Last Friday, in “Fit for Human Habitation? No Way!” I told the story of how I never—ever—would have chosen to live in Edmonton, Alberta. Yet, here I am, living right in Edmonton proper.

What was the basis for my determination to live anywhere but Edmonton?

Simply this: I don’t tolerate cold!

I never have, actually. Even when I lived in a much younger body and had all of my mental faculties, I was always the one wearing the heaviest coats. In fact, everyone else would be running around in shorts and tank tops, and I’d still have my jacket.

The best two years of my life were those we spent living on the desert in Tucson, Arizona, and perhaps the worst two, the years we spent in Timmins, Ontario—way up north!

It didn’t help that we moved directly from Tucson to Timmins. It was the end of June, and we had sent any warm clothing we owned on a moving truck that wouldn’t arrive for a week or so after we did. We weren’t worried about this, however. We had our summer things, and it was, after all, summer! Little did we realize it would be only 3°C (37°F) in Timmins when we arrived! Definitely not the right weather for shorts and sandals! I suppose, however, we should have gotten worried when everyone else in Timmins was running around in shorts and sandals!

I spent the two years we lived in Timmins bundled up in every warm piece of clothing I could find. As a teacher, I was required to go outside for yard duty. You should have seen me. I wore thermal underwear under my pants and ski pants over the top. I had on at least two sweaters under my parka, and multiple socks under the snow boots that might have also made good moon-walkers! I had two scarfs, one under my coat and one outside; I had a stocking cap under my parka hood; I wore a face mask and ski goggles … I became known as the walking snowman!

We only lasted two years in Timmins before moving to the most southerly place we could live and still be in Canada. Even there the winters were brutally cold; but fortunately for us, the mercury rarely dropped below -20°C (-4°F). Nothing like the -40° (C and F) we had suffered in Timmins.

Is it any wonder I didn’t want to move to Edmonton!?

At the time this was written, I’ve lived in Edmonton for six months, from February to August. Was the weather as bad as I had anticipated? Well, they tell me it was -40° the day I moved in, and since it was mid-February, I am assuming there was more of the same temperatures for a few more weeks. But to be perfectly honest, I didn’t really even notice! I was nice and warm in my new home, with absolutely no reason whatsoever to go out. In fact, I never left the floor where I live until the temperatures rose to 20°C (70°F), and then, every time I went out, it was nice and warm!

So why did I waste so much time worrying about the climate in Edmonton?

My older son recently said something powerful. He said that when we worry about something that never happens, we worry for nothing; and when we worry about something that does end up happening, then we worry twice instead of once: once when we don’t yet know it will happen, and once when it actually happens! In other words, three-quarters of the time when we worry, it is nothing but wasted time and energy! Meanwhile, with our thoughts so taken up with worry for what might never happen, we can’t enjoy the blessings of today!

Is this why Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34 NIV)? Is this why the Apostle Paul tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6 NIV)?

Do you want to hear something funny? Paul goes on in verse 7 to say, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) When we take our worries to God with thanksgiving, He gives us peace!

So what are you worried about today? Remember, worry is wasted energy that robs you of God’s blessings for today. Instead, take those same worries to God with thanksgiving, and then sit back and enjoy His peace!

Inspired by Rob Chaffart
Founder, Answers2Prayer Ministries