Have you ever felt worry bubbling over inside your mind? A few years ago, we visited the story of two women, Worry and Concern, and followed a portion of their days. We wondered what might have happened to them over the time that has transpired between then and now.
Will you join me as I venture into the allegory of Worry and Concern, Revisited?
WORRIED ABOUT MANY THINGS
She remembered that when she last felt the shackles around her feet, she had collapsed onto the floor of her home. It was the worry of that very home that had consumed her.
After all, this constant companion that seemed to dog her every waking hour was a worthy opponent: worry about her health, worry about her abilities, worry about her shelter, and finally worry about her life. Where was the answer?
She could not find the answer, so she began her usual habit of pacing around her room. The shackles tightened with every pass. How would she ever find a way to live out her final days? Was what the doctors said really true? Had her illness now progressed to terminal?
CONCERNED, BUT FINDING HOPE
Across town, another woman was also facing a memory. She had told her neighbors that she knew God would take care of her, even if the diagnosis for her illness continued to get worse. Could she believe her own words?
The weight of the concern upon her heart threatened to pull her down. How would she manage with this new terminal diagnosis? Where was the hope for living out her days in this lonely home?
She knew where her answer lay, so she began her usual habit: she pulled out her Bible and asked the Lord of her life to meet her concerns. She searched the pages, opening to where her study had landed just the day before:
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4
She felt one lone tear trickle down her cheek, and then the floodgates opened. Her name was Concern and she knew where her hope would cling.
~~~~~~
GOD STRIPS WORRY AND GIVES REST
For those of you who have prayed for me as the Prayer Coordinator of Chronic Joy’s Prayer Pond, I am immensely thankful — but I have a confession to make: in this allegory that the Lord has given me, I have been both these women.
Worry runs so deeply in my family that I vowed I would never become a worrier. So instead of voicing my worries out loud to everyone, I tucked them inside and thought no one would ever know. Ah, but it does no good to tuck worry away—it will always find a way to manifest itself.
Over these years since my first chronic illness diagnosis, God has stripped away the layers and revealed to me the ways that worry has eaten at my heart. Then when my husband joined the ranks of chronic illness sufferers and we were faced with his terminal diagnosis, I heard another whisper from my Lord.
Will you let me slow your pacing and give you a place to rest?
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I would love to invite you to join me over at Chronic Joy to read the rest of this post. God has been so gracious to help me continue sharing the gifts of writing He has placed in my heart in these times of decreasing strength and illness.
As the Lord has blessed me to hand over the position of Chronic Joy’s Prayer Coordinator to my dear friend, Melody Bollinger, I am thankful to remain here in this place of blogging for a few more months.
Click here to read the rest of this post, and the final chapter for Worry and Concern.
BettieGsRAseasons 
Thank you Bettie for sharing your “worry and concern” words.
Here are God’s words: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” … Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem;
You shall weep no more.
He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry;
When He hears it, He will answer you.
20 And though the Lord gives you
The bread of adversity and the water of [f]affliction,
Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore,
But your eyes shall see your teachers.
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.
Isaiah 30
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Oh Lisa. This Scripture has been such an important one for me over the years! I have tears in my eyes now, so grateful for God’s reminders! Thank you so much for listening to God’s prompting and sharing it here with me. Blessings and love across the sea for you!
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So beautiful, Bettie. God is our HOPE even when things seem so overwhelming and out of control. I love your allegory and how it is such a perfect example of how we all struggle sometimes with worry. But the answer is Hope in God and in His Word to us. Much love to you, dear sister, with many blessings and hugs! xoxo
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Amen, dear Gayl! He is our hope. I am so thankful for all of your encouragement and sharing of His hope with me. Your friendship is such a blessing. Love and hugs to you! Xo
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Oh Bettie, you are going through so much. I’m so sorry. You have been in my prayers. Thank you for your honesty about worry and concern. I struggle with that, too. This especially encouraged me today – “Yet when God sets the seasons and the times, who are we to question? HE is our true and faithful LIVING HOPE — and He will bring the blessings of His sustaining grace.” Love and blessings of His sustaining grace!
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Thank you dear Trudy for all of your encouragement. I know you understand about all of these changes too. But you are right, what grace we have been given to know His sustaining in our lives! I appreciate all of your prayers so much. And I am lifting you and your husband in my prayers too, dear friend! Xoxo
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Worry steals my joy. And makes my stomach upset! May we give ourselves grace when worry and concern creep in. I am encouraged by your reminder that the remedy for our worries is right at our figure-tips when we open our bibles to his words. Continual prayers for you and your husband, Bettie!
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Thank you for your continual prayers, dear Lynn. 🙏 Knowing that others are praying is also a big help when Worry creeps in to take over! I so appreciate you! Blessings and love to you!
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Betty I’m getting here late, but such a worthwhile read. I also have been both of these women, and I love the hope you offer to both in this allegory! Such beautiful words to ponder!
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Thank you for stopping by, Donna. It’s never late to connect! I’m so grateful that Jesus understands our hearts when they are filled with worry or concern, and He gives us His hope right there! Blessings and love to you this week!
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