Which Whisper Will You Hear?

An online dictionary gives several definitions of the word "worry."

(1)–verb (used without object)
-To torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.

(2)–noun
-A worried condition or feeling; uneasiness or anxiety.
-A cause of uneasiness or anxiety; trouble.

Pretty intense, huh? The phrase that sticks out to me the most: "to torment oneself with or suffer."



I just graduated from college one week ago today. And it's all well and good, until all the questions start coming.

"What's next?"
"Where are you going to live?"
"Are you moving back home?"
"Got that big job yet?"
"What are your plans now?"

And although they have good intentions behind them, these questions make me want to lock myself in a room and cry my eyes out.

I think about my future almost every second of every day. I believe the other day I counted 4 seconds after waking up before I could feel my heart beating out of my chest as thoughts of my future rushed into my head. 4 SECONDS.

And you know what I've begun to realize? The devil LOVES me like this. I'm extremely vulnerable, I am prone to lean towards negative thoughts, I think my big dreams will never happen. I keep hearing whispers in my head such as, "You're not good enough to get a real job. You'll never be as good as you want to be. Don't try anymore, you're just going to fail."

So where's the good news in all of this?

It's simple.

There's a second whisper. The one that says, "You are my child. I'm never going to let anything bad happen to you. I love you. I'll never leave you nor forsake you. My grace is sufficient for you. Peace be with you."

We just have to choose which whisper we want to hear. Do we choose to give in to the devil's negative thoughts that can so easily "torment" us and cause us to "suffer?" Or do we choose the comforting voice of our heavenly Father who loves us and wants nothing less than the very best for His children? I think the decision is easy. But it is a decision we have to consciously make.

This is what the Bible says about how the devil wants to tear us down with things like worry.

1 Peter 5:8
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

And here is what Jesus has to say.

Matthew 6:25-34
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

The devil is looking for someone to devour...but don't give him the satisfaction. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So if you're like me, and are in a transitional period in your life right now, just remember that God is in control, and choose to hear His comforting whisper, rather than the negative whisper that torments us.

May God bless you all.

'Til next time,

ST