Stop it!

II Kings 17:14

But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the Lord their God.  NIV

Sometimes (read, “often”) worries are of our own making.

I looked up “stiff-necked” in my NIV concordance.  It’s two Hebrew words.  The first is translated hard, harsh, cruel, stubborn and difficult … but it can also mean, interestingly, “distressed.”  The second, not surprisingly, means, “neck,” and there’s a note there that says, “to be stiff of neck means to be obstinate, stubborn, implying rebellion.”

They would not listen … they were stubborn … they also were, no doubt, distressed.

God tells us over and over again not to worry.  He tells us the right things to be focused on … trusting Him, serving Him, fellowshipping with others.  And yet, sometimes, worry still calls me … much like the sins discussed in this chapter of II Kings must have called the Israelites.

Months ago, one of my dearest friends sent me a link to a video on YouTube.

The clip, titled simply “Stop It,”  features Bob Newhart, one of my very favorite comedians.  He’s playing a familiar role as a psychologist, and he’s counseling a young woman.  It is a perfect illustration of today’s reminder.

Just LISTEN to what God is telling you.  TRUST Him.  Stop doing whatever else it is that is getting in the way of those two things, just stop it!

That’s what I’ll think about today.