Worry to Tranquillity

Worry To Tranquility

Reading: 2 Corinthians 7-10 5 When we arrived in Macedonia province, we couldn’t settle down. The fights in the church and the fears in our hearts kept us on pins and needles. We couldn’t relax because we didn’t know how it would turn out. 6 Then the God who lifts up the downcast lifted our heads and our hearts with the arrival of Titus. 7 We were glad just to see him, but the true reassurance came in what he told us about you: how much you cared, how much you grieved, how concerned you were for me. I went from worry to tranquility in no time! (2 Corinthians 7:5-7 MSG) “..We couldn’t relax because we didn’t know how it would turn out.” Paul was worried because he had sent the Corinthians a really strong disciplinary letter and he didn’t know how it would turn out – whether they would reject him and his message or respond and repent. Paul was on pins and needles! The Corinthians did in fact respond well to Paul’s message and they took the appropriate action. It worked out well, and when Titus arrived from Corinth with the good news, Paul’s worry turned to tranquility. It encourages me to know that Paul worried sometimes! I know that worry is unproductive, that worry is based on a lack of trust, that worry has all sorts of debilitating psychological and physiological effects. I know that worry is not at all to be encouraged. But if Paul the Apostle worried, maybe there’s hope for me!

With God’s help, I’m recognizing a slight improvement in living tranquilly and thankfully in the present moment, instead of worrying about the uncertainties that lie ahead! Is there something in your life that’s got you on pins and needles? I encourage you to take a big step of simple faith and give it entirely to God (who knows all about it, who cares for you, and is the only one who can take you from worry to tranquility!) Prayer: Father, Please forgive my worrying about things I can’t control. Forgive me for worrying when I don’t know how things are going to turn out. But thanks for the words of Paul that assure me that there have been others who served you well and effectively who worried sometimes. I appreciate some good news just as much as Paul did. In the meantime, I choose to trust you with the things I can’t control! Thanks. Amen.