some of these same thoughts ran through my mind today as I raced back to Wegman's in search of my missing purse. I tried not to think about what I might do if I couldn't find it. I tried to tell myself that God knew all about it. I tried to stop my heart from racing as I stood in the Customer Service line. I felt myself smile and silently thank God when they told me it was there. I wonder when I will learn to trust without that sense of panic welling up first?
ReplyDeleteI love that you will be doing a daily devotion. We all have our own brand of worries don't we?
ReplyDeleteBesides the Bible, the book "Calm my Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow really helped me get my focus. It's a good read.
I love the photo. Did you take the picture? Where is it. I can relate to the feeling of crossing a bridge like that.
ReplyDeleteThe picture is taken on a hike up in Lowville area. It is in the Independence River Wild Forest. The trail is called "Beach Mill Pond."
ReplyDeleteI chose the picture because the weeds look so foreboding. Like they could reach out and grab your ankles as you walk by. Of course...that would be an unfounded fear, which also ties in nicely to the devotion.