Yesterday upon the stair,

     I met a man who wasn’t there,

     He wasn’t there again today,

     Oh how I wish he’d go away. 

I remember my grandfather reciting this poem a long time ago when I was just a little boy.  I used to think it was clever but I never realized the depth of truth found in this little rhyme.  So many times it seems like we are worried about something that is not there, just like this individual in the poem.  We spend time tossing and turning worrying about what may happen next and what we may encounter in the days to come.  Many times we are worrying about nothing.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:27

“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”  Matt 6:27

Many times we imagine the worst and it never happens.  We may ultimately be relieved but when we look back we see that we have been in a state of anxiety and worry for several days –  and all of it was unnecessary.  Worry gets us nowhere.  It does not grow our faith and does not present a good witness in this world.  In that same chapter in Matthew, Jesus promises that our Heavenly Father knows our needs and can always be trusted to meet our needs.  As I think about that poem that my grandfather used to recite, I would like to offer a different version.

     Yesterday I was in despair,

     Then I met someone Who always cares,

     Jesus meets my needs every day,

     I’m so glad He came my way. 

If you would like to know more about a relationship with Jesus Christ, please feel free to email me directly at pastorpstephens@aol.com