The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-11-30
Thou Shalt Not Worry.

Thou Shalt Not Worry.
Sufficient unto the dag is the emil thereof.-Mat-
thew, vi, "a.
Christ was, above all things, practical.
That was His marked characteristic, the
one which especially endears Him to
mankind, for it establishes between US and
Him the personal relations of teacher and
pupil. like to think of Him as friend
who has all the resources OF wisdom at
command, who is for some reason inter-
ested in any welfare, who has furnished
me with certain truths which could hard
w discover for myself, and in which can
place as much confidence as the mariner
on tempestuous seas does in the compass
that guides him through storm and dark
ness.
Some of the advice He has given is diff
cult to understand and more difficult to
follow. The text is an illustration of this.
If He tells US that the angels OF God are
never beyond hearing distance when we
are in need of help, or if He declares that
there is another life for which these few
years are simply a preparation, and that
we must so act to-day that we shall have
no regrets in the great to- morrow, we can
catch glimpse of His meaning for there
| is a mysterious something in our souls
which corroborates His words. But when
He assures us that in our daily lives We
ought to face the present moment and 90
the present duty, not allowing ourselves to
be overanxious about what may happen
during the day to come, it is necessary to
think the matter over very carefully before
we can see the principle which underlles
His words.
Surely, He was we'll aware of the trials,
troubles, sorrow and uncertainties through
which we pass, for they filled His own
short career to the very brim. No man
has ever suffered more than He did, and
none has been pricked by as many thorns.
And yet He calmly tells US to possess our
souls in peace, not to anticipate the tu-
ture; neither to worry about what may
happen o-morrow, but to bear as best we
NAV whatever burden is on our shoulders
and let the morrow take care Of itself. he
does not speak of this as the better policy to
pursue, but as an imperative duty imposed
by the laws Of the universe and by the
God who decreed them. What does He
mean by this strange utterance? Perhaps
( by searching we may find out.
!, Worry, to begin with, is useless. Itpro-
! duces no good result. On the contrary, it
is utterly destructive in its nature. SO
far from preparing you to overcome dis
aster, it renders you unfit to meet it. 1t
a debilitates the soul and robs you of the
very strength which you pray for because
YOU see it will be needed. To worry is to
endure an agony before its time, and SO
q prolong your misery. God says, "You
u must suffer pain Tomorrow" and you
o reply, ''Then will suffer it to-day also
Do not think | am forgetful. l know
that coming events cast their shadows be-
g fore; that one cannot laugh up to the mo-
n ment when the clock strikes and the blow
d falls. The imagination is winged and il
!. flies into the future. Love thinks OF the
- hour of separation which cannot long be
y postponed, and tears tremble on the eye
i lids, not because of what is, but of wha
y is to be. We should be, not more, but less
y than human if this were not so.
- Suppose, however, that our faith wa
perfect. If our souls were in accord will
the providence of God, if we really fel
3, that Hand controls events, and that be
hind the Hand is the Heart of Father
that what we must bear He will give u
r, strength to bear; that if we are not mas
10 tiers of the situation He is - would NO
- such a faith quiet our restlessness, an
~ should not we resemble the Sea of Galile
after Christ said, "Peace! Be still?'' TIL
I'd element of worry would be we'll nigh elm
r. mated, and with the feeling that whateve
a is is right we should borrow nothing fror
- the future, but simply bear the preser
:, sorrow.
Il 1t is true religion that We need, and NOR
n. of it. In our professed belief we have
God enthroned, but in our daily life W
have God dethroned. In our heart {
ne hearts we do not have confidence in Hin
Is. but act as though there were no God.
Nv we could climb to that high spiritual leve
~ so far above our heads and we'll nigh o,
3 of sight, on which Christ lived, we shout
cd be healthier in body, more vigorous
llt soul to meet the inevitable. more cheefu
of happier, less restless and immeasurabl
nobler.
1t is profitable for you to so far antic
no pate the effect of a given cause that yo
prepare to meet it, but when you ha,
NC done all that can be done it is exceeding
ng improbable to so weaken yourself
he worry that the coming sorrow is double
its in weight. AS much as lies in your pow
ast Grand it is quality of character whie
,er admits of great development-live in t.
day. Cultivate aquiet and peaceful fran
of mind. He did it, and was undisturbe
Tor by threatening circumstance, and ye
las may follow afar off. What you are doir
for now calls for all your strength, and
~ there is more to follow, then the addition
~, strength will be given. Gods providen
~ is both wide and tender, and the more W
no trust in it the sweeter will be your life, Il