It is what it is

This summer I'm joining Beth Moore and hundreds of others via her LPM blog doing a new Bible study by Jennifer Rothschild entitled "Me Myself & Lies: a thought-closet makeover." It's based on her book "Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself," and it helps up explore "the things we commonly say to ourselves and teaches us to practice godly and biblical self-talk." Having completed only the first few days, the study has already had a profound impact on me, and through it God has made quite clear what my next memory verse should be:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Week One, Day 4 deals with worry, which Jennifer defines as "fixating or meditating on what if rather than what is." As an exercise participants are presented with a drawing of two closet doors. On the first we're asked to write a list of "what if" temptations to worry. Not much thought required there for me - it takes mere seconds for me to jot down an entire repertoire of worries that can easily occupy my mind. Then on the second door, for each of the "what ifs" we noted, we're asked to write the corresponding "what is" - the truth from God's Word - that can fill our meditation instead. On that door I could only come up with one truth: Jeremiah 29:11. For every worry I can think up, God answers me with the same words:
"I know my plans for you."
"But what if..."
"...I will see that you prosper..."
"But I don't think I can..."
"...I will never harm you..."
"If only I hadn't..."
"Don't worry about that, just think about the possibilities..."
"Lord, I try so hard, but I just keep failing."
"Don't give up. You're future is secure and exciting with me."
"You're right. Thank you, Father. You always know what to say to make me feel better."