Worry?

 
“Do not worry… ” Matthew 6:31 

These words were spoken by Jesus Christ Himself, and were addressed very particularly to His disciples.  It seems that as Christians, we need to be continually reminded of this admonition, “Do not worry.”  We know it and yet continue to worry over just about everything.
 
When the prophet Isaiah became fearful of the people because of the message God gave him to deliver, God said to him, “The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread” (Isaiah 8:13).  In this way, God did not take away Isaiah’s fear as such, but replaced it with a greater fear, fear of God.  Thus, Isaiah became courageous in front of people, because he was more fearful of God than He was of the people.  Similarly, worry, which is closely related to fear, is not so much taken away, as it is overcome with the contemplation of greater truths and realities.
 
For instance, when you find yourself worrying, think on the absolute sovereignty of God over all things, including the most minute details of your life.  David wrote, “In Your book they are all written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them” (Psalm 139:16).  God has already ordained every single event of your life, and then providentially orchestrates circumstances to bring these events to pass.
 
But in your contemplation of God’s sovereignty, add to it the truth that God is good, and has His children’s best interests at heart.  David wrote in the same Psalm, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God” (verse 17).  And generations of Christians have found comfort in the Apostle Paul’s words, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
 
Jesus Himself tells us to, “look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”  He then asked, “Are you not of more value than they?”  In this way, Jesus moves us in our contemplation from the lesser to the greater, essentially saying that if our heavenly Father provides all the needs of the birds, then He will surely provide what you need, who are of much greater worth to Him.
 
And God has proven that we are of value to Him by the sending of His Son to rescue us from the consequences of sin, and to bring us into His kingdom.  The Apostle wrote again in Romans; “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not freely give us all things?” (8:32).  If you are trusting in Jesus Christ as you Savior, as the One who lived a life of obedience on your behalf, and has suffered for your sin, then God has already provided for your greatest need, the need to be reconciled to Him.  Therefore, when worry comes over you, consider that you are God’s precious blood-bought possession.
 
Be sure to also include in your thoughts the fleeting nature of this life.  James asked, “For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).  Your walk on this earth will soon be over.  Therefore, “set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:2-4).  Work to get an eternal perspective on life, and then consider that, “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17).  How little by comparison are the cares of this life in the light of eternity.
 
Finally, consider that worry is really and fundamentally a manifestation of unbelief.  It brings God’s sovereignty, His goodness, His wisdom, His power, and His acts of love towards you into question.  It only leads to complaining and murmuring, which is to insult God.
 
You who are in Christ, remember, God loves you.  Indeed, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).  And as our heavenly Father, “He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:6), and “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
 
Therefore, “Do not worry!”