I do not recall any point in my life when I did not tend to worry. Even as a boy. I would worry about falling out of my treehouse (never did), not getting my homework done (always did), not knowing my times tables (still don’t), making a blatty sound on my cornet right in the middle of an elementary band concert (yep), and other minor things. Then I moved on to High School and was fortunate to be in that middle group of students who escaped being bullied and those who were the sports and popular kids. I was a band nerd, but we had a great band and we just kinda existed in the bottom floor of our school. But I still worried about grades, dating (what’s that?), getting the correct tense in my German classes, and not blowing myself and lab partner up in Chemistry.

  As an adult I still tend to worry, but now it really gets serious. I worry about friends who are raising children in these days. How do you explain that politics was not always a hateful, mean-spirited thing and at one time you could actually trust those in elected office? How do you explain to your child the seriousness of a pandemic and not scare them? How do you keep them from seeing junk on the television that even makes me blush and cringe?

  I was sitting in my study tonight with most all the lights out, the fireplace burning low, and my thoughts kept centering on how this world is going to survive. Before long, I found myself in a morass of worry and other emotions. Then…I watched the fire, heard the pet finches in the kitchen give a couple ‘peeps’ as they snuggled down to sleep, heard a comforting train whistle as it went through McDonough heading toward Flippen. And I stopped and realized that the world and life is sill going on. It is a good world and I have a good life and I live in a good place with good people. Why should I worry so much?

  God has promised us that we do not need to fear because “He will always be with us; Don’t be dismayed for He is our God. He will strengthen us, He will help us, He will hold us up with His righteous right hand.”  (Isaiah 41:10)

  If you search the Bible, you can find so many verses that assure you that God will be taking care of you. He will not leave or abandon you. Even when you walk through the days like a fire, you will not be scorched because He is the Lord your God. (Isaiah 43:2-3)

  So, why do I worry so much. It is not because I do not trust in God enough, but because I am human. Just because I have a “Reverend” in front of my name does not make me exempt from worry and so many other things that we all face each day. As I frequently tell friends and family, “I’m just a big ole’ mess.” But I have learned that God can take this “mess” and turn it into a “message.” If I just slow down and listen to Him occasionally. Always remember my favorite scripture to “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

  And for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.

  Jimmy Cochran is a resident of McDonough, a musician, a minister and the author of Being God’s and Staying God’s, both available at Amazon.com. Being God’s is also available at Moye’s Pharmacy in McDonough.