Worry’s Abrupt Ending (in my life)

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!”

Isaiah 26:3

For the last few months, I have been fixated on a passage in 2 Corinthians 3, where Paul tells the Corinthian church that they are “a letter from Christ” written “not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.”

Last week, I met a letter from Christ. Her name is Tiffany.

Motivated to spend some extra time with my almost sixteen-year-old daughter, I happily agreed to drive for service day at her school. Our team’s assignment was to help organize a clothes closet in a church in an underserved community. Shortly after we arrived, we were greeted by a tall, beautiful, glowing woman, who I perceived to be about half my age. It turns out, we are precisely the same age and one of us spends a lot of time and money trying to look younger. I’ll give you a hint – it’s not Tiffany!

Tiffany gave us few instructions, but many thanks for helping us with this overwhelming task. As we sorted through the clothes, the girls asked if it would be okay to play some music. Tiffany told the girls to select any music they would like, because she is in a constant state of prayer and probably wouldn’t hear it anyway.

A few minutes later, Tiffany pulls out a dress from the pile of clothes. “This is perfect for my event tonight!” She said with a smile. Tiffany turned to me and said, “You know, I don’t worry about anything. God always comes through.” And she meant every single word.

I found myself longing for Tiffany’s perfect peace, that is promised in Isaiah 26:3. The power of the Holy Spirit speaking through her life, was a beautiful letter from Christ to me.

I decided not to worry. I mean, I really decided not to worry. And, in true “Marnie-fashion,” I have been telling everyone who will listen, the story of Tiffany, a woman who believes Jesus when He says,

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your Heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you more valuable to Him than they are?” Matthew 6:25-26

As I type this, I noticed the verse before, and immediately feel convicted (in a good way, of course, since I don’t worry anymore!).

“No one can serve two masters. For you will either hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” Matthew 6:24

I cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Or fear. Or people-pleasing or anything else. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. A letter from Christ is worth a thousand sermons. Tiffany is free and we can be too.