Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry
Maybe my husband and I can actually watch the movie when it becomes available to stream....
Anxiety has been on the forefront for me these days. I'm inching toward my due date with my third baby and both of my previous pregnancies/deliveries/postpartum experiences were incredibly stressful due to preeclampsia and postpartum preeclampsia. Since I saw those two little lines on the pregnancy test a weight of fear for how things would go this next time around has been hanging from my neck.
I have had very little hope for things to go smoothly and naturally, but recently read this quote from St. Francis de Sales that gave me quite a kick to reality:
"Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul except sin. God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry."
Hoo..
Until reading this I never really saw my anxiety issues as an evil to my soul.
I've been aware that it does impact my trust and faith in God, but have never seen it as something as drastic as being second only to sin as a cause of separation between my soul and God.
Anxiety takes us out of the present moment and out of reality, which is where God is. So it is understandable to see that anxiety separates us from God nearly as much as sin does.
When we look at God for Who He is - our Father who loves, cares and wants what is best for us - then we see that anxiety is a huge impediment to enjoying and living in this life He has given us.
The famed quote by St. Padre Pio has been a quick and easy mantra throughout my life as something to call upon in those moments where worry and anxiety seem to get the best of me.
"Pray. Hope. And Don't Worry."
This short, punch-packed phrase can take me out of my "looking into the future and imagining every possible and most unlikely scenario to take place" funk and back into the heart of God.
The quote goes on:
"Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer."
This design of wildflowers with the words "Pray, Hope, & Don't worry" was meant to merge the quote of St. Padre Pio, with Christ's own words in Luke 12:22-31:
"Then Jesus said to his disciples: 'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life]? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.'"
My hope with this design - whether it be on a mug serving as a way to begin your day with; as a print to hang on your wall; or on a t-shirt to clothe yourself with; my hope is that it serves as a beautiful reminder to hope, and trust in Christ's promise of providence and love for you, so anxiety has no room to nag you with worry.
(See also our woven "Consider the Lilies" blanket and pillow, designed to wrap you in Christ's words of providence drawn from Luke 12:27)
Praying your week is rooted in hope and joy, and rid of worry!