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Although my mother was a Christian, she worried continuously about our finances. As a widow, she was the main support for our family. Because she worked for an alcoholic, his frequent outbursts of temper kept Mother and her coworkers in turmoil. One day he fired her five times but he rehired her each time after he remembered that there was no one else to answer the telephone and keep the office running. Each time he rehired her, she insisted on more money, but that event and similar ones caused Mother to worry daily about keeping her job.

I was too young to understand that her habit of worrying demonstrated her lack of faith. Consequently, I worried, too, but my concern was different. Since we did not own a car, we walked or rode public transportation. I mainly worried that a vehicle would hit Mother when she crossed busy streets on her way to work or during her lunch hour. Her death would make me an orphan.

I received some comfort from reading about Esther in the Bible. After both of Esther's parents died, her cousin, Mordecai, reared her while they were among the captive Jews that were living in exile, according to today’s Bible reading. (See that Bible story at the end of this posting.) Unlike Esther, I never had to face a king or encounter royal intrigue, as the rest of the book of Esther describes.

Ultimately, I was blessed that my mother lived until just before her 85th birthday. Although I did become an orphan, I was married and had an adult son when that happened! I had worried needlessly! Most worry is like that. Worry demonstrates a lack of faith in God. As I have grown in my faith, I have learned that trusting God involves giving Him my concerns and leaving them with Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please show me how to trust you more. Please be patient with me when I am tempted to worry. Remind me that my problems are no longer mine but yours. I ask this in the holy name of Jesus, Amen.

BIBLE STORY REFERRED TO IN THIS POSTING
Esther 2:5-7 - 2) Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kishm 6) I who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah. 7) Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died. (New International Version)