From the desk of Pastor Jim

Have you ever noticed that worry has terrible timing? You can be having a perfectly good day when suddenly your mind says, “Hey, remember that thing you were worried about three weeks ago? Maybe we should think about that again!”

Paul gives us some wonderful advice in Philippians 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always,” “Do not worry about anything,” and “Think about these things.” He encourages us to fill our minds with whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, and worthy of praise.

Now, Paul isn’t telling us to pretend that life is perfect. Life can be messy. There are health concerns, family worries, financial struggles, disagreements, and plenty of things happening in the world that can keep us awake at night. But Paul reminds us that worry doesn’t have to have the final word. Instead of carrying everything ourselves, we can bring it to God in prayer.

And here is the wonderful part: God doesn’t promise that every problem will disappear by tomorrow morning. Instead, God promises something even deeper—the peace of Christ that guards our hearts and minds.

Maybe this month we can practice looking for the good things God is doing around us. Notice the friend who calls at just the right moment. Enjoy the laughter of a child. Give thanks for a beautiful sunrise. Appreciate the person who quietly helps someone in need. Look around our church and community and notice the many little acts of love that happen every day.

There will always be something to worry about. But there will also always be something for which we can thank God.

So when your mind starts holding its next worry meeting, you have permission to interrupt it! Take a moment, say a prayer, count a blessing, and remember: God is good, Christ is with us, and we are never walking alone.

As Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”

May we keep looking for God’s goodness—and may we find plenty of reasons to rejoice!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Jim