I HAVE A CONFESSION. I happily encourage others. I happily encourage others to believe in themselves. I happily encourage others to believe things will get better.
But I don’t always practice what I preach.
My husband has always known this about me. In fact, one of the first things he gave me when we were dating was a little book about worry. This is something we talk about frequently still. It shouldn’t be this way, but it is a struggle I have, and one that I’m being candid about, because I know others struggle with it too.
For whatever reason, it sure is easier to root for people who share their struggles with us than it is to root for ourselves. I can easily turn molehills into mountains regarding my own issues, but will work hard to squash your mountains and help you see them for the little bumps in the road that they really are. And on the inside, I can certainly be a Debbie Downer to your Suzy Sunshine—even if I don’t show it outwardly.
So what do I do about that? My husband reminded me the other day. “Seriously?” he said. “What do you have to be upset about? God loves you. That’s all that matters.”
Is it really that simple? Yes, it is. As I thought about that, I could hear God say to me, “I love you, and you are never alone.” And if I have to keep repeating that and repeating that, it is worth the practice.
We have the love of God with us, and His Word says that nothing can separate that from us. In any problem, great or small, that simple and powerful fact trumps everything else.
So let me go now and practice what I just preached.
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Wilona Karimabadi takes care of Kidsview, the Adventist Review's magazine for children. This article was published on January 13, 2011.
