Do you ever worry? We all do, but we ought not. Worry is not just a weakness; it’s a wickedness.
Three times in the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord says “Do not worry.” To each worrier He says,
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25)
“Do not worry” doesn’t mean don’t plan ahead. The Bible praises the ant that stores up for the winter. It’s not foresight but foreboding that’s forbidden. Don’t reach into tomorrow and borrow trouble. Worry is the interest paid on borrowed trouble. Don’t pull tomorrow’s clouds over today’s sunshine.
To win the war with worry, we must…
No matter our life stage, we can find something to worry about. The ignorant worry because they don’t know enough; the smart because they know too much. The rich fear losing what they have; the poor fear not having enough. The old worry because they’re facing death; the young because they’re facing life.
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26).
Jesus reasons, “If God takes care of the birds, isn’t He going to take care of you? What farmer would feed his barnyard chickens, then starve his beloved children?” “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow...” (Matthew 6:34). Most of us worry about food, clothing, shelter—will we have enough?
Worry is absolutely useless. It never dried a tear, lifted a burden, or solved a problem. Worse yet, it’s harmful. Like sand in machinery, worry won’t lengthen your life, but it may shorten it. You can worry yourself to death but not into a longer life.
“For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:32). Someone loves you so incredibly that He gave His dear Son. He knows all about you. “Not a sparrow falls…” but that God is there. Even the hairs of your head are numbered. Your Father in heaven knows, cares, and loves.
Redirect your focus to what really matters. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). God says, “You take care of My business, and I’ll take care of yours.”
Because God loves you, He arranges some problems for you. We wouldn’t come to God, trust Him, or lean on Him if we didn’t have problems. Trouble reminds us that we must come to God.
All sunshine makes a desert, so our Lord allows some trouble. But with sufficient trouble, God gives us sufficient grace for today. The God Who designed you knows how much you can bear. “But He gives more grace...” (James 4:6).
God will not give you a burden you cannot bear if you’ll use the strength He gives. Don’t let worry bury blessings or steal strength. Live today. “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24).
