Recently I had a conversation with a self-proclaimed "worrier."  Her list of items to fret about was long, extensive and thorough.  She admitted that worrying caused her to lose sleep, lose weight and lose joy.  Worrying did not change the circumstances; there was no gain in being anxious, just loss.

The holiday season can be a time of anxiousness.  Not only the preparations for Christmas, but often the losses in the past year can be emphasized.  Broken relationships, loss through death, even changes in life circumstances such as job, moving, health challenges and much  more can seem more overwhelming as the holidays approach.

Financial pressures can be increased as travel, gifts, more food and fund-raising campaigns compete for our dollars.  Is Christmas really worth it?

So after my conversation with my fellow-worrier, I went home and opened my Bible.  I found an amazing antidote for worry in Psalm 37 and I want to share it with you!

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act...Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!  ...Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil."  (verses 4,5,7 & 8b)

When I think about the various characters in the Christmas narrative, they each had valid reasons to be anxious.  Mary, of course, had her life turned upside down, and she only a teenaged girl.  Joseph had his reputation and his responsibilites to consider.  Elizabeth had a pregnancy in her old age and Zechariah had never been a dad before.  The shepherds were blown away by the heavenly angelic visit and they had to leave their precious sheep to pursue the Lamb.  The three Wisemen left home and risked health, safety and robbery to find the King of kings.  And Jesus Himself, left heaven, laying aside His glory and entrusting Himself to the mercy of the Father on His mission to earth to save sinners!  The burden Jesus carried would explode our finite beings and yet He did not fret to the point of displeasing the Father, not once.

If you are a worrier, you are in good company!  But to stay in that space is so unhealthy in every way.  To combat that tendency, follow the words of David in Psalm 37. 

*Delight in the Lord

*Commit your life to Him

*Trust in His ability to take care of you

*Be still and wait for Him

*Fret not (2 X)

And as the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian believers, "...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."  (Philippians 4:6)

These scriptures are not suggestions but are given in the command form of the verbs used.  You can choose with your will - and the help of the Holy Spirit - to "fret not" and to focus with your mind on that which is good, wholesome and filled with trust and faith in God.

Let's lay aside worry and embrace the security and peace in our relationship to the Lord.  

"Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace."  (Silent Night)