“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34, KNJV)
Do you know someone who is a worrier? Or perhaps you are one yourself. It’s easy to worry about the “what-ifs” in any situation. But becoming anxious over what tomorrow might bring only keeps us from enjoying the present. Someone once said, “Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles. It empties today of its strength” (Author unknown).
Luke 12:25 lets us know that worry accomplishes nothing, at least nothing positive.
“And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (NKJV).
What worry will do is steal our joy, rob us of peace, and diminish our trust in the Lord.
WORRY HAS A PARTNER
Worry has a friend that usually tags along. Its name is fear. We begin to imagine various “what ifs” and our mind fills with these dire possibilities. But there are two things we need to understand about fear.
- Fear never comes from God. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7, NKJV).
- God’s love drives away fear. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (I John 4:18, NKJV).
There’s another partner that often shows up with worry and fear. The King James Version of Proverbs 12:25 calls it a “heaviness in the heart” and it makes us “stoop” or bend over. Other versions of the Bible translate this heaviness as anxiety, which may then lead to depression.
“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.” (NKJV)
PANIC OR PRAY
Financial difficulties, relationship problems, health issues, or other major life changes may all trigger worry. This may cause feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anger, or even fatigue. Do we panic — or do we pray? Philippians 4:6-7 gives us an important key to overcoming worry.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (NKJV)
These verses tell us that the way to overcome our worries is to go to God in prayer and petition His help. We are to lay our needs before Him with a spirit of gratitude, not worry. He is the one Who can provide us with a peace that will guard our heart and our mind. The more we pray, the more we trust God, the less we will worry. I have observed this in real situations, and I know it is true.
Worship Not Worry
A few years ago, I watched a mom with several young children go through a very rough patch in her marriage. It looked hopeless. Did she have a reason to worry and feel afraid? Most would agree that she did. But that is not the path she chose to take. She chose to worship her way through the situation, and she taught her children to worship. Did it get better overnight? No. But over time God worked everything out in a beautiful way, and the family is stronger than ever.
Trust God and allow Him to handle your tomorrows. He does a much better job than we do struggling and worrying on our own.
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:6-7, NKJV)
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES TO ENCOURAGE YOU
Psalm 34:4
Isaiah 40:31
Isaiah 41:10
Romans 15:13
Hebrews 13:15
I John 5:15
Devotion by Mary Loudermilk
