The Irony of Worry

A Reflection on the Second Reading for December 6th, 2020:
Second Sunday of Advent

---

2 Peter
3.8-14

Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace.

Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

Patient. Peaceful. I have often been described by others using those words and until not too many years ago, I would chuckle when someone would comment on how I seemed so patient and peaceful. If only they could have seen the inner me! I was so far from patient and peaceful. I wanted peace and patience, and I wanted it NOW! While I waited for patience to be granted to me, I fretted and worried about everything and everyone around me.  I had mastered the art of looking peaceful on the outside, but inside was a whole other story. I was professing to be reliant on the Lord, but in truth, I was taking everything that I had handed over to His care back into my own hands and worrying about it. I would decide that the Lord’s timeline wasn’t good enough for me, stick my fingers into His plan and try forcing my will to be done.

The irony of this is that while I’m scheduling time to worry, fret, and manipulate, the Lord is gazing lovingly on this daughter of His, and exercising ultimate patience with me. While my faith in His plan may waver, His faith in me never does. He allows me to meander in and out of His plan, experiencing the occasional consequence, and when I’m finally exhausted from trying to control the world, there He is... arms open wide... wise counsel ready… perfect plan ready for action. The world unfolds as it should, in His time, and my heart is at peace.  

With the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. Ironically, those times in my life when I have been worrying about something and trying to control the outcome, one day does feel like a thousand years. Yet on the days that I lean into His love for me and those around me, allowing His plan to unfold, time doesn’t have the same heaviness. I can rest in His promise and know that He is at work every moment of my earthly days. I just have to watch for His hand in my life. Those are the days that I am truly filled with patience and peace.

As we enter this time of waiting during the Advent season, let us lay down the burden of worry and control, and pick up the gifts of patience and peace instead. May the Lord find us waiting peacefully, serenely, and filled with true joy.   




Sandy Graves
​

---