I think I struggled with nearly every problem I’ve ever faced as I was trying to fall asleep the other night. They were lined up like airplanes on the runway of the Dallas - Fort Worth International Airport, one after the other.
I started out by internally wrestling with a couple of misunderstandings. Then I changed channels to our plans for Advent. That led back to a couple of counseling sessions I’ve recently had. Then I started thinking about something that agitated me; not a good idea at 1:00 in the morning.
My brain was on speed-search: sermon ideas, things left undone, projects in the making, individuals I need to visit. I think I even came up with some good plays for the Dallas Cowboys to run in Tony Romo’s absence. Tossing, turning, looking at the clock. I know better.
When I finally fell asleep, I had a nightmare of no one coming to church one Sunday.
Do you ever have nights like that? We need to be reminded that worry can be really damaging to our emotional and spiritual health. Worry can literally make us sick.
Jesus understood that very well. He is the one who said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God and believe also in me.” (John 14:1). He’s the one who said, “Do not worry about tomorrow.” (Matthew 6:34)
The scripture makes this wonderful promise, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you.” (Isaiah 26:3) God is the only one who can give us genuine peace. I pray that we will remember this the next time the runways are full and we are fighting midnight battles in our mind!