Worrying or Worshiping?

by Selin Philip Oommen

               I was an active worrier for long time. My worries began when my dear mother began her battle with cancer seven years ago. It was not merely her battle but the whole family’s battle with that dreadful disease. Through the many years of that battle, I used to fear and worry about losing her any time. The unrelenting trials that I had to encounter during those years affected my functioning and I began to slowly slide into pathological worry. I failed to bring my worry to God’s presence. Even after bidding farewell to my loving mother from this earth to her eternal abode, I couldn’t stop worrying, but began to worry about the other “important” things that concerned me.

            However, recently, while tucking my little girls in bed at night, the Lord confronted me gently, (when I expected Him the least..!), “Do you realize that you are robbing the time of worshiping me for your worrying?” I realized that I was robbing God by withholding the worship He deserves by replacing worship with worry! The voice was not only challenging and convicting but comforting as well. The Holy Spirit began to convict me of my sin of worrying and to comfort me with assurance that I must release the “mysterious” to God, rest in Him, and worship Him.

            Here, Mary Magdalene’s story resonates with me. The account says that three days after Jesus was placed in the tomb, on Sunday morning, she was up early, “while it was still dark” (John 20:1, NIV). Mary Magdalene, with Mary, mother of James and Salome went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with spices. On the way, they were anxious about the stone that was placed in front of the tomb. They were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb”? (Mark 16: 3, NLT). But, astonishingly they stood outside of a tomb that was wide open! Suddenly, Mary Magdalene disappeared from the scene, but returned with Peter and John. They found that Jesus’ body was no more there inside the tomb. Without uttering a word, they ran off to their home. But, Mary stood there, weeping. She was anxiety-stricken over the “lost” body of Jesus while Jesus had already risen and conquered the grave. She was looking for the risen Jesus in the empty tomb! Mary was worrying of the unknown – the resurrection of Jesus, which, in fact, God had already accomplished. Suddenly, she turned around and encountered the risen Jesus, and heard him calling her name, and was relieved.

Dear friends, you may have many valid reasons to cry. You may be anxious about the physical, emotional, financial, or spiritual emptiness or barrenness in your life. However, there is good news awaiting you. Turn around, look, there is Jesus. This is the victorious Jesus, who conquered sin and death, and He has answers for your problems. Listen to Him, He knows your name.  He will call you by name. The Scripture says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.  When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” (Isaiah 43: 1- 2, NLT). God has already promised you this in His Word, therefore, why to worry?
May your “worrying” be transformed to be “worshiping” the risen Lord Jesus!