Have you ever spent so much time worrying about what might happen that you missed enjoying the moment? I have been reminded of that a few times in the last couple of weeks. I traveled to Vegas for a huge family Thanksgiving reunion, and just when we arrived at the airport in Vegas, two things happened that made my heart sink, one of which caused me to worry. But that one thing is still yet future, and there’s nothing I can do about it anyway, so I was determined to put both things aside and into God’s hands and enjoy every moment I could.
Jesus said, “Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34 ASV) In other words, today has enough troubles of its own so why worry about tomorrow today? A Yiddish proverb is very similar. It says, “Do not worry about tomorrow, because you do not even know what may happen to you today.”
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” —Corrie Ten Boom
“Worry gives a small thing a big shadow.” —Swedish proverb
“Dreadful is the state of mind that is anxious about the future.” —Latin proverb
“Fretting cares make gray hairs.” —English proverb
“Worry is the darkroom in which ‘negatives’ are developed.” —Unknown
Proverbs 15:15 says, “All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” People who worry about everything enjoy nothing, while those who are agreeable or cheerful live full lives. It’s not that we should stick our heads in the sand, but we should be careful not to make mountains out of molehills.
“The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.” —Thomas S. Monson
“The first rule of focus is ‘Wherever you are, be there.’” —Unknown
“We’re so busy watching out for what’s ahead of us that we don’t take time to enjoy where we are.” —Bill Watterson, author of Calvin and Hobbes
So whether your holiday season ahead looks hectic and stressful or dismally lonely, take each moment today as it comes and don’t worry about tomorrow. Find something to enjoy today. Don’t miss it.
“You must be present to win.”
“In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:5, 6 ASV
If you like this post, you might also like: Wisdom Wednesday: Making Plans
Rene Yoshi
Sweet Rains 
December 11th, 2013 at 1:00 am
This is a wonderful post, Rene. The scriptures are wise reminders and the quotes are just right. I love your raindrops too. 🙂
December 11th, 2013 at 1:06 am
Thank you, Vicki! ((hugs))
December 11th, 2013 at 3:01 am
Chockablock full of good stuff, Rene. As a member of Fretters Anonymous, I’m compelled to give the list a long ponder–thank you! God bless you BIG–love, sis Caddo
December 11th, 2013 at 8:59 am
LOL… Fretters Anonymous… I like that! Me, too! ((hugs))
December 11th, 2013 at 4:07 am
Thank you Rene, for this timely post, as I needed to read this now. I also worried lately about many things and didn’t put all in God’s hands. Thank you so much for reminding me!
December 11th, 2013 at 9:00 am
Thank you, Ute, for your continual encouragement! ((hug))
December 11th, 2013 at 7:46 am
AMEN! sweet friend. This is exactly right. I especially liked the Swedish proverb: “Worry gives a small thing a big shadow.”
Remember the song years ago- Don’t worry, be happy.? It was a bit silly, but it was very good advice.
Keep sharing these bits of wisdom… I appreciate them a lot!
g.
December 11th, 2013 at 9:00 am
Yes! That song kept coming to mind. I probably should’ve found a music video and included it. [chuckle] Thank you, g! 🙂
December 11th, 2013 at 8:12 am
Good one Rene 🙂 I think that worry is a natural response for the worldly man and unfortunately for many believers as well. Maybe the problem is we don’t tend to recognize worry as readily as we do fear. With fear the natural response is flight or fight, but with worry we tend to put it on the back burner where it simmers and eventually spills over. In either case the remedy is two fold; identify worry and then deal with worry. To deal with worry requires faith in something greater than yourself and greater than the problem you are facing. For me that is Christ and I don’t always give him my worries. The next is identifying worry; here are a few examples from the dictionary on worry – Worry – give way to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles.
synonyms:Fret, be concerned, be anxious, agonize, overthink, brood, panic, lose sleep, get worked up, get stressed, get in a state, stew, torment oneself
1Peter 5:7 Cast all your cares upon him; for he careth for you.
December 11th, 2013 at 9:08 am
I agree, but as the synonyms you listed also includes “panic”, I think sometimes how we react to either fear or worry depends upon us as individuals. Some people put it on the back burner or stick their heads in the sand and pretend like the problem doesn’t exist. If it exists, it exists, but how we deal with it is the key. Some people try to manipulate outcomes even if that means doing something temporary that they know they’ll eventually have to deal with again later…. just make it look good now. Thank you, Randell, for including 1 Peter 5:7. I’m so grateful we can cast our cares upon the Lord and that He cares for us. 🙂
December 11th, 2013 at 10:47 am
Much needed message for a ‘prone to worry’ specialist! 😊
December 11th, 2013 at 10:48 am
BTW. Very lovely photo of you!
December 11th, 2013 at 7:02 pm
Aww, thank you, Sue. The photo is 5 years old. I was doing a session of different emotions. [chuckle] There’s a Chinese proverb I didn’t include that says, “Worry first, then rejoice.” I think the older I’ve gotten, the more easily it has become to remember God’s work in the past and trust Him in the present and future. Easier, but certainly not always easy!
December 11th, 2013 at 7:42 pm
😄
December 11th, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Beautiful!
December 11th, 2013 at 7:06 pm
Hey, Lana! Thank you! ((hugs)) 😀
December 11th, 2013 at 12:32 pm
LOVE IT … and the picture, too … though you do look like you are worried 🙂
December 11th, 2013 at 7:04 pm
Thank you, Heidi! Worried was the look I was going for. I did a session in 2008 of practicing different emotions and remembered I had the photo on file. 🙂
December 11th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
I don’t mean to embarrass you, but you are SO Gorgeous! My goodness, it’s nice to have so many pretty sisters!
December 11th, 2013 at 7:05 pm
Aww, thank you, Caddo. It is a 5-year-old photo, so I have aged a bit. [chuckle]
December 11th, 2013 at 8:10 pm
I doubt the years show–you’ve got the lovely Asian heritage goin’ for ya!
December 11th, 2013 at 8:13 pm
While it’s true that I feel blessed to have a partial Asian heritage, the years are showing! [chuckle]
December 11th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Phil 1:6 …”being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”.
Worry though we do, the sure statement of God is that the Lord Jesus IS and WILL carry us through to completion. Rest in His Grace.
December 11th, 2013 at 7:06 pm
Yes, I am grateful we can have that confidence, even when we go through trials. Thank you, Scott! 🙂