A well-known South Georgia pastor once shared about his spunky, senior adult sister who drove a sports car. She got pulled over for speeding. The officer walked up to the car and asked for her license.
She handed him her wallet and said, “It’s in there somewhere. See if you can find it.”
So, he fumbled through her wallet and found her pistol permit. He said, “Ma’am, I see you have a pistol permit. Do you have a weapon in your car?”
“Yes, officer,” she said, “I have a .38 caliber in the glove compartment.”
The officer asked, “Do you have any more weapons in the car?”
“Yes, officer, I have a 9mm in the console.”
The officer asked, “Is that all?”
She answered, “Well, I also have a .45 automatic in my purse.”
“Good gracious!” the officer exclaimed, “What in the world are you afraid of?”
She answered, “Not a blessed thing!”
Neither should we be afraid, should we? We need to be more like this bold senior saint. Yet, some people go through life with a sense of dread rather than the confidence of knowing our Heavenly Father takes care of us. We can trust Him because He is good and works all things together for our good.
One year in Vacation Bible School at my early childhood church, Jefferson Avenue Baptist in East Point, Georgia, the teacher gave us popsicle sticks, glue, spray paint, and little macaroni letters. We glued our sticks together, spray-painted the “board,” then pasted the little letters on that eventually read, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. Psalm 56:3.”
I have no idea what happened to that craft, but the verse made a strong imprint on my heart and in my mind.
Many years later, as a teenager mowing lawns in my neighborhood, I rode my bike to my next yard job. Along one stretch, I always encountered two or three growling and snarling dogs. Each time I approached those houses, I would quote Psalm 56:3 and place my welfare into God’s hands.
The barking dogs chased me, but never bit me, though they were too close for comfort. I was afraid but placed my trust in God (Psalm 11:1).
What does it mean to trust? Several years ago, I ran across this acronym I adapted. I’d give attribution, but I have no idea to whom to give credit.
T – Turn control over to God. We think we can control the uncontrollable, and when we realize we can’t, we’re afraid. Who’s in charge anyway? God is! Thus, give Him your concerns and let Him handle them. He’s more qualified than we are.
R – Rest in God’s care for you. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pointed to the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. If God cares for them, then will He not care for you? (Matthew 6:26-30).
Here’s the underlying message. God feeds the birds, but they work hard. Flowers, totally dependent, can’t produce one thing they need, yet God provides the exact nutrients, moisture, and light to help them grow. Are we not of more value to God? Remember, God cares for you (I Peter 5:7).
U – Understand we must live one day at a time. Every day is God’s precious gift, so guard against anything that would rob us of our joy today. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not yet here. Concentrate on today.
S – Strive to give your best today. Perhaps the finest golf coach America ever produced was the late Harvey Penick. He wrote “The Little Red Book,” sort of the Golfer’s Bible. Penick said most golfers don’t think on the golf course; they just fret.
“Rather than worrying, be mindful of the shot at hand and play it as if you are going to hit the best shot of your life. You really might do it.”
The only shot we have, Penick said, is the one we have right now, so make this your best swing ever. Let’s make today our best day ever.
T – Take action. When fear invades your mind, turn to God in prayer. Refuse to use one iota of mental energy trying to solve something totally beyond your control. Pray over it and let God handle it.
What should we fear? Not a blessed thing. Instead, live a life of trusting God.
[David L. Chancey, the Writing Pastor, enjoys preaching, writing, and spending time with family. See more of his writings at www.davidchancey.com. Contact him at davidlchancey@gmail.com.]
