Worry…Not!

Tom Barnard

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body,

what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.”

(Luke 12:22, 23)

Early in the history of flight—as the story goes—a pilot ventured to fly solo around the world. His plan called for him to seek a place to land about every four hours, adding fuel as necessary. After one of his scheduled stops he was about half way to his next destination when he heard a strange gnawing sound on board, like some rodent chewing on metal. Rats were known to do such things, and fear struck the pilot. Could it be that a rat was gnawing on a vital cable? What should he do?

Then the pilot remembered that rodents can’t survive in high altitudes. So the pilot pulled back on the controls, guiding the plane in an upward trajectory. Eventually the gnawing sound stopped. The perpetrator was dead, unable to survive in the lighter air. When the plane landed safely about two hours later, a dead rat was found on board.

Commenting on this innovative solution to a serious problem, Clovis Chappell observed:

“Brothers and sisters, worry is a rodent. It cannot live in the secret place of the Most High. It cannot breathe in the atmosphere made vital by prayer and familiarity with the Scripture. Worry dies when we ascend to the Lord through prayer and His Word.”¹
 

Heavenly Father, I confess that worry finds me when I least expect it. It often occurs in the dark of night. I try to deny that it exists, but it is there, reminding me that I can’t overcome it on my own. Teach me to find that “secret place” in prayer when worry strikes. Remind me that you have invited me to bring all of my concerns to you, including my fears and anxiety. I know that worry is a destructive force. Teach me to trust you more and worry less. In the strong Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.