“Look at the birds . . your Heavenly Father feeds them.” Matthew 6:26 NIV
“Worry never gives you what you lack; it only gives you more of what you don’t need.”
My thoughts today are about “wasted worry.”
People are worriers. Some people worry that they won’t have enough, worry when they don’t have enough, and even when people do have enough, they still worry about how long they will have enough. Some have done it so long that they do it so very well. As I said, people are worriers, and you and I are among them. Shouldn’t we have learned by now that worry does not change reality even a little bit; worry is a grand waste of your time and energy. “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matthew 6:27 NIV.
Someone described it this way, “Worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere.” Worry does not ever give you what you lack; it only gives you more of what you don’t really need – distraction, darkened countenance, elevated blood pressure, and the like. Solomon discovered this, “Worry weighs a man down.” Proverbs 12:25 NLT.
Jesus said that worry is a sign of lacking faith in God’s care and provision. Worrying is the reaction to an unwanted predicament that leaves you wondering if God is uncaring, or unwilling, or unable. Jesus’ strong advice is, “Do not worry about your life . . or about your body.” Matthew 6:25 NIV. He knows you pretty well, doesn’t he?
Consider Jesus’ practical examples: God’s care and provision for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. The birds do “not plant or harvest, or store away in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them . . see how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin (fabric), yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” Matthew 6:26/28-29 NIV.
Consider Jesus’ personal conclusion: God cares more about you and your needs than all else that He made. “So do not worry . . your Heavenly Father knows that you need these things. But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow.” Matthew 6:31-34 NIV.
So how do you accomplish this? How do you stop worrying? “Give all your worries and care to God, for He cares about what happens to you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NLT. The Bible teaches, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than (you) can understand. His peace will guard your heart and mind as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 NLT.
My prayer for you today is that you know what to do with worry when it first appears.