"Am I letting fear of tomorrow steal my joy?"

Here's our Precious Prodigal post for September 4, 2014: "Am I letting fear of tomorrow steal my joy?" #justfortoday #Godsgrace Please 'Share' using this 'ShortLink' = http://bit.ly/1o1QMwA

Matthew 6:34 “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself…”

There are many things that trouble our hearts when we love a prodigal. We worry about where they are, what they’re doing, and whether they are ever going to “figure it out.” But perhaps the most crippling burden we carry is fear about the future. A friend recently said it perfectly by asking, “Why is it so much easier to complete the ‘what ifs’ with negatives instead of positives? (Especially in the middle of the night!)”

Recently I spoke to a group of parents whose prodigals have only recently begun to act out. I was reminded again of what it was like when my own prodigal began to act out in the same way. In that emotion-charged group, I saw anger, disbelief, disappointment, and sorrow. But more than anything else, I saw and remembered the paralyzing fear that is so much a part of our lives when we love a prodigal. They were consumed with it.

When I opened the floor to questions that night, virtually every question began with, “What if…?” What if he loses his job? What if Child Protective Services takes the kids? What if she gets arrested? What if…and you can fill in the blank. We’re creative people, after all, so why would we imagine less than the worst possible scenario when we ask, “What if…?” Don’t we have enough going on today without adding fears about tomorrow?

That’s no doubt what Jesus meant when He said we were to “take no thought for tomorrow.” He said this after talking about a godly walk, being authentic, praying, and trusting God. Then He adds, “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matt 6:34) Both the NIV and NASB translate that as “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” And if you love a prodigal, you probably already know that no truer words have ever been said.

When my grandkids were going to be transitioned home to parents who had not been to treatment, I was desperate with fear. A precious friend kept me anchored by asking me several times, “What is your reality right now?” And the reality was that the kids were safe with me and were sound asleep in their rooms. I was wasting the energy and strength God had given me for that day by worrying about what “might” happen tomorrow.

You and I both know that any number of “bad” things could happen. But let’s be realistic here for just a minute. Remember the last time (or 50 times) you were terrified about what might happen? How many of those things actually happened? And for the one or two that did, what could you have done to prevent them or change the outcome? Do you and I really have any control or influence over our prodigals and the choices they make?

The truth is we don’t have any control over another person, the choices they make or the outcome of those choices. And dwelling on them or letting ourselves be overcome with fear doesn’t change that. It only steals our joy.

Challenge for Today: What might happen if we, just for today, chose not to live in fear about tomorrow?