HOMER'S HIGHLIGHTS

Rev. Dr. Homer Larsen
Radio Speaker

Diminishing Our Worries

When someone asks me why I still worry, even though I am a Christian, I answer that I am a sinner and my faith is weak. I fail to cast all my cares on the Lord as the Bible tells me to do.

I hope that does not disappoint you. Perhaps some can empathize with me. Having said this, I know Jesus talks about anxiety. We cannot set worry aside. It affects our relationship with him.

What do we worry about? Might it be family, health, finance, or work, just to mention a few that are so common?

For our purpose in this article, we will choose family and build an imaginary story. Let’s say it is your daughter who is on your mind. She has all but turned her back on God. You worried this would happen when she married, because her husband is not a Christian, meaning he does not accept Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. Your daughter and her family are good people, according to our culture’s standards. They love you and call and visit often. Yet they have little interest in the church and give the excuse that they are just too busy. However, you know in your heart they have no relationship with the Lord, or else their priorities would be different.

What do you do? Do you pray, God, this problem is too big for me. You have said that I should cast all my anxiety on you. Do you then expect something magical to happen; and if it does not, do you conclude that God has not answered your prayer?
Or might you pray, God, give me the wisdom and courage to talk out of love for my daughter about her relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Imagine yourself writing a letter like this to your daughter: You know, Mary, when you lived at home we attended church regularly. We saw to it that you and your brothers were in Sunday school. However, I have not talked to you ince you were very little about how Jesus loves you and wants you for his child. We never had serious talks as a family about our relationship with God and how he was blessing us. We didn’t read the Bible in our home except on special occasions, and seldom did we open our hearts to God in prayer except before meals. I have never heard you pray, Mary, and after you entered high school, you never heard me pray.

Now Mary, I am confessing my sin to you. Spiritually speaking, I have failed you, and this is giving me much anxiety. We went all-out on the material things of our lives. We tried to give you everything you needed. However, we did not give the most important matter in life – your relationship with God – the place it should have had.

It is not too late, Mary. I have asked for God’s forgiveness, and I ask for yours. This is a personal letter, just between you and me. It comes from the heart of a burdened parent.

I feel better that the subject has been opened between us. From here on, I will take the Scripture passage – “Cast all of your anxiety on him, because he cares for you” – very literally.

When I examine my anxieties, it is clear that many of them are self-inflicted. Before he lifts these worries and concerns, my Savior expects me to face the cause of the worry honestly. He is more than willing to forgive me and help me deal with these sins that have caused so many of my anxieties, but he cannot deal with them superficially.
I believe we will carry some anxieties right to the grave with us, humans that we are. However, I also believe an honest relationship with God can diminish them.