“What, Me Worry”

Originally Posted April 26, 2020

My mother used to say “boy, your father was a “worrier; he really knew how to worry”.  I guess that’s where I inherited my tendency to worry. Ask Judy if I’m a worrier and she won’t say a word, but her “eyebrows” will go up…. Hmmm. Worry is a good barometer of how peaceful I am —  worry goes up and peace goes down….peace goes up and worry goes down”.

Peace is described as “freedom from disturbance, a tranquility, restfulness, and calm.” I cherish and long to be at peace. I’d rather be peaceful than wealthy. I‘d rather be peaceful that healthy. 

I can be peaceful when outward things are in turmoil and I can be out of peace when outward conditions are calm. When I’m at peace, I know that things are going to be okay, that they are going to turn out well, that there is no need to worry. 

Back in 1972 Judy and I were living in St. Louis on Kingsland Ave. We had been married a couple of years and after some turbulence in our marriage we had given our lives to the Lord Jesus and were “baptized in the Holy Spirit. Things were changing but I still was trying to figure a lot of things out. One night I was in bed reading the passage from John’s gospel that said “Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) At that moment I was overwhelmed by God’s peace and began to weep. I knew that’s things were going to work out, that the Lord was going to take care of me. That was almost 50 years ago and I still vividly remember that moment. The Lord’s promise has proven true. While I have had my moments of worry and lost my peace at times, my fundamental existence has been one of peace. “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7) God’s peace does pass all understanding. Sometimes situations seem to demand worry and chaos and fear; while it’s understandable to be out of  peace, nevertheless, God’s peace passes all understanding. 

So, while perhaps the heredity passed down from my earthy father is to be a worrier, the heredity passed on from my heavenly father is to be a man of peace. Like everyone, I have had my times of trials and temptations and sickness and death. Like everyone I have had times of worry and sorrow and pain. But nevertheless, as I clear my head during those times and am reminded by my holy wife, I choose to embrace the gift of peace given to me by my Lord…. and “all is well with my soul”.