My grandmother, “Nana Marta”, would watch me when my mother (a teacher at the Assyrian Christian School in Baghdad) was working. Nana Marta would be make quilts for the family, and I would help her by threading her needles. She would say I had sharp eyes. She would sing and tell me Bible stories. I remember one time, I asked her why does she always sing? She said it helped take her troubles away.
Today with the effects of the pandemic, the death of loved ones, job loss, fear, outcomes of elections and loneliness … just to list a few items … we all need a song.
You see, worry takes root in our soul and stays there. 2 Corinthians 10:5, says we need to take anxious thoughts captive.
One Monday morning, I woke up with a sense of fear like I have not experienced. That was not my normal way of acting at all. So, I prayed for God to remove it, and to replace it with trust. The Lord gave me a song!
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word.
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know thus saith the Lord.
Matthew 6:31-32 tells us not to be anxious for our heavenly father knows what we need.
Philippians 4:8-9 says to change our thinking. Think about what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report and God’s peace will be with you.
My Nana Marta was 90lbs dripping wet. She lived a life of losses, wars, being a refugee, and revolutions, yet she lived Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Will you today uproot worry and plant trust in your soul? Oh, yes, tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.
Bill Badal is Pastor Emeritus at First Baptist. He was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq, and moved to the United States as a teenager.
