I know, I have the popular song from awhile ago in my head too. It bubbles up when I think about what worry is and what it effect that it has on us. According to the dictionary, worry is a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems. Commonly known as fretting, dwelling on problems, etc. We even have expressions that explain this behavior, worrywart, a nervous Nelly, a nervous wreck. Here’s the question I have been pondering, does worry get us anywhere?
I would like argue that no, worry and anxiety do not get us anywhere, it only gets us an upset stomach, anxiety, and possibly sleepless nights. I am fully aware that there are many things that I cannot control: war, sickness, death, loss of jobs or relationships, etc. I can’t explain to you why certain events happen. I’m not supposed to know why everything happens.
When people ask me to pray for them, I do pray for them, but I most often pray for God’s will in the situation. Yes, I would like the person to recover or for them to find a job or find peace, but then I am imposing my will into the situation.
There is an expression in Arabic that I find perfect in many situations. Inshallah means if God wills or more simply God willing. A student teacher I had many years ago introduced me to the phrase and it stuck with me as rather poetic in it’s simplicity.
It comes down to trust, and don’t many of us have trust issues with God? I don’t always like what God’s will is in my life. I want to say I know better, but do I know better than God? Um no.
That’s why I pray for God’s will. The situation is going to go how it planned by God, not by me, so I pray for the wisdom to see it as God does, and ask him to steer me in the right direction. Do I ever worry? Yes I admit that I do, but I also can see how God has already worked in my life and if I can let go of control long enough, it’s already taken care of.
Letting go of control is often a daily struggle when there looks like there is a lot that could go wrong. I invite you to join me this week in giving it all to God. Inshallah.
