I’ve always been something of a worrywart.
Yep, I was that kid in middle and high school that would always bring “extra” books to class “just in case.” I was terrified that my world would crumble to pieces should I forget to bring my ruler to math class.
For most of my life, I have lived in a bubbles of “what ifs.” As I have gotten older and my relationship with Christ has grown so much deeper, those constant worries have diminished.
Sort of. Honestly, I still have a long way to go.
Our pastor Keith challenged us last week to consider either giving up or taking up something for lent. I had been thinking about it, but couldn’t come up with anything that spoke to my heart.
Chocolate? Naw… while it is something I enjoy, it really isn’t something that I am addicted to or is in the way of my relationship with Christ. Caffeine? Also, not super important to me, since I drink less than one caffeinated beverage per day. TV? Already cut my cable. Social media doesn’t consume my life and is more of a marketing platform for ministry, so that wouldn’t work either.
As I sat in our Ash Wednesday CRAVE prayer service last week, I asked God what He wanted me to do for the next 40 days (which would hopefully carry over into my entire life.) This is what He said:
“Give up your worries. Trust Me. Depend on Me.”
Great. This was going to be more difficult than caffeine, chocolate, and Facebook combined.
I continued to meditate… I knew that me “giving up” being a worrywart wasn’t as easy as me resolving to quit it. I needed something tangible… something to remind me how to remove this “wart” in my life…
So right after CRAVE, I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased a cross. For the last 6 days, I have literally being laying my fears at the foot of the cross. Afterwards, I write down the “Faith Factors” of God amazing attributes and put them in a jar to remind myself that God’s power easily outnumbers my fears.
Now, I have never had a wart before, so I have never had to have one removed. Rumor has it that it can be temporarily painful. But if you leave it there, sometimes warts can be pretty unsightly, which is exactly the case with my ugly worrywart on my heart. Not only is my worrying a blemish, but it is a sin about doubting God’s goodness, plans, faithfulness and love.
So yes, removing this “worrywart” on my heart has already been a challenge… But I can already feel myself healing and growing stronger into a new, refreshed, more Jesus-trusting person. I am honestly excited for the entire duration of lent because at the end of this process, I am plan to literally “burn off” this wart by taking a match to my worrywart papers. (And honestly, who doesn’t like a little pyromaniac action?)
I’m so thankful that I can go to THE Professional Healer for removal of my worrywart.
Fear to faith at the foot of the Cross,
SGK
“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:27
