Running Scared

I have been reading this book in my devotions lately. Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest by Edward T. Welch is a great book (even though the cover of the book is a little scary!). I highly recommend it, especially for anyone who worries...and who doesn't?

I found that having a child has only heightened my level of fear. Not only do I have myself to worry about, now I have another human being to worry about, too...right? Wrong! This book is slowly helping me realize how to embrace the grace that God has given me today to help me NOT to give into the sin of worry and anxiety. Here are a few quotes from chapter 12 that I read today:

"Anxiety asks (God) for more information so it can be prepared for the coming apocalypse. It also asks for more information so it can manage the world apart from God...Worry and anxiety think that more information will help...if you knew what tomorrow would bring, you would probably opt to stay in bed." --pages 137 & 138

"Worry and fear are always looking ahead. When the thing we dread is upon us, we usually do well. Anticipation is the killer." --page 138

"There is one bit of data that worriers never factor into their false prophecies. It is this: we will receive grace in the future." --page 140

"I will project the grace I have received for today onto tomorrow, not comprehending that I will receive grace as needed tomorrow." --page 144

"Are you worried about the future? You are looking at tomorrow as if it was a final exam and you haven't yet taken the class. Of course you panic at the thought. But you haven't considered that you will go through the class before you have to take the final. You will be given all the grace you need when you need it." --page 145