“Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes…” ~Luke 12:22-34

Several times I’ve written out these verses and kept them by my bed. Why worry? But I do. I am a worrier.

After confessing anxiety to our counselor at our cross-cultural training, she recommended a book called “Respectable Sins.” This poked me in the nose a bit—I wanted sympathy and encouragement, not to be told I was sinning!

Sure enough, author Jerry Bridges outlines several behaviors that are accepted in the church, and anxiety is one of them. Jesus tells me not to worry, but do I take that as seriously as his mandates against lust, greed and hate? Well, no. Often I use my circumstances as excuses to fret. And worst of all, Bridges says these acceptable sins open the door to patterns of not trusting the Almighty.

Our commissioning service was planned for the first weekend in January. When the weather forecasts deteriorated and we knew a postponement was inevitable, anxiety surfaced, then guilt—my worries are sins! Larry reminded me of the best part of this book we’re reading: Jesus has already justified me. The Holy Spirit is at work sanctifying, I am not alone in my struggle and not unique in my sin and not powerless to combat it. God allows postponements and delays to grow and change us.

Blessings to you, too, if anxiety is something you struggle with. Praise God that we can come to Him with our sins, grow under His care, and change!