Nightmares (and worry)

Now that we are counting down the weeks until our departure for the U.S. on April 16th, my brain and agenda are filled with lists of things to be done between now and then. Things are lining up well for our stateside time with places to stay and cars to drive.

This brought back a now-funny memory of a trip to visit my mom in Dallas. I needed to run to the local grocery store for a few things, and Mom generously offered me the loan of her brand new car. Not being one to be impressed with cars, I went out to the garage, got in the car, drove to the store, parked the car, and went into the store without ever noticing what kind of car it was, let alone what color it was. In the dark garage it had appeared a non-descriptive grayish color.

Coming out of the grocery store with my purchases, it hit me. Uh-oh. Which car is mine? Back then we had no cell phones so I couldn't call home to ask my mom. I simply stood there, dumbfounded, thinking I might have to walk the few blocks home carrying all my bags. Then a kind stranger noticed my dilemma and suggested I hit the "panic button" which also needed to be explained to this missionary lady. Ah, very good! Pressing a button on the key chain caused the car to blink and honk at me. Clever device!

This event has wound its way into my troubled sleep. I can always tell when I fail to give God my worries and cares before bed because of these recurring nightmares. Other dreams include being back in high school and forgetting my locker combination or not studying for a big test, or being in college late for class, lost somewhere on campus. You probably have your own variations of these crazy dreams.

Just this week I had one of those "which car is mine?" dreams, indicating I had carried some concerns to bed with me. I just wish I could remember to activate the panic button on the key chain in my dream!

In the same way when I'm awake, if I give in to the sin of worry, it forms a dream-like web over my mind. I panic without remembering the help available right at my fingertips. Once I finally turn to God, He makes his presence known and quickly handles the difficulty for me or carries me through it. It seems so absurd that I ever attempted it without him.

Sunday our fellowship group sang this great old hymn that I want to add to my children's repertoire to help build faith and confidence in God:

1. What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:
Leaning, leaning,
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

2. O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
(Refrain)

3. What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
(Refrain)

Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest, July 4 devotional) says,

"All fret and worry is caused by calculating without God."

The Bible says,

"Fret not thyself, it tendeth only to evil doing." Psalm 37:8

"Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5