Worry can spreads fast as blight on a rose

Years ago, Karen Bennington bought a beautiful rosebush named “Peace.” She loved the fragrance and the huge, multi-colored blooms. Thick green leaves climbed the stem. She noticed the black spots on a leaf here and there, but she thought just a few wouldn’t matter.

“I was so wrong,” she said. “Those spots soon spread all over the bush, killing the leaves and stems. Rain carried the blight to other roses in the yard and killed them, too. I no longer had the beauty and fragrance I so much enjoyed. Now I buy guaranteed roses,” Karen says. “And when I walk outdoors to enjoy them, I carry rose clippers. If there’s even one spot on one leaf, I cut that leaf off, destroy it, and clean the whole bush.”

What’s true in the world of nature — how fungus or blight can spread so quickly — is also true when it comes to worry.

Like black spots, worry spreads quickly and wipes out the joy and beauty of life by wiping out our peace. Jesus tells us not to worry about life. He used nature in his stories as examples of our Father’s care for us.

He said, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds.”

I’m speaking to someone today. Worry is draining all the joy out of your life.

Listen. God knows what you’re going through, and he had this message today just for you. Don’t worry — God will help you, if you just let Him.

God bless you, and have a great day.

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