Daily Devotion Hebrews 12:1-3

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. - Hebrews 12:1-3

Some people have seasonal allergies.  My mom has seasonal worries.  We help her out every fall with her leaves because her fall worry is that the dry leaves will cause a wild fire and burn her house down.  Of course, the minute that I tease her about her irrational fear will be the minute that her house burns down by a wild fire sparked by dry leaves.  As I was raking yesterday, I started to think about fear and how it can take over your life, affect your walk.  Here's a little corney analogy:  fear is like the falling leaves.  You have one fear fall upon you and it's easy to rake away.  If you don't rake it away, next thing you know the worries are built up and you can't see the ground anymore.  That's what it's like in the Christian life.  One worry builds over another worry and soon enough, it's a slippery mess and you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Much to the chagrin of my husband, and the joy of my children, I'm not a worrier.  It's just not my nature.  My mom has always worried enough for me.  But things happen in life where I will feel I'm not in control and I would worry.  I'm not soulless.  Right now, I have about 20 things that are up in the air that will affect my life in some way or another.  I feel like a juggler waiting for the balls to come down.  One issue would be enough to cause great consternation in my life and, like I said, there's about 20 right now.  So, I gave it over to God.  I said, "God, I don't know what tomorrow holds, but you do, so I'm going to let you fill in the details, handle the specifications."  Since I've done that, I haven't had a sleepless night.  I haven't been popping the zantac and tums.  Since I gave it over to God, I feel free to handle the direction God is giving in my life.  I can run the race that is set before me.  I feel so much freedom knowing that I am in God's will and I don't have to control all of the details because God can handle it for me.  If you're caught in a mire of worry, let God take control.  He'll give you a peace that you can't manufacture on your own.  He'll give you a direction that you couldn't orchestrate yourself.  Just let God have control.