No-worries Challenge

“Whew, now I don’t have to worry!” These were my daughter’s words after the birth of my second granddaughter. Lizzy and the doctor just looked at each other and laughed. For certain, there would be many more worries in her future. But, in truth, we don’t have to worry. Instead, take the “no-worries challenge.” Replace your worries with evidence of God’s faithfulness.

…God showed up, rarely early, but never late.

Jehoshaphat’s Challenge

On a recent morning, I was up early and was sitting in my favorite chair, sipping coffee and waiting for the sun to come up. I thought of the long list of things and people on my list needing prayer. It seemed to me my prayer list was growing. I kept adding and not checking things off. I felt discouraged. Lord, I feel like my prayers get stuck at the ceiling. I could use some encouragement.

As a pastor, I get lots of requests for prayer. To let you in on a secret, I take each one personally. This past week, for example, I learned of a husband and wife, both diagnosed with cancer. Wow, the only prayer I could offer was the one that we had just learned in Bible study, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” This prayer was offered by Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, when he was faced with devastating news. I’m thankful of the hope we gain from Jehoshaphat.

Late-Night ER Trips

My oldest daughter, Whitney, had a difficult second pregnancy, one that required Lizzy and I to make several emergency, late-night, trips to her house to sit with our oldest granddaughter, while my son-in-law whisked her mother to the ER. There were lots of prayer requests and she spent the last three months of the pregnancy at the hospital, to ensure there was no distress on the baby. Each day seemed like an eternity as we waited for God to answer. God, we are asking again. Heal my daughter, and bring her and the baby out of the hospital safely.

That was five years ago. I had prayed for a miracle, one that would be a reminder of how much God cares for us. And, he showed up! Since then, days, weeks, months, and years have passed. Our thankfulness and celebration have dimmed in our memories. However, as I sat drinking my morning coffee, God challenged my thinking, by reminding me of requests he had answered. One by one, he brought them back to my mind, including this one. God had answered and today we have a beautiful, loving, smart, and charismatic granddaughter. I pulled up a video my daughter had recently sent me. There was five-year old Scarlet, swinging on parallel bars in gymnastics class.

More Evidence

As I sat down my coffee cup, God flooded my mind with more evidence. I was reminded of answers for my other children, my grandchildren, my wife, and people at church. Times when we were at our lowest, and God showed up, rarely early, but never late. Eight billion people in this world and he cares about each of us. I don’t understand it, but I’m glad that he does.

I encourage you to take the challenge. Replace your worries with evidence. Recall the times that God has been faithful. Doing so will strengthen your faith. Your thinking will change. Your confidence will grow. God has not changed. He is still faithful, and he will show on time.

—1 John 5:14-15

Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear

Also, see Astonished!