Do Not Fret

I dislike anything that has to do with dealing with car issues, financially and/or mechanically. These problems always seem to have a way of sneaking up and becoming bigger than originally expected. So I was pretty proud of myself that I thought I was slightly ahead of things when renewing my car tabs. Renewing my tabs means that every other year I must go and get an emissions test which I always seem to fail. So it wasn’t a surprise that yet again my car failed and I would need to find a trustworthy emissions certified mechanic to pay $150 to get a waiver to get my tabs. I would need to take part of a day off from work to drive to the mechanic and wait. My brakes needed new pads as well, but one thing at a time I kept telling myself.

After getting my car looked at and having them tell me all the things I needed fixed (upwards of $3000) I got my waiver and went on my way. Next stop emissions again and it’s only 2:30 so I will have enough time to get my tabs after that. Then all of a sudden I hear a sound & my brakes fail!! I press my brakes down as far as possible and veer off into a parking lot. Thank God I didn’t hit someone! I stop and catch my breath. I begin to pray and calm down repeating to myself not to panic, breathe. Next I hear loud as day, “Do not fret,” ok God I hear you. Over and over again, “Do not fret.” So now what do I do? Can I drive? Do I call someone? Who do I call? Again I hear, “Do not fret.”

Fret: To be constantly or visibly worried or anxious. Gradually wear away (something) by rubbing or gnawing. A state of anxiety or worry.

Some of you may be reading this thinking, “Everyone has issues and you’re complaining about a car?” Let me explain a bit further about why this hit me like it did. As a single mom I'm the only one. I don’t have a husband and I don’t have a boyfriend. The father of my child lives in another state and is rarely apart of our lives. My father lives somewhere else and there are many issues between us from my childhood. Most of my family is back home in Hawaii. I get in a panic, in self-reliance mode because I've been doing it by myself for so long (most of my life in fact) that scouring for every solution is second nature because if I don't do it who will? And no one likes a single mom who needs something; I mean they put themselves in that situation right? This is not to gain sympathy it is just simply facts about my life. It is a situation that many may not understand as they do not live it and others in similar situations will get. I am certainly not discounting the hardships in others’ lives or saying that being married is easier, because I don’t know that. What I have known all my life is it is up to me and I have no help. God has been teaching and molding me in the last couple years that HE is my rock, my fortress, my helper, my provider, my anchor, my husband, my heavenly father as well as my daughters. I do not have to fret if I trust him that he will provide at all times.

So I started my car up and tested the brakes to see if I could make it to pick up my daughter and make it home safely. I was able to make it home. I got out my Bible and continued to pray, “God, I don’t want to fret or panic please help me and give me peace.” I opened my Bible. I have been reading the Psalms recently and the night before I was reading Psalm 33-34 so I starting reading after that. First thing I saw was where I had written a couple years ago above Psalm 37, “Do not fret x3.” I laughed and began reading all the underlined verses regarding “do not fret.” You know those moments when you look up and think God you really hear me and you really where speaking to me?! Those moments thrill me beyond measure. Those moments are so intimate. I laid down for a few minutes in complete peace thanking and praising Him. I turned my fret into thankfulness (“a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”- Isaiah 61:3). God, thank you for blessing me with a car in the first place because many do not even have one. Thank you for providing me a little bit of money from my tax return to be able to use towards what needs to be fixed. Thank you for keeping us from harm so that we could make it home safely.

Many times when we fret and panic we make quick and usually unwise decisions. Instead, we need to pray and think things out prudently. We need to examine all the options and solutions. We need to allow God to lead us even if it is uncomfortable to wait on the best answer. We determine how we wait and how we react to situations. We must remember that God has a solution for EVERY problem and often times it is not something we expected, God is not usually conventional.

Do not fret means:

Do not lose sleep over it.

Do not allow it to control you, your emotions or your thoughts.

Do not allow it to create panic leading to an unwise decision or quick fix.

Do not allow it to steal your peace.

My prayer for you this week is that no matter what situations may arise that you do not fret, but allow God to meet you where you are. Allow God to be your provider and protector, you couldn’t be in better hands. As always, every one of you is important to the kingdom, so put your crowns back on, throw your shoulders back and act accordingly to what God says about you!

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Author: Leilani Glassmyer

Leilani is a single mom to a beautiful 4 year old little girl. She is in love with the Creator of the stars. Her mission is simple yet so big, to encourage and bring Jesus to all in need. To bring hope by loving people, writing, photography, music, poetry/spoken word and meeting people right where they are. Gods Grace is her air.