Don't Worry Baby...

In the summer of 1964, legendary rock/pop,California surf boy icons the Beach Boys released a song titled, "Don't Worry Baby." Through my life, I have heard this song countless times- more notably as the ending ballad to Drew Barrymore's Never Been Kissed, a fairy tale, feel good movie if there ever was one. This past spring, while studying for the Cell Bio final from the underworld, this very same song popped up on my Pandora stream and was instantly in love.I don't know if it was because I was laying outside, trying to sun kiss my inherited fair Viking, British skin and it reminded me of summer time or it reminded me of my youth, but I was soon hooked on the songs three verses and catchy chorus.

The other day, while jamming out in my car to this very tune- it hit me. I love this song most of all for what it's trying to say in the three verses and catchy chorus. Here I was, listening shallowly to the ridculously good harmony (those boys had their act together-literally) that I missed the point of the song- don't worry baby. Whether this point was intended or not, the lyrics were and are very substantial. Don't believe me? Read the lyrics of the chorus for yourself.

But she looks in my eyes
And makes me realize
And she says don't worry baby
Don't worry baby
Don't worry baby
Everything will turn out alright



"Don't worry baby." The Beach Boys decided to repeat this phrase 18 times in this song, sometimes followed with the words of comfort- "everything will turn out alright". And I realized what drew me to this song. It wasn't the catchy tune or melodious harmony- it was the simple message to ease my anxiety.




Who all of us here suffer from some sort of anxiety? My hand shot straight up, how about yours? Every day we are faced with something that worries us, whether is be grades, relationships, the state of the country, your mortgage, your job or even the cliffhanger from you favorite T.V. show. Many sleepless nights had occured over the simple fact that we can't get whatever worries us out of our heads.

In the past I have had many sleepless nights like this, most a result from school. "Did we have homework?" "What if I did the wrong assignment?" "I accidentally saw someone else's paper- does that mean that I cheated?" I can remember all of those little meaningless questions keeping me up for hours into the night. Luckily though, I have an understanding mother who would calm my active conscience and assure me that "everything will turn out alright."

Now, that I'm an adult, my worries have changed to- "I hope I get into the grad school I want" and "What if I never get married?" followed closely by "What if I never have kids?"

My worries may seem like trivial things to you- but they are big thing to me and have, sadly enough, brought me to tears on more than one occasion. But, that's when I need to remember the comforting words of the Beach Boys- don't worry baby, everything will turn out alright.

Still not comforted? How about these words from Matthew 6:34?

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Or Luke 12:22

"Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on"



Now, don't go around telling everyone that I have said that all we have to do is lay back and everything God will handle everything. He still expects us to do what it needed to ease these worries. If I want to get into a certain Grad school- then I have to study hard and take the GRE. Divine intervention won't get me into school- I have to make an effort.

Or, if I guy that I'm interested in rejects me- which, despite my good looks and charming personality, happens (That's sarcasm for those of you who didn't pick up on that)- it doesn't mean that I am a witless and dull, ogre-like looking woman. It just means that he's not he right one or it's not the right time and props to me for even taking the initiative and putting myself out there-something I'm often to scared to do.




What I am really trying to say is, if you do everything you are suppose to do, don't worry about things you have no control over. As long as you have done everything you need to succeed, whether it be in school or relationships or life in general, don't worry about the outcome. Just place your trust in God's hands. And don't worry if they don't work out in a way that you want them to. Paul wrote in Rom. 8:28 " And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" There is a reason why things work out the way that they do- and we are definitely not wise enough to understand God's purpose in every single decision. But, how many times have you looked back on a past even in you life that maybe didn't work out the way you wanted and saw God's blessings in it? In the meme world, we would say "I see what you did there".




I'm really preaching to myself in this but hopefully someone else will take some comfort out of it.



So, the next time you are worried, whether it be tomorrow or a year from now, just remember- don't worry baby, everything will turn out all right.




Lots of love,

Catherine