Suffering more than is necessary...

Father, your creation declares your greatness and lovingkindness, encouraging statements of pure truth in our daily walk... Experts like to say that there's good stress and there's bad stress, and I get it, but I'd rather focus on the fact that all stress is indeed self-induced stress. It's what we do ourselves, it's all in our own minds; stress is a choice we make on a daily basis. Truth is, worrying leads to stress, and Lord, you know, I have worried about many things, most of which NEVER came to fruition. The philosopher Seneca once stated, "He who suffers before it is necessary, suffers more than is necessary." Wow, who hasn't experienced THAT truth? We ALL seem to like to worry about things that most likely will not happen the way we envisioned them happening. Jesus said, "I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?" (Luke 12:22-26) Lord, you know what we need before we even know we need it, so may we simply put our faith and trust in you, letting the chips fall where they may… Thank you, Jesus, for showing us that you are the way, the truth, and the life; THE answer for those committed to seeking the truth in all things!