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Jeremiah 17:5 So says Jehovah, Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and who makes flesh his arm, and who turns aside his heart from Jehovah. 6 For he shall be like a juniper in the desert, and shall not see when good comes. But he shall live in parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land that is not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man who trusts in Jehovah, and Jehovah is his refuge. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters. It sends out its roots by the stream, and it will not fear when the heat comes; but its foliage will be green; and it is not anxious in the year of drought, nor will it cease from yielding fruit.

Oh, yes... nor will it cease yielding fruit. That is what worrying will do for you. It seeps into the bones and causes aching. Then it permeates your thoughts and crowds out all rejoicing in the LORD. So what is that a recipe for?

Worry stones, worry beads, are things that men have invented so we have something to hold on to while we worry. What a racket! It's like a passage from Isaiah where he talks about the stone images that have ears but cannot hear and eyes that cannot see, who cannot do anything for the man who prays to it. The man takes half a log and burns it in the fire while using its light to fashion an idol to set up and kneel to. Worthless effort is what worrying is, but mankind cannot see it because it occupies time.

Gasp!

Occupying time is something that Americans have whittled to a fine point. Women put on makeup while at a stop light, men hold business meeting while carpooling to work, children have somehow managed to learn to do three things at once: watch TV, do homework, chat on the phone. But, that is another rant.

We worry about the most ridiculous things, and we worry about the most horrendous things.

Worrying is a sin.

How does one not worry? Excellent question. Probably the first question is: Has God ever let me down in the past? For Christians, the correct answer would be "No." (There are some finer points to be made, but I'll have to address them later.)

God never failed Abraham or the Children of Israel even though they failed Him a time or two. In your lifetime, He has never left you stranded or alone or left without your needs being met. He may have taken away a lot of distractions, but your needs have been met while He was teaching you some life lessons.

God always gave you the benefit of His great power through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit manifests God's power on a daily basis. We humans don't seem to give it a passing glance on a daily basis.

God always answers prayer. He answers in His timing, not according to the clock, or the timetable that makes us comfortable. Remember we are here at His pleasure, not ours.

God is always in control. Sometimes the bad things that happen are truly blessings that are painful. We don't see the broad perspective. So... peace, be still and know that He is God.

The message of the cross is "No stones", but God never promised "No storms." You can purchase my new book -- "Refreshment in Refuge" from me at my Blog or from WestBow Press or Amazon.com or ask your local bookstore to order it for you. I truly appreciate your support!

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

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