My dad has dementia. He started to wander and get violent in mid-November 2019. There were two trips to the emergency room in three days, admission to the hospital for twelve days, and then admission into a nursing home.

During this time, I asked myself many questions that went something like, "What am I going to do about this?" and "What am I going to do about that?" It was always about me and what I needed to do to fix the situation. My stomach was upset non-stop, and the worry consumed me!

Then, I remembered a song based on 1 Peter 5:7 about casting my cares upon Jesus, and I recalled a sermon that I had heard entitled “Do Not Worry”, based on Matthew 6:25-34. I could hear the preacher saying over and over, "Do not worry!"

Then the Lord led me to this passage:

Philippians 4:1b,4,6-7 – Stand fast in the Lord, beloved. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (NKJV)

Then God led me to these beautiful words from Isaiah that reached deep into my heart and pulled me out of my worry:

Isaiah 55:8-9 – "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (NKJV)

All those I questions that I had been asking were crazy, because I should have been using You instead. I started re-asking all those questions, only replacing I with You. "What are You going to do, Lord? How are You going to work out this and that?"

When I let go of my pride and really started to trust God, He was able to work! Hallelujah! I mean, really, do I honestly believe that I can do a better job with this situation than God Almighty can? Of course, I cannot — and neither can any of us!

Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (NKJV)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word. We pray that You would help us to lean fully on You, trusting You and recognizing that You are in control. Thank You that You do know what You are doing. Help us to admit our sin of pride when we try to handle things on our own. Enable us to yield our hearts to You, and give us the peace that passes all understanding as we rely on You today. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen!