No Worries

Don't you just love that title?

I wish I could say this:

With God's protection, we have no worries; everything will be fine. We will have no problems from here on out. So, don’t worry! Enjoy yourself and have fun.

The End.

Oh man, that would be so great, wouldn't it? A worry-free, zero-problem life where we skip along humming a happy tune sounds pretty sweet.

But, alas, that is not the way, as we know all too well.

Since trusting in God's protection doesn't equal zero problems, we feel justified in holding onto our worries.

Worrying gives us the illusion of control or protective power over the unknown.

"No worries" feels like we are letting down our defenses and hiding out.

When people are really struggling—I mean fighting for their lives —worrying can often feel like the only thing they can do to protect themselves from what may happen.

But does it really help?

Does it protect us?

Preparing and brainstorming solutions makes sense, but worrying—obsessing, dwelling, overthinking, and imagining worse-case scenarios —isn't protection.

That's just misery paid in advance.

God's protection offers us another option.

We can trust that God's protection will equip us to handle what does happen when it happens.

We can trust that God's protection will alert us and give us wisdom and clarity for what to do next.

We can trust that God knows way more than we do and sees how this is all going to work out, so we can, in fact, worry a bit less and trust a bit more.

Think of us sitting together in the back seat during a long road trip on this journey together.

What if we kept asking where we were going checking in with the driver every two minutes if they knew what they were doing?

What if we just talked the whole way, saying, "Listen, I'm worried you don't have this under control. Are you sure we are going the right way? Are you sure this car is safe? Are you sure you know how to drive? Are you sure we will get there on time?"

Annoying, right?

That's what worrying probably sounds like on the other end.

Whatever is worrying you today, know that God is protecting you every step of the way.

Trust that God is going to get you through, get you where you need to go, and He’ll be right there with you.

Encouraging you, surrounding you, loving you, strengthening you, surrounding you.

God is with us, always and forever.

Philippians 4: 6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 55:22

Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.