We all worry. We worry about many things...
We worry about clothes, finances, the kids, work, health, etc. The list could just go on and on with so many worries, that I’m just getting anxious by listing a few. So, I’m going to stop listing sources of worry, and I will choose instead to tell you about something I learned, that have helped me face and overcome worry and anxiety. This I learned, through my battle with caner.
First, God doesn’t want you to worry. God wants you to trust in Him. Your part is trust and His part is provision. Take this as God given practical advice.Let me explain…
God’s blessings and his wisdom is found in His Word. His Word is available to everybody. Jesus knew us too well when He said the words below recorded in Matthew 6:25-34, NIV:
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
If I ask you what is the main topic of this passage, just count how many times “do not worry” is there. Now you see that God doesn’t want you to worry. He wants you to trust that He will provide in all the details of your life.
Here is the key…
The priority to fight worry and overcome it is there in verse 33—seek Him first. But it doesn’t stop there:
Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV)—“ 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
In Philippians 4:6-8 there is a great promise—the peace of God which transcends all understanding.
Note that there is an action to be done to receive that promise. Can you see the condition to receive that promise in verse 6?
Based on that verse, the prescription for worry I use—take it from a satisfied customer—is:
To trust God is to replace WORRYwith PRAYER.
Can you really accomplish anything by worrying? One day I asked this question to a group and somebody replied with a firm “Oh yes! A lot of heartburn and stress!” So, as soon as you recognize that worry is daunting you, don’t waste your energy in worrying and divert it into prayer. When you replace worry with PRAYER, you open the door to witness God working and moving in your life. You can rest…you can see!