A Cure Against Fretting

The beginning of the year is time of hope and new vision. Often we set out to resolve to do better and make all sorts of goals we hope to accomplish. But as the year progresses we fail, and it begins to look as if none of our goals are going to be successful. This in turn leads to us getting despondent and fretful.

Well this week that is where I have been, my resolutions are a little harder than I thought, the excitement of the new year is wearing off, and with the upcoming presidential elections looming in the future I find myself worrying. Thankfully though, when all is despondent the Lord brings to my remembrance “ . . . that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (Luke 18:1). I think it could be rephrased “ ... that women ought always to pray and not to fret and worry.”As the weaker vessel we can often find ourselves worrying about things we can do nothing about, that is in our own strength, but we ought to remember prayer. That is a supplication to the Almighty who will do all things right and according to His pleasure.

Often our worry has a deeper root problem then simply forgetting to pray. We forget that we have a holier goal than our own happiness, a brighter vision than this worldly pleasure, and a far more glorious hope than this world can ever offer.

Our chief end is not to be comfortable and happy! It is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever! What is your goal in life? Perhaps we should think long and hard about that and see if it is something other than God’s glory. Maybe it is money, marriage, children, intelligence, or fame; do you know what all those have in common? It is our own pleasure, not God’s glory. Those things can be used to God’s glory, but they should only be means to our ultimate end and goal. Getting things in perspective can cure us from worry.

With that holy goal in mind we should construct a vision for our work here on earth. "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”(Col. 3:23,24) It doesn’t matter what you are doing (as long as it is scriptural, sinning is NEVER God’s call) it can be done unto the Lord. God has called many different people to different callings, as women we are called to serve in the home being subject to our God given authorities (Titus 2:5). Our work doesn’t have to be some famous ministry or changing the way things are done, though those are good for those called to do that; God has commanded man from the beginning to take dominion of the earth for His glory and as women we have a special calling to be his helpmeet in that task. As we live with this vision we should bring all our thoughts unto the obedience of Christ (II Cor. 10:5) and live according to His law (love, John 15:12). If we are living that way everything becomes holy as unto the Lord.

As we continue down this road of life instead of dwelling on the daily work and routine, we should look ahead to our most glorious hope. The hope that one day Christ will come to claim His bride and visibly rule this earth. We all may have different views of end times but we all can join together in the hope of every knee bowing to our Lord and Master and every tongue confessing His name. We will be His glorious Bride, if that does not bring you fresh vigor for your work nothing will. We have work to do here, but let us remember what the end of that will be.

It is true, this world is full of hardships and many things to cause us to worry. But we are not of this world, in Christ we are a part of God’s Kingdom. Christ has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10), what place does worry and despondency have in that? He also said that we would be full of His joy, the only true joy worth having. So to you and myself I exhort “Thank God for your life and seek Him in prayer every day, not fainting, asking for His wisdom and grace.” (James 1:5,6)