Pastor Al Paulauski, From Your Pal Pastor Al, Fair Haven Assembly of God Church

Pastor Al Paulauski

From Your Pal January 2006

Do Not Worry?

     By the time you all read this newsletter article it will be almost a year since Lana and I have joined the Fair Haven family. And to say the least, it has been a great year. We have developed a real appreciation and love for this church that goes beyond what could be put into words. Thank you for allowing our family to become a part of yours. You all have made our transition into a new church and a new area of the country easier than we thought it would be.
     As I think about the lessons that I have learned this past year, one of them comes out of our coming to Fair Haven. As many of you may have figured out by now, I am a planner and a details oriented person. Don't ask me how this happened, but it did. It's just a part of my personality. But with that said, these characteristics that I have can cause me to be on edge and too intense at times. This in turn leads to one of my biggest weaknesses - "Worry". Can you relate to this at all?
     One of the things that God has been working on me with is trying to worry less. Trying to trust Him that He has control of my life no matter what the situation may show. And as the new year is upon us, I know that some of us look at it and immediately begin to worry. Maybe you have had a tough year financially and you're worried about how you're going to make it this year. Or maybe it was a rough year with your family and you're worried about what this year is going to look like. Whatever it may be, "worry" has the ability to paralyze us and make us ineffective for God.
      Recently I shared a message with our students on the topic of "worry" and I would like to share a few of those thoughts with you. Because with the new year upon us, I thought it would be great to deal with this issue right out of the gate. Jesus, in Matthew 6:25-34, dealt with this issue of "worry." Once again, proving to us that he has an answer to every situation we may deal with.
      The thing that strikes me most about the problem of "worry" is that we all know that it doesn't help. That's pretty much a given. But even though we know it doesn't help, we still struggle with it. As I look at what Jesus has to say about "worry" let me give you three reasons why "worry' will not make your life any better this upcoming year.
     First of all, because the same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life. God is one smart person. He knit every part of your body together and breathed life into you. Not only that, but as you look around, everything that you see has God's fingerprints all over it. So if God can create life, he can be trusted with the minor details (in comparison) of your life. God's plan is for us not to "worry."
     Second, "worry' is always more harmful than it is helpful. Can you remember the last time "worry" made your life so much better? Jesus says in this passage, "Who of you by worrying can add a single day to his life?" "Worry" can mess with your health. It causes you stress and can make you sick. "Worry" causes us to be less productive than we can be with out it. Have you ever started your day out with "worry" and then at the end of the day felt like you got nothing accomplished? "Worry" can do that. "Worry" can also consume my thoughts. And when this happens we can lose the ability to hear from God because we are too busy thinking about our current challenges.
     Finally, and probably the most humbling reason why "worry" doesn't help, is found in verses 31-32. Jesus says, "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or what shall we wear? For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them.'" "Worry" shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God.
     So what is it that you are hoping for this year? Do you have some big challenges in front of you or are you facing some major trials as we go into this new year. What ever the case may be, don't let "worry" plague your life. Don't let it immobilize you from doing something great for God. Don't let it stop you from experiencing God's blessing and joy this upcoming year. Instead, do what Jesus says at the end of that passage. "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given unto you as well." Let's all follow God's plan for our life this upcoming year.