“Worry Not” | Matthew 6:25-34

Anxiety was my alarm clock this morning. Before the morning dew dried from the blades of grass, my heart was already twisted in knots at the various issues and distractions that were before me. It’s no wonder my mind initially went to Matthew 6:25-34. While the verses can bring a sense of calm, I was still haunted by the reality that the issues weren’t going away by osmosis, and, if I’m honest, some of the issues were a product of my own doing either willingly or ignorantly. Still, I persist in reading the verses to gain a sense of hope where despair would rest otherwise.

The theme of the verses is simple—do not worry. Although the reading of those words is simple, the application is difficult. Why would I not choose to worry? By not worrying it seems that I do not care about the problems that lay before me. It’s almost insensitive for me to be told that I shouldn’t worry seeing that my problems lay before me in plain sight. If I don’t worry about them then who will? Are you saying that I should relinquish full control and trust that God will truly see my way through? That, too, is easier said than done, but isn’t that the objective of faith? Isn’t it the very evidence of what we cannot see? Isn’t it the hope that we know based on the trust we have inherited from our Heavenly Father? If so then why is my faith so small? I’ve seen God do so many miraculous things in my life yet I’m paralyzed when anything new arises. It’s as if I’ve seen and known nothing. I can look back over my life to gain evidence of what my God has done. Still, my heart ravages with fear and wrestles with anxiety.

Here’s where I choose to land when it comes to this central theme: if I keep my eyes on God whenever I’m tempted to worry then I’ll be okay. This means that the greatest form of work is to remain in faith, and that’s hard work! Cheers to working hard today to stay in faith and out of anxiety. My problems are not larger than my God, and He gives me the wisdom to resolve them. I must do the work, which is to remain in faith. Anxiety adds nothing to my life; therefore, I’ll remain in peace. Though the storms may come and the thunder roars overhead, I’ll be thankful for the rain because I need it to water the seeds I’ve planted so they may bloom in the coming season. Selah!

4 comments