When
my friend Max was a boy, he visited his great aunt Ruth to spend the night. He
was always afraid to sleep there because she lived in an old, spooky
three-story house, where the floors creaked like a haunted house in the movies.
That night he went to his bedroom on the third floor and climbed into bed. The
room was dark, but enough light was coming through the window that he could
see a man standing in the corner of the bedroom!
Max was absolutely terrified. He knew that if he tried to make a run for the door, the man could easily catch him. He figured the only thing to do was to lay still and pretend to be asleep. All night long he worried about the man. He lay in bed with one eye open, ready to run if the man made a move.
He kept still for hours until the sun came up, and as it got brighter in the room, he could see that the man in the corner was. . . just a coat rack with a hat on it! He spent a night in torment because he believed something that wasn’t true.
Max was absolutely terrified. He knew that if he tried to make a run for the door, the man could easily catch him. He figured the only thing to do was to lay still and pretend to be asleep. All night long he worried about the man. He lay in bed with one eye open, ready to run if the man made a move.
He kept still for hours until the sun came up, and as it got brighter in the room, he could see that the man in the corner was. . . just a coat rack with a hat on it! He spent a night in torment because he believed something that wasn’t true.
Although
some fears are based on reality, most fear and worry are usually nothing more
than our imaginations out of control. Ninety-two percent of the things we
worry about will never happen. You’re probably thinking, “But what about
the other 8%? That's what makes me worry.” The other 8% of things we worry about won’t be as bad as we
think, or God will give us the grace to get through them. That takes
care of 100% our worries.
You cannot worry and trust God at the same time. One forces out the other. Putting your complete trust in God is the only cure for worry. David wrote, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You . . . In God I have put my trust. I shall not be afraid” (Psalm 56:3-4). Are you worrying, or are you trusting God?
BIBLE STUDY: Don’t Be Afraid!
Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net Twitter: @KentCrockett
You cannot worry and trust God at the same time. One forces out the other. Putting your complete trust in God is the only cure for worry. David wrote, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You . . . In God I have put my trust. I shall not be afraid” (Psalm 56:3-4). Are you worrying, or are you trusting God?
BIBLE STUDY: Don’t Be Afraid!
Making Life Count Ministries
P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net Twitter: @KentCrockett
