5 1/2 If You Worry Why Pray?

I was at an AA meeting many years ago and someone said, "If you worry, why pray, and if you pray, why worry?" I like that. It places trust in God to do His part, and relieves of the burden of managing an outcome from a situation that we cannot control. I think that everyone prays when things get worrisome.

Here are 5 1/2 things that help me not to worry.

-1 Past Experience: I survived a flood losing most of my personal possessions. I survived divorce, a deadly car wreck, the loss of a close friend to an overdose, my parents to cancer, not mention the problems that I created for myself due to my own sin.

1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

-2 God’s Peace: I just believe him. I guess I am more afraid of prolonged pain torture or sickness, than I am of actually dying. Paul said that he would rather be in heaven than here except for the work that still needed to be done. I agree. Peace is the greatest gift that we can have from Heaven. It can be valuable in any situation.

Philippians 1:23 But I am hard pressed from both, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for it is much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

-3 God’s Promise: As a missionary I had some interesting moments; they sharpened my faith. There are lots of debates about what God's promises are, but in the end, it is the one that I am willing to lose my life for.


Matthew 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

-4 Using My Weakness to My Advantage: I often put stuff off that is no fun, I just added worry about tomorrow to the list. (Matt 6:34)

2 Corinthians 12:10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

-5 Managing Doubt: The church often points to doubting Thomas. Thomas was ready to die as long as he was with Jesus (John 11:16) He didn't seem fearful of that. He actually saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, so he did not doubt the power of Jesus either - and probably not the possibility of the resurrection. What Lazarus doubted was that Jesus could do the same from Heaven, and he could do on earth.

Martha had it right.

John 11:27 Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.

-5 1/2 God is In Control, or He's not...