The word of God hidden in the heart is a stubborn voice to suppress. —Billy Graham
I was a big-time worry wart all the way through my childhood, teenage years, and college. Worry almost seemed to be some sort of a badge of honor, something that gave significance to my life.
Then I married Libby. I had this new beautiful bride, so I had a whole new category of worry. Libby worked in Milwaukee—about a 45-minute drive from our home. On snowy nights I’d be waiting for her to get home… worrying. This was before cell phones, so she couldn’t call me if she was running a little behind. More than once, she would come home and happily bound in the door only to find me in tears of fear and worry. Thankfully, God’s Word, the sword of the Spirit, intervened and cut deeply into that situation.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:25-27)
The familiar words cut deeply. Jesus said, “Do not worry,” and the Holy Spirit said to me, “Pete, your worry is not some little personality quirk or sign of commitment. If Jesus says ‘don’t’ and you still do, why would that make your worry?”
The conclusion was obvious: Worry is the exact opposite of trust and faith. Worry is a sin to bring before the Lord. It took me to my knees asking, “Jesus, do something about this!” He did. Through the Word and the Spirit, Jesus redeemed me from worry completely. In fact, nowadays I worry that I don’t worry enough!
That’s God’s Word in action. That’s the sword of the Spirit which Paul calls us to take up as part of the armor of God in the battles we fight every day.
My battle that day was against worry. What’s yours today?
Father God, by the power of Your Spirit in me, and by the truth of Your Word, the sword of the Spirit, I stand aside and ask that You would show me the places where my life is out of line with Your truth. Do something, Jesus. Do something, Holy Spirit. Amen.