Ruthlessly Eliminate Worry

In an article in Leadership Journal, John Ortberg told about a time he asked Dallas Willard how to be spiritually healthy in the midst of a demanding schedule. After a long pause, Willard said, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

After another long pause, John responded a little impatiently, “Okay, I’ve written that one down. That’s a good one. Now what else is there?” John wanted to cram as much spiritual wisdom into a short phone call.

After another long pause, Willard said, “There is nothing else. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life...”

It took John a few minutes to process this.  There was nothing else. His life, like many I imagine, are occupied more by the urgent but unimportant than the urgent and important.

There is another side to this that has been of particular significance in my life over the past few years.  The ruthless elimination of worry.

It began many years ago when I first read Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.  Covey distinguishes between those things about which we seem to be concerned and those things over which we have some matter of control.  He suggests that too many folks spend time and energy talking about, worrying about, and focusing on matters which, while they may be of legitimate concern, they have no control over.  Instead Covey suggests that we need to take a look at, talk about, and focus on things over which we have some reasonable degree of influence. It's a pretty simple matter, not always easy but pretty basic stuff here.

This is of great importance for the Christian believer as we look about this fallen, broken world beset by greed, avarice, anger, hatred, and other sin.  There are many, many things over which we have no control and not even a bit of influence.  We can and should pray about these things of great concern - war in Burma and Ukraine, child slavery in Ghana and China, sex trafficking in the USA and Kenya, just to name a few.  But most of us have little control or influence on these great matters. So why is there so much public rhetoric on Facebook, Twitter, in the news media, and elsewhere? Maybe Joe Jones had it right back in 1960...

I think it is essentially because we are lazy.  We talk a good talk but when it comes time to shut our mouths and go to work, we simply acknowledge we can't do anything about it and that settles the matter. And we've literally wasted the last hour, or two, or more, listening to "hate radio," reading political diatribes posing as news, etc... 

The people I know who focus on the things over which they have some influence and control are far less likely to be complaining about this, that or the other thing. They're doers.  And I am myself am convicted of this. I often wonder how many people's retirement lives are wasted in self-centered living - golfing, traveling, eating at this restaurant, tasting this beer, experiencing this event...when they finally possess the resources to make a significant difference in the world.  They finally possess the financial resources, the contacts, the relationships, the experience...

But of course these other people's issues are not in my circle of influence, except perhaps in such writings as this and in my conversations with them. Maybe the best question we could ask is the most direct. It seems to get me in trouble enough. 

"So what are you going to do about this? If nothing, why are you wasting my time and yours talking about it?"

I find that the more time I spend praying over these things over which I have no control and influence and the more time I expend my energy and resources on things over which I have control or influence, the less I worry.  It leaves me almost feeling guilty about how little energy I am willing to expend on things like discussing or worrying about the war in Burma or Ukraine.  My energy in these matters is expended in fervent and extended prayer and discussion with those who are actually engaging the issues.  Or child or sex trafficking...prayer. And even what you might gather from your reading of this post...prayer.  And then I leave it all in my Father's hands.

I find that there are ample opportunities to preach, to share the gospel, to financially support ministries, to talk about "how" things might get done in a more expedient way in the matters within my circle of influence.

It's callous and untrue, to say "I don't care about such things...but there is a matter of I am not going to waste my time in petty conversations about the political mess in which we find ourselves, or how inflation is out of control, or whether we should drill for oil in North Dakota....  I read and then I vote and I vote Christian principles. Period. And I leave it in God's hands.

So too, it sounds callous and unloving, but I am convinced that, in the judgement, the wretched, despised of God, the unredeemed, the insolent and godless, the greedy, the murderous, the drunk and sexually debauched, and others will be judged in accordance with God's holy and righteous law and the condemned sentenced to their appropriate eternal "reward". And that is enough for me to face the injustice. To know that ultimately justice WILL reign.  SO TOO THAT THIS JUDGEMENT WILL BE TO THE GLORY OF GOD AS THE ANGELS AND THE RIGHTEOUS REJOICE!

So I really don't have many worries, these days. If the Lord calls me to it, He'll walk with me through it. No worries.  Concerns for his glory in all matters, yes, but NO WORRIES! 

You can make a difference, where you are, amongst those with whom you associate, in the work you are doing, here and now...today, letting go of everything else... just make sure it's not a "simple kindness" or a "pay it forward" type of nonsense, but a Jesus proclaiming, faith witnessing, powerful demonstration of His love. With that, comes peace. His peace. Perfect peace. I hope you find that peace...soon!

Soli Deo Gloria!