For most people worry is something that comes naturally. We worry about deadlines, how to pay the bills, what other people think about us, our job security, our marriage, our children and their future. Sometimes we worry about little things and sometimes we worry about big things, but the point is we all tend to worry. A good definition of worry is negative focused thinking. When we worry we are thinking in a negative way. We go into the worse case scenario and often begin to spiral downward in our thinking. The result of negative focused thinking is that our emotional and physical state is impacted in a negative way as well.
Jesus actually cautioned us against worrying about anything – even the food we eat or the clothes we wear. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus gives us six reasons for trusting in God rather than worrying.
- God Created Us – The same God who gives us the gift of life and created us as a unique human being will certainly supply the lesser things in life like food and clothing.
- God Cares For Us – If God cares for the birds and provides for their needs, why wouldn’t He care for and meet our needs as well. God loves us more than we love our own children or grandchildren. He loves us more than we love our parents or siblings. He loves us more than we love our spouse or boyfriend or girlfriend. Because of that deep love for us He cares about every detail of our lives.
- Worry Doesn’t Change Anything – Worry expends energy pointlessly. It doesn’t change the reality of the situation one bit. Worry tends to make the situation worse because it robs us of our peace. It causes us to lose sleep and brings up negative damaging emotions like fear, bitterness, anxiety and depression.
- Worry Ignores God’s Faithfulness in Our Lives – God faithfully provides for all the things He has created. He pays attention to even the flowers in a field, why wouldn’t He pay even closer attention to us, His masterpiece. When we worry we quickly forget all the times God has provided in the past. We forget the way He has moved in previous situations and helped us through difficulties before.
- We Are God’s Children – God will never treat us as orphans who need to fend for ourselves. He treats us as His very own children. His desire is to give us good gifts and to bless us. Many times we stray away from Him and walk down the worry path instead of the trust path. When we do that, God patiently waits for us to return to Him. When we see God as a loving ever present Father instead of a distant or absent father, we don’t have to worry.
- When We Worry About Tomorrow We Miss Out On Today – Any problem we face can be handled, with God’s help, one day at a time. When we rely on God for help, He freely gives us what we need. When we rely on ourselves and our own strength we will fall short. When we worry we miss the blessings that God has for us today. We miss the things that are right in front of us and we don’t see clearly. When we worry, we tend to make decisions that often make things worse.
The next time that worry starts to creep into your life or you feel the pressure of life, pray for the grace you need to depend on God. He is faithful and trustworthy and will provide what is needed to endure and overcome whatever comes your way. Psalm 118:6, 8-9 says “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?… It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”
This is only possible if you have a personal relationship with God. It is your decision whether you have that relationship or not. In order to be a child of God you need to accept the free gift God gives to you through His son Jesus Christ. By asking Jesus to forgive your sins and be the leader of your life you instantly become a child of God and can have the close personal relationship I described above. Once that decision is made, you begin the journey with God in becoming the person He originally designed you to be. God begins to chip away the rough edges and begins to shape you and mold you, so that you can fulfill the calling He has for your life. He begins to heal the hurts and hang ups from your past that keep you from living life to the fullest.
God wants to carry our burdens for us, but we need to hand them over and not take them back. So take some advice from Jesus and stop worrying.