Children have such a unique way of looking at the world, especially in matters of faith. This summer, we will explore what it means to have "Faith like a Child," as Saint Luke members introduce faith topics through children’s literature.
We kick off this series with special guest, Emily Fowler. Let your inner child out to enjoy these spiritual truths expressed through one of Emily’s childhood favorites.
Am I going to catch my flight?
Will my daughter be okay in college?
Am I going to be late to the meeting because of traffic?
Will my nephew go to rehab?
The list continues. There is and always will be something to worry about. In fact, 84% of us have lost sleep due to worrying.
Even Sesame Street’s beloved Grover worries!
In the book, “The Monster at the end of this Book,” Grover hears that there is a monster at the end of the book. He is scared of monsters, so he asks you to not turn the page. Every time you turn the page, you are getting closer to the monster. Grover tries to tie the pages together, nail them together, and even builds a brick wall. But, you keep turning the pages. Finally, you get to the second to last page, and he is so scared…
Facing the Monster of Worry
Many of us have felt like Grover…scared, terrified, worried. Yet, God tells us not to worry!
“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” -Matthew 6:34
Now, maybe it is just me…but that seems pretty impossible to not worry. I do not think anyone can NOT worry. But, here is the thing… We need to read the verse before it says “do not worry”
“But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” -Matthew 6:33
When you are worried or anxious about something, do not fret. When you think about your life, health, food, clothes, money, etc. hand the situation over to God. Have confidence that He will meet your needs. Jesus made himself king over us to take away our worries! When we seek the kingship of God first, we will have a life full of freedom, peace, joy, and adventure.
Now, that still may seem impossible or at least very hard. We do not always give our worries to God. We fight, we push, we drag our feet, we worry that God will not do what we want. And when we do worry, we usually end up making things worse. We try to distract ourselves with other things. This can lead to addictions- drugs, alcohol, gambling, shopping, etc. We break away from our support system, becoming isolated from family and friends. We sink into a deep depression. Remember: You are allowed to be scared. You are allowed to be worried and anxious. But, you cannot let those feelings control you. In the end, God does have a plan and he will take care of you.
The End of the Story
“Our story does not end in worry & fear.”
Now, going back to Grover…Let’s see what he is so scared of!
The monster at the end of the book was himself! He realized he was scared for nothing. Everything worked out and he was okay. I know it is hard, but we must let God take the wheel.
Two Things to do when you’re Afraid
1. Seek His kingdom AND change your own views.
Does my hair look okay? I did my best.
Will we have enough money for the bills? I think I need to back off the Starbucks…we will make it.
Will my friend survive their cancer treatment? I will be there to support and love them every step of the way.
Am I going to get laid off? I am thankful I have a job.
2. Meditate on the truth as you hand your worries over to God.
I love creating art and I made this one especially for you. Put this somewhere special to remind you of His love and His plans. Download it and set it as the wallpaper on your phone, set it as your screen saver, print it off and tape it on your mirror. Look at it and imagine God saying this to you as your worries are weighing you down…
“My Child…you worry too much. I’ve got this, remember? Love, God”
God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. You hold the whole world in your hands. You always have and always will. Calm our troubled minds that so easily get stuck in the past and borrow trouble from the future. Empower us to see You and Your many blessings, present with us each day. Amen.
Emily Fowler is a member of Saint Luke and an artist. Her goal is to spread love, kindness, and acceptance for all through her creations. Check them out online!