Hey all, let's get real -- we all worry. Now, some of us worry more than others, however, whether we worry a little or a lot, we let the Devil take a foothold in our lives. It's not easy to fight our emotions especially when going through a traumatic or hard life event. But scripture tells us Jesus' s response to worry and anxiety:
And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
Luke 12:22-32
I love this passage. It's like a warm, fuzzy, slap in the face. I think we often read or hear this passage, feel convicted, but brush it off saying, "Easier said than done, Jesus. It's too hard to put all my faith and trust in You. If I didn't worry I, then who's going to look out for all those things I worry about?!"
I think we often feel like if we don't do things ourselves they'll never get done. But Jesus didn't say, "Well, do the best you can to not worry, but if the job's not getting done and no one is taking care of you, then that might be a good sign you should try to make it on your own again, worrying all the way."
No. Jesus said do not worry about your life! He said not to worry about food or clothes -- for life is more important than food and the body more than clothes. He said to look at the ravens, he feeds them even though they themselves have nothing to eat! He said to look at the lilies of the field, he clothes them with more beauty and splendor than Solomon, even though they have nothing to clothe themselves with! Jesus said that God knows we need these things. He knows we desire to have food and clothing and many other needs in our life. But the best part is this: "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom."
God is not asking us to try and stop worrying, He is commanding us to stop. There is no room in "do not worry about your life" for our instinctual human nature to insert "try to not worry about your life." I don't know about you, but reading this passage made me realize I haven't even been trying.
Jesus even said "And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?"
Jesus knows it's bad physically and spiritually to worry. We take on too much sometimes; we try to multi-task too much to where we can't help but stress and become anxious. Don't let yourself get to that point.
Let's make it a priority this weekend and upcoming week to not worry or stress about anything. Now that seems like a really big deal and task -- but God commands it. The only way we can do it is through prayer and communion with God. He is our priority -- no one and nothing else.
