Nights are hard when you have a lot on your mind.  Somehow, the sleepy-cobwebs seem to clear up when my head hits the pillow.  It’s even worse when I remind myself that I need my Beauty Rest if I’m going to get my kids on the school bus in the morning!

What do you worry about?  Finances?  Family?  The Future?  My uncle sent an interesting story about generations of worry.  Does worry run in the family, way back from the beginning of time?

I find that the more I tell myself “not to worry,” the more I stew and fret.  What is it about human nature that compels us to create monsters in our own minds?  The other night while staring at my darkened ceiling, I decided to get up and read.  Psalm 37:8 says that fretting leads to evil.  Boy, have I experienced that!  The longer I fret over something, the bigger it gets.  Even to GARGANTUAN PORPORTIONS!  And then I head for the chocolate or the remote control and “poof!”  All that self-discipline is flushed down the drain again.

Sometimes awareness of what I’m doing helps.  But more often, prayer is the formula I need.  I tell the Lord what I’m worried about, and once again ask Him to help me over that hurdle.  He is so gracious to carry the load and me, too.  And that’s the best rest I could ask for!

 Deut. 33:27 (NLT) 

        The eternal God is your refuge,

            and his everlasting arms are under you.

        He thrusts out the enemy before you;

            it is he who cries, 'Destroy them!'

Let's destroy the enemies called worry, fretting and fear.  Let's settle into those wonderful, everlasting arms!

 Sweet Dreams! 

I absolutely agree; it is the best rest we could ask for.

A wonderful new book by Ed Welch, "Running Scared: fear worry and the God of rest" is helping me think through the things I worry about and what they mean about my relationship to the God who will never fail, never drop me!:)

Thanks for the heads up on the new book, Susan! Sounds like a good one for a faith boost!