Hey friends, how are you today? Today, I am fine; as a matter of fact, today, I am great, thank you for asking. It is a beautiful day; the sun just came out from under the clouds. Instead of looking out of my backyard to experience the beauty of the trees and the birds, I am sitting here gazing at the waves crashing against the sands. The kids and their parent are frolicking, already in the waves. The air is filled with laughter as others make every attempt to secure their places on the sand. Myrtle Beach is one of my favorite relaxation spots. In some ways, it demands that you rest. There’s very little to do, thankfully.
Rest; why do we, as humans, find it so difficult to rest? Nature takes the time to rest and replenish. The animals, even the busy ants find the time. But for us, busyness is the order of the day. We say with pride, the number of things we have to do, as if it’s a badge of honor. Doing nothing does not come easily for me. It makes me feel useless, almost without purpose, I suppose. Do you think Jesus rested while He was on earth? Although His actual ministry was approximately three years and He accomplished more in that three years, than I ever will in my lifetime, I’m so sure He took the time to rest. Perhaps He did not ‘go’ on vacation, like we do today, but He must have indulged in ‘down time’. Perhaps even alone time. Alone time; just the sound of the waves crashing against the shores and my thoughts. Time to rejuvenate before the ‘busy’ begins again, because we both know, it lies just at the peripherals of this vacation.
Rest is good, isn’t it? Today, I am resting with friends and family. More than a physical action, resting is also a mental action. Resting is choosing to leave everything safely in the hands of the Loving and faithful God. Resting involves surrender, does it not? Our stuff and our loved ones can’t always come with us on this journey of rest. We have to leave them somewhere. Why not leave them on the Hands of the One that can keep them safe and secure? In that case, we really do not have to leave the house to rest, do we?
Our girls wanted to know whether anxiousness is a sin. What do you think? Is it a sin to be overwhelmed and worried? Is it a sin to be so fearful that we are literally stuck and unable to move? Do we have choices in these emotions? Do I choose to be fearful and distressed? Do I choose to be filled with this debilitating anxiousness that seems at times, to grip my very soul? Do I have a choice? Where is God in all of this? Does He care? Can He help me? Will He help me?
The enemy of our souls has a plan. He knows when He captures our minds, He has pretty much taken hold of every action, every thought, every word that follows. The mind; that part of the body that can rarely even be located, but yet controls the very identity of the person. The mind. When we are no longer able to control the mind, because of fear or anxiousness, then rest is truly an impossible feat, isn’t it? Even on vacation our thoughts are restless, sleep is elusive and the actions and speech that follow are steeped in bitterness or melancholy. Where is God? Was this all part of His plan? To leave us without help? Is rest a choice, then? Or perhaps rest is dependent on others. What does rest entail, I wonder?
Perhaps it’s listening to the sound of the waves as they crash against the shore. Perhaps it’s the sound of the kids’ laughter as they try to escape and at the same time play with the waves. Is it the sunshine as the butterflies fitter from flower to flower? Or maybe it the sounds of the cicadas in the background?
Perhaps rest is none of that and all of that. Perhaps rest primarily though, relies more on the Lord, Jesus Christ. Perhaps rest involves surrender of my mind and allowing the Lord to be in control. Perhaps rest entails submission to the Word of God. Perhaps rest is belief and faith in the Wonderful, Loving, Gracious, merciful, Faithfulness God. Has God told us to do the impossible? Is His Word negotiable? If the Bible is the Word of God and it is not negotiable, then absolutely, worry is a sin against God and too against our bodies. What do you think? What does rest involve?
Let’s continue the conversation over on Instagram. Follow my Instagram and I will follow back, just let me know in the comment section.
Becoming HIS Tapestry 
20 responses to “IS IT A SIN TO WORRY?”
I found that satan “dogged” me (as my pastor called it) incessantly right after accepting Jesus and becoming a Christian. Satan loves for me to worry or be anxious because it makes me more vulnerable. I guess I will never completely stop sinning, but the more I immerse myself in His work, the stronger I get. Love your site Brenda!! I’ll look for you on Instagram. Thanks for the like on The Daily Sinner, I’m just starting.
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amen and amen and a louder amen 🙂 That’s the key immerse ourselves in His work and in His Word. Praise the Lord and the Lord be with you
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I definitely need to get better about resting.. I’m like you and feel like if I’m not doing something than I’m useless…it’s amazing how relaxing and restful I feel while I read my Bible yet it provides just the right motivation and encouragement I need to keep going!!! I read my Bible every morning but I sure should make more time for it throughout the day!!
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I know how you feel. 🙂 I was sick last week and even in the midst of that, I could not rest. I stayed home from home and still found everything else to do 🙂 🙂 We need to do better 🙂
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Interesting that we both post about worry on the same day. Thank you for the reminder (again!! Lol) that I am not alone on this earth.
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No you are most certainly not…I guess the Lord is telling us something
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I love that the well-known verse in Hebrews 4 (about the Word of God that divides between soul and spirit) is in the context of God’s rest.
… v 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart…
God knows our hearts. He desires that we rest in Him in all things. He knows when we worry, and why; He knows how to bring us to Himself. It’s our responsibility to be obedient.
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Amen and amen 🙏🏽 can I tell you I love your comments? You always seem to have the succinct amen to my thoughts. Thank you 😊 God has a plan for our lives, He knows what He is doing, ultimately it’s for Hid glory which is always for my good
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I so appreciate your blog, the encouragement you give via God’s Word, your bright optimism. Thank you for your kind comment. I love how God works in His people!!
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Praise the Lord
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Rest to me is, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Be still actually means to quit striving, so to me rest means to quit straining against God’s plan and just relax in knowing that He is God, that I am not, and that I can trust His love and plan for me. Thanks for this good reminder today, Brenda.
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God is GOD and I am not (thank You, Lord). Although I know I don’t want to be sometimes I act like I am
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Worry is natural but is God Still on the throne? Yes! Give it to him. Praise music calms the soul.
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Yes, yes it does, whenever I find my thoughts running into the worry zone, music bring me back. Thanks for this comment
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We’re camping near a lake today on our final day of vacation. Rest is a state of heart, mind, and body…giving yourself time and space to be quiet, to reconnect with God, others, yourself. I like your idea of surrender! Worry is sin and we should bring it all to our Father in prayer…the hard part is leaving it there!
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😂😂😂how I understand the leaving it there part. How many times have I surrendered something to the Lord only to take it back? Lord forgive
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Me too, Brenda!!
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Right now I have a hard time resting because I feel like all I ever do is rest. (Chronic Fatigue) So I have to continually focus on what God is doing with this forced rest. He’s done and is doing so much. So I can’t complain. 😊
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Praise the Lord, Tina. He has you in this season for a purpose, ultimately it is for His glory. May the Lord bring you comfort and wisdom
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Amen. 😊 And may He do the same for you as well. ❤
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