At the Center of Worry

When we worry, we make ourselves the focus. We focus on ourselves, on what we can and cannot control. This self-centered approach is very popular these days, but it is not in line with the choice that we made to follow Christ. In that moment, we agreed to put him at the center, him who ‘is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,’ (Ephesians 3:20a).

Ourselves at the center

When we are the center of our universe, it easy to see why we would worry. There is little, very little in our control. There is even very little in my influence, let alone my control! We step out and do some pretty scary things, we start or run businesses, we have children, we take on mortgages. We might even start well, as Peter did. He saw Jesus and stepped out of the boat. He was walking on water! As long as he was looking at Jesus, Jesus was his center, he was walking on water. As soon as Peter looked away, he started sinking. I think that sinking is our worry and anxiety. He started asking how and almost ended up gone. But Jesus is able to do immeasurably more than we ask, and Peter merely called out, ‘Lord, save me!’ (Matthew 14:30) and he was there, pulling Peter up, walking together toward the boat.

Power working in us

It is in the surrender to God, the calling out for help and sacrifice of giving all our anxieties over to God that he is finally able to work. You see, the second part of the verse from Ephesians says, ‘according to his power that is at work within us.’

When we keep such a tight hold on ourselves as the one will make everything work out, he has no room to work in us and through us. We need to not only invite him back to the center of our world, but to invite him to work in these issues that bring us such anxiety.

Hold Tight

So, now we are hands off. And that is the problem, right? We have no say anymore! Guess what?!? We never did! Let that sink in. We were never able to control it anyway. But I know He can. He can do it better than me.

And the other problem: what do I hold on to, now? My hands are empty once I let go. Well, before we may have carried the whole world in our hands, but there was no room for Jesus in that hold. Now we have plenty of room to grab on to him and hold tight. Because now he has room to work in us. Gulp, yes in us. He can work to make us more like him, releasing all the worry to Him, who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us!