Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.

• Psalm 55:22

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!

• Luke 12:14-28

“I was in a hospital in a large town in the United States, and my friend Ann was very ill. She did not tell me about her suffering, however, but about the greatest worry she had: ‘Just imagine that I should die-who would take care of my family?’ I thought of what Jesus told His disciples.”

• Corrie ten Boom, God is my Hiding Place

“I bring all my worries to Jesus because worrying empties today of its strength.”

• Corrie ten Boom, Highlighted Quote

Boilerplate

In this new mini-series, I will be looking at a devotion that is said to be written by Corrie ten Boom.  Really, this devotion is like several that I had read.  They come from the writings of that person.  Thus, the prayers at the end may be the editor’s addition to what Corrie ten Boom actually wrote.

Each of these posts will include the suggested verses to read, a quote from the writing that came from a Corrie ten Boom book (five in all according to the copyright page, but no chapter in the book is given the specific book of origin).  I will also include the highlighted quote, similar to an internet quotation, and I will end with the quoted prayer for that devotion.

Discussion

Corrie ten Boom goes on to talk about how she was trying to mentally justify the woman’s worry.  If she died, the children would lose their mother, the person to whom they would come for advice.

My son told me, on about the third phone call after my wife passed away that I did not do it right.  I asked what was I not doing right.

He replied, “I used to call Mom.  I would tell her that I had a bad day, and then for the next twenty minutes she would talk about anything and everything.  Some of it made sense.  Some of it related to the problems that I had that day, stuff I never had a chance to tell her about in detail, but within twenty minutes I was close to home and somehow I felt better.  You, on the other hand, ask questions.  You may have better advice, but with Mom I had to figure out my problems on their own, but in the meantime, I knew I was loved.  I know you love me too, but I need Mom in order to decompress.  Then, talking to you might accomplish something.”

But his Mom was gone.  My son’s neurological problems resurfaced months later and eventually led to him being on permanent disability.  I never mastered my wife’s way of talking on the phone when he had a bad day.  And to be honest, he never had a good day after my wife passed away – a good day at work that is.

And he might call me once a month, maybe.  He called his mother every day.  For a long time, I called him every day, but lately I have waited for his phone call, and it never seems to happen. I did not do it right.

So, maybe there was a good reason for Tante Corrie’s friend to worry. …

No, God’s promise is the same to all believers.  We are to take our worries and lay them at the foot of the cross.  We must rely on God’s provision.

My wife was a worrier, and she would give me lectures about how I did not care because I was not worrying as she did.  My response always was, “Has your worrying changed anything?  Has your worrying deteriorated your health, without helping the person you are worried about?  And do you remember what we have read in Scriptures many times to let God do the worrying?  And could I be a duck-like worrier?  On the surface it looks like I do not worry at all, but underneath the surface, my feet are churning like crazy.  But I suppress the outward appearance of worry, and I pray more.  Otherwise, my GERD would eat me alive from the worry.”

Okay, maybe I just said the first half all the time and added the rest when she persisted to complain.

I have rarely met a perfect family and when I have found one, you wonder if they are only perfect in appearance.  Regardless of what Jesus said, we worry.  It still accomplishes nothing unless it harms our health, and it puts a dent in our witness to those around us.

Prayer is a lot more effective, for we turn the problem over to the One Someone who can do something about the problem.

Closing Prayer

“Jesus, You have been faithful, and You will always be faithful to work in me all that is pleasing to You. I confess the sin of worry, and I give You my burden of _____. Thank You for cleansing me by Your blood. I ask You to keep worry away as I put my attention upon You. Saturate my thoughts and lead me into peace.  Bless me with the strength I need for today.”

• Corrie ten Boom, God is my Hiding Place (prayer for Day 7, Bring Your Worries to Jesus)

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.