On the afternoon of December 14, 1996, the bulk cargo ship Bright Field lost power and collided with the Riverwalk Marketplace in New Orleans. The vessel was fully loaded with grain, making it a heavy object with a significant impact force. With no engine power, the ship rode the currents and bore down on the crowded mall. Those dining in the elevated food court looked up from their red beans and rice and shrimp poboys to see the massive bow of a ship looming over them with its sirens blaring. The physical damage to the Riverwalk, including the pier, condominiums, shops, and hotel, totaled an estimated $15 million. Sixty-six people were injured, but there was no loss of life.
Several years later, I met a police detective who was on duty that day. “My chief called and told me to get to the Riverwalk right away,” he said, “because there were dozens of dead bodies floating down the river. When I arrived, what I actually saw were multiple mannequins in the water that had fallen from the shopping center.” He smiled and said, “I had never been so relieved in all of my life.”
Fortunately, nothing like this has ever happened to me, but there have been many times when I was relieved to discover that what I believed to be true actually had no basis in reality. Once, I was convinced I was going to get stuck in an elevator when I had to go to the bathroom. Another time, I couldn’t remember a person’s name when I was praying for them. I made it through the prayer, but I was so worried they would realize I couldn’t remember their name and not just get mad at me but reject the Lord as well.
People everywhere worry about the strangest things: running out of phone battery, looking awkward on a Zoom call, falling in public, forgetting where we parked, and not getting enough likes on social media. Why do we do this? Could it be that we have come to accept worry as a normal part of life? Even people in the Bible acted on their worries. Moses was worried about his ability to speak in public. After watching God defeat the prophets of Baal, Elijah was afraid that Jezebel was going to kill him. Jonah ran from God because he was worried that the Ninevites would repent. Even Mary, the mother of Jesus, was initially worried about how the virgin birth would impact her relationship with her family and with Joseph. Worry is a common human experience, even for those who have great faith.
But the Lord doesn’t want us to wallow in worry. The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 4:6-7, wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Worry is so common amongst all people that it’s easy to forget that instead of worrying, we should be praying and seeking the Lord. But when we do, God’s peace, which truly is bigger than anything we can conceive, will protect our feelings and our thoughts as we trust in Christ Jesus.
* Image courtesy of Marco Bianchetti
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