No Worries!
This is a commonly used phrase here in the southern hemisphere... No worries! Sometimes it's "No worries mate!" About 20 some years ago was the first time I really ran into this phrase consistently with my good friend Kate from down under! I kinda adopted it, cause you know... it's a pretty good philosophy! Don't worry! Be relaxed! It's all good!
However... the no worries philosophy does tend to hit some crisis moments it seems to me! And this catchy little phrase can have a mocking bite when times are tough. Now you might be thinking... tough times? Give me a break! These people are living in New Zealand!! I've only dreamed of visiting that glorious land, much less living there! But it must be said that we didn't exactly come here on holiday! We do love to travel around this beautiful country as the opportunities arise, but are we living in the lap of luxury in a condo on the beach? Not exactly.
Most of you who are reading this (and don't get me started on how few that # is again!) know us. You know how very ordinary we are. You know that we struggle. That we are a far cry from put together! We walk out on the water as Jesus beckons and we sink more often that not. It's REALLY difficult to only look at HIm and not at the wind and waves. Daniel and I have this little saying between us... "Don't look at the wind and waves!" But I'm ridiculously prone to looking at the wind and waves!!
I don't think it can be said that faith is easy... it is however necessary. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6 If you read Hebrews chapter 11 there are a LOT of, "By faith...." statements about those who have gone before us and it makes me realize that probably the only things of real substance that I do in this life are going to have to have those words in front of them... by faith.
So... by faith our family has come to New Zealand. Would you think more highly of us if that statement read... by faith our family has come to Syria or Afghanistan or... ? I'm guessing you would! Heck, I'd think pretty highly of us too! (that's a little humor thrown in for free). But really, it's not about the location... it's about the "by faith..." bit. Someday I'll do a blog post on the big "by faith" step I've had to take personally on this journey that we're on... but you'll just have to wait. Yep. I hate waiting...
Anyhoo...what I was going to say in the beginning was about not worrying! And how it's hard. And for me right now it's like this... is there milk in the fridge? Yes! There is enough for today. Is there gas in the car? Yes! There is enough for today. Is there money in the bank? Yes. There is enough for today. The minute I look past today I can start to panic. I can be searching the house for a paper bag to hyperventilate into! There's not enough for tomorrow!! "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Matt 6:34 My western, pantry stocked, excess, hoarding brain says FREAK OUT! But God tells me He's got this. Can I be honest? This is NOT easy. It's not in my nature. I don't even WANT to know how to do this!! This is not a class I would sign up for... pretty much ever.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes?" Matt 6:25 Do I have this figured out? Heck no! But every now again Jesus calls my name and I step out of the boat with my eyes only on Him and I'm walking...