For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well.     Psalm 139:14-15 HCSB

I have a loved one who is a Christian but has always been a worrier. It is hard to believe that a prayer warrior could also be a worrier. It’s actually an oxymoron. The two can’t exist together. But when this person would be confronted about their worrying their response would be, “I can’t help it, God made me this way.”

No, he didn’t. I can’t find any Scripture in the Bible that said that God created us to worry and fret. God created us to be in fellowship with Him. How can we do that if we are fearful and worried all the time? For that matter, how can we be in fellowship with anyone if we are living that way?

Genesis 1:27 tells us that God created man in His own image. Do you think He’s sitting on the throne wringing His hands? I don’t think so. Do you think He’s cowering in a corner wondering what to do about this wicked world? Nope, He knew this was coming. He has a plan to bring us up and out of here when He decides the time is right.

If we weren’t made to sin, then why do we do it? Well, James explains it in James 1:14-15 by saying each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. God didn’t create us to be sinners. God didn’t create us to go to hell. Our former pastor used to say if we go to hell, we go as trespassers. We were created to be in fellowship with God. We were created to be strong and courageous. Throughout the Bible we are told not to be afraid but to be strong and courageous. We are told to bring all our worries to God and give them over to Him. In Philippians 4:6-7 we are told to bring it all to God and that God will give us peace which surpasses all understanding. Verse 8 tells us not to even think about things that are negative, but to focus on what is positive and uplifting. For those of you who didn’t get that, that’s God. God is just, pure, lovely, commendable, has moral excellence and is worthy of our praise. So, if we focus on Him, we are focusing on all those kinds of things. We won’t have the time or energy to focus on the negative.

The media (be it news or social) wants to emphasize all that is wrong with the world and believe me there is plenty for them to harp on. But when we focus on these things, we become discouraged. In Joshua 1:6-9 they (the Israelites) are commanded three times to be strong and courageous. In verse 9 it says do not be afraid or discouraged for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

We all go through some hard times. Even Jesus was tempted. But Jesus was surrendered to the Father, He resisted the devil and the devil left Him alone. Peter advised us to do the same in 1 Peter 5:8. Jesus used God’s word to send the devil packing. We can do the same.

Saying, “God made me that way,” when we sin is a lie. It’s a cop out. We are told in 2 Timothy 1:7 that God has not given us a spirit of fear but one of power, love, and sound judgment. God never made us to cower in fear. He never made us to be wrecked with anxiety and stress. Don’t blame God if you choose to focus on the negative. That’s not His doing.

We have a choice to make each and every day. We can do things God’s way and be successful or we can do it the devil’s way and fail. God doesn’t promise us that it will be a smooth path, but He promises to walk with us every step of the way.

I wasted too many years of my life worrying and fretting over things which I had no control. I decided almost 12 years ago to give it all over to God, the good, the bad and the ugly. I quit asking Him to change others and asked Him to change me. It has been the best decision of my life. I challenge you to do the same.

Have a great day!