Overwhelmed by Worry? Here’s an Antidote

(Luke 12:29-32 ESV)

Decision-making stresses me out.

Luckily, the whole water damage situation (click here to catch up) hasn’t required a single decision yet.

Until today.

In just a few hours the project manager will arrive, expecting me to have chosen wood to replace the downstairs floors.

The goal is to closely match the wood on the landing and upstairs.

Samples cover my dining room floor.

So far I’ve waffled back and forth between every single one of them. 

In every kind of light.

This one.

No, that one.

Definitely this one.

Maybe not.

Round and round.

And round. 

So very worried I’ll make the wrong decision.

My Bible falls open to where I left off.

Turning away from the crowds, Jesus turns to His disciples.

It’s about to get personal.

For them.

And for me.

And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.

In the moment Jesus is speaking specifically of eating and drinking, but worry is worry.

There are all kinds of ways to worry, but this verb for worry, meteórizó, appears only once in the entire New Testament.

Meteórizó is intense worry.

A feeling of being tossed about, vacillating in midair, buffeted by strong winds of uncertainty.

Yep. 

Meteórizó feels real familiar.

Rather than denying meteórizo can overwhelm us, Jesus offers the antidote.

Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

The Kingdom of God, simply put, is His rule and reign in the world.

In our worlds.

And in our hearts.

The Message translation expresses, in simple and beautiful language, Jesus’ total understanding of those disciples.

And us.

“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax . . .”

“Steep yourself in God-reality, 

God-initiative, 

and God-provisions.” 

In the middle of my hardwood drama a friend phones.

She’s on her way to the DMV to address an issue that’s been worrying her.

She tells me she’s prayed and walked out her front door repeating:

“It’s going to be okay. 

This is the only step I need to take today. 

And I have everything I need.”

Everything she needs.

Physically and spiritually.

She’s steeped herself, for sure, in God-reality, God-initiative, and God-provisions.

To steep myself this morning I decide to continue working on memorizing Psalm 91. 

I’d like to report that by the time the project manager arrives I’m up to the last verse and off the ledge.

But all I’ve really accomplished by the ding-dong is laying myself across the samples, reciting the verses I already know, and praying for a hardwood answer.

Not so surprisingly, the man at my front door is skilled in talking people down from self-imposed ledges.

“You’ve just got a case,” he smiles patiently, “of Analysis Paralysis.”

“Look,” he adds, “if the wood arrives and you don’t like it, we’ll exchange it. It’s that easy.”

Really??? 

Prayer answered.

Worry deflated.

On the spot.

Looking fondly into the eyes of His disciples, Jesus adds,

“. . . it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

In hindsight I can see I blew the whole hardwood thing out of proportion.

Standard. 

Then and now, Jesus gently reminds us.

When you’re worried . . .

Steep yourself.

In who I am. 

And in my unfailing, excellent care of you.

See you in a couple weeks.

Love,