That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus.
Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
He is truly risen! Alleluia!
“So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides”
As we continue in our Pre-Lenten journey of preparation let us today focus on what we worry about.
Last week I asked us to consider how we might set aside distinctions this Lent. If we free ourselves from the sins that come from focusing on distinctions, we see our clear to loving as Jesus does.
In the same way if we tie ourselves up in worrying about things from the most minuscule to those we will never change by our worry we grow distracted from God. How could we possibly think of, focus on, or pray to God if we are tied up in knots of worry?
Why do we say, ‘knots of worry,’ or ‘my stomach is in knots?’ For this reason, worry is the way Satan ties us up in distraction from God. We end up looking down at our feet rather than seeing the God of salvation who is right before us, holding out His hand to draw us to safety.
Consider what the Psalmist is saying about where his heart is focused:
Only in God is my soul at rest; He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; Only in God be at rest, my soul, With God is my safety and my glory, Trust in him at all times, O my people!
This song of trust is a testimony of serenity that comes from firsthand witness of God’s power to rescue and is offered to teach us to trust in God.
From a practical point of view, and we have all had this experience, our worry seems silly in retrospect. We can hear ourselves saying, in various situations, ‘What was I so worried about?’
In the week ahead, let’s keep track of our worries. Make a point of writing them down. After that comes a decision. One choice would be to stare at what we have written, focusing on it, and even adding to our worry.
The right choice, take it to God. Offer it up and repeat the Psalm verse herein: Only in God is my soul at rest
