Stress and Worry

The other day I was resting and watching Netflix after a long day when my back started hurting. I tried everything to get it to stop hurting: I took Advil, stretched, took a hot bath... I was even begging God to take my pain away. Nothing was working and the pain was getting worse, so I was going to give up and just try to sleep. I sat on my bed when I realized that I hadn't even spent time with Jesus that day. How could I ask Him to perform a miracle?

I picked up the current book I'm reading, Crazy Love, and got a few chapters in when I read the part where Francis Chan talks about how he used to have heart palpitations that were progressively getting worse, but he was too stubborn to go to the hospital. He finally decided to go after Christmas Eve service at his church, but at that service something changed. He said he gave all of his worry and stress to God, and since hasn't had any symptoms. 

I read that and thought, "okay, God. That wasn't subtle at all".

So I closed the book and prayed. I gave all of my worries and stresses to Him, and I prayed that if I tried to take them back that I would be reminded that they're now His. Worry leads to a striving life of self-preservation instead of one of rest in God's unfailing love. When we seek Him first, we're rewarded with Him. Now overwhelmed with a new found freedom, I prayed again for Him to take away my pain and I read a few more chapters of the book.

As I was scrolling through social media about an hour later, I realized that my back wasn't hurting anymore. I was suddenly filled with such an intense feeling of joy that I still can't seem to put into more intricate words about how good God is. 

I don't know if the Advil finally kicked in or what, but I choose to follow what my heart says: that my God healed me. He is such a good father, even if He hadn't taken my pain away it wouldn't change that. 

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Matthew 11:28

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Psalm 55:22

"Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."