Clovis Chappell wrote about an interesting situation that occurred years ago, in the pioneer days of aviation. A pilot was attempting to make a long distance flight when he noticed that there was a rat in the plane with him. It had gotten on the plane unnoticed before he had taken off. The pilot realized that this was potentially a very serious situation. Rats are notorious for gnawing through whatever they can find to chew on. This rat could very well gnaw through a vital cable or an important wire, causing the pilot to lose control of the plane. It was a very dangerous scenario.

The pilot was concerned to the point of being anxious. At first he did not know what to do. It was two hours back to the landing field from which he had taken off and more than two hours to the next landing field ahead.

Then he remembered that the rat was not made for the heights. It was made to live on the ground and under the ground. So the pilot began to climb. He kept going up until he reached a height where the oxygen level was so low that the rat could not survive. When the pilot landed, he found the dead rat and got rid of it.

The Bible warns us against the sin of worry. Worry is a dangerous passenger to carry with us on the journey of life. Worry can damage our health, weaken our ability to minister and limit our witness to others. However, worry cannot exist in the spiritual heights where God dwells. It cannot breathe in the atmosphere where Scripture and prayer give life. Worry dies when we ascend to the heights of the Lord through prayer and His Word.

Jesus says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34).

Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.”

Don’t allow worry and anxiety to become a dangerous and unwanted stowaway on your journey with the Lord! Follow the teachings of Scripture and turn every trouble over to the Lord in prayer.