“The bags we grab are not made of leather; they’re made of burdens. The suitcase of guilt. A sack of discontent. You drape a duffel bag of weariness on one shoulder and a hanging bag of grief on the other. Add on a backpack of doubt, an overnight bag of loneliness, and a trunk of fear. Pretty soon you’re pulling more stuff than a skycap. No wonder you’re so tired at the end of the day. Lugging baggage is exhausting.
No one has to remind you of the high cost of anxiety. Worry divides the mind. The biblical word for worry (merimnao) is a compound of two Greek words, merizo (to divide) and nous (the mind). Anxiety splits our energy between today’s priorities and tomorrow’s problems. Part of our mind is on the now; the rest is on the not yet. The result is half-minded living.
That’s not the only result. Worrying is not a disease, but it causes diseases. It has been connected to high blood pressure, heart trouble, blindness, migraine headaches, thyroid malfunctions, and a host of stomach disorders.
Anxiety is an expensive habit. Of course, it might be worth the cost if it worked. But it doesn’t. Our frets are futile. Jesus said, ‘You can’t add any time to your life by worrying about it.’ (Matt. 6:27) Worry has never brightened a day, solved a problem, or cured a disease. But you can overcome worry.
God leads us. He tells us what we need to know, when we need to know it. As a New Testament writer would affirm, ‘We will find grace to help us when we need it.’ (Heb. 4:16 NLT) or ‘Let us therefore boldly approach the throne of our gracious God, where we may receive mercy and in his grace find timely help.’ (Heb. 4:16 NEB) God’s help is timely.”
Traveling Light – Releasing The Burdens You Were Never Intended To Bear – The Promise Of Psalm 23, Max Lucado, p. 171, 48-49.
