By John Warren

 

I am starting a new sermon series about how to deal with our worries and fears.

It comes to us as we continue watching weather reports hoping for a slow hurricane season.

For many of us, it is easy to remember what happened at the end of August last year because we are still dealing with Harvey’s aftermath.

I have learned about the futility of worry and I am a little better at taking one day at a time. My blood pressure is much better if I do not concentrate on the wide scale of things going on in the world and try to handle the things that I can do this day.

I was reading an article about what we inherit from our fathers.

The number one thing we inherit from our fathers is connected to our heart. My dad had high blood pressure at a young age. I began having blood pressure problems in high school as well.

My dad inherited a keen sense of worry from my granddad. I remember my granddad sitting in his rocking chair holding his head in his hands, worrying.

At least my dad took it to the bedroom where he would sit on the side of the bed and worry.

There was a time in my life where I was in a stalemate. I wanted to buy a car but I had no driver’s license, in fact, I could not pass the vision part of the driver’s test. So I worried.

But I kept looking at cars for I knew in my heart of hearts that somehow, someday I would pass the test, God would give me vision.

To make a long story short, God did give me vision but much more than I bargained for. God gave me better physical sight, and I did get the license and car but he also gave me spiritual vision and called me into ministry.

So why worry? God will take care of you better than you take care of yourself.

Everyone needs a break, even Jesus needed time to pray.

I am convinced God created the Sabbath for your mental, physical and spiritual health it is not an option.

You can choose not to put gas in the car but you won’t go far.

If your life is missing something my guess would be time to worship and pray.

I might add turn off the news on Sunday and focus on the one who made you, God. You will feel much better.

 

John Warren is Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church, 502 North 6^th Street in Orange.