I remember being a freshman in college at Bowling Green State University. At that current point in my life, I was suffering from extreme depression and anxiety. I was constantly stressed out and overwhelmed. I could hardly sleep or keep food down. I was worried about every detail of my life.
One weekend, my parents came to visit me. I told them about my current situation and the anxiety and depression that I was dealing with. In the midst of their visit, my dad excused himself. Soon after, he returned to my dorm room holding two rocks. One rock was bigger than the other. He sat me down and offered this piece of advice: “Big rock, little rock.”
Sitting there confused, I asked for further clarification. He said, “In life, you have to put the most important thing first. Focus on the ‘big rock’ and do not worry about the ‘little rock.’ As long as you are worrying about ALL of the rocks in your life, then you will be in a perpetual state of worry, stress, and anxiety. Focus your time and energy on the big rock. When the task of the big rock is accomplished, then the little rocks won’t be as worrisome to you.”
That five-minute pep talk has stayed with me ever since I was a freshman. The saying “big rock, little rock” has been my motto for this entire year.
There are a thousand and one things to be worried about during the course of the World Race: where am I going to sleep? What am I going to eat? Is this water safe to drink? What am I doing tomorrow? What is our ministry? How am I going to get to the next country? Is the area safe? Is my stuff going to get stolen? Do I have enough money? Am I going to stay healthy?
There have been two sets of verses that have helped to relieve my worries. The first is Matthew 6:25-34. Jesus states in verse 27, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” He elaborates further and uses the lilies of the field and the birds of the air as an example of true faith. The birds do not store food away and the lilies do not labor or spin. They trust. They live simply. The amazing part is that if the Lord provides for the lilies of the field and the birds of the air, then how much MORE will He provide for us! Our first and foremost responsibility is, “to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and ALL these things will be given to you as well” (v.33).
It is easy to say, “But I must live. I must make a certain amount of money. I must be clothed. I must be fed.” The Lord Jesus Christ changes how we view things. We must get in the right relationship with God first. Maintaining our relationship with God should be the primary concern of our lives. Everything else is secondary! There is only one way to grow spiritually and that is through focusing and concentrating on God. If we pay attention and stay connected to the Source then out of us “will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).
When we begin to worry, it takes our eyes off of Christ. It is not only wrong to worry; it is disbelief. Worrying means that we do not believe that God can look after the details of our lives. It is the details that worry us!
Notice what Jesus said in Matthew 13:22: “The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.” It is not the devil that chokes the Word, but the cares of this world.
The second set of verses that have helped relieve my worry is John 15: 4-5: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
I have had to walk out these verses so much this past year. When I finally realized that I could not do anything apart from the vine, it was the most freeing moment of my life. The Lord is our Source. We have to stay connected to the Source. We have to remain in the vine! Apart from Him we have no good.
Our Father knows our circumstances and if we will stay focused on Him instead of our circumstances, then we will grow spiritually. We do not need to worry about our life. We need to seek our Father’s face.
When you maintain the proper relationship with God by staying focused and concentrated on Him, then He will make use of every minute you live!
Never allow the “cares of this world” to separate you from remembering that God loves you!
I do not have the perfect relationship with the Lord… not even close. One thing I have learned is that growing in my relationship and oneness with the Lord HAS to be the most important thing in my life. He is first. Everything else is second.
With much love,
Spencer James Belkot
