Doesn’t it seem so easy to fall into worry? From the economy, to wars, to family issues, there always seems like there is something to worry about. Worry is something that can plague your life, if you let it. The word “worry” actually means – “to torment oneself with cares or anxieties; to suffer from disturbing thoughts.” (dictionary.com) Doesn’t sound too pleasant, does it? As bad as that sounds, how many times do we make excuses or find reasons to worry about something? Well, I would like to share with you that no reason or excuse ever good enough because the Word of God tells us, specifically, DON’T WORRY!
In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus is talking to the people about anxiety and the kingdom of God. In these verses He clearly shows that the two cannot be in the same place at the same time. I would like to focus on just a couple of these verses though. We all know verse 33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (KJV) What a lot of people don’t seem to focus on, though, is that this verse is the answer to worrying about everything that life can throw at us.
We are all faced with the opportunity to worry about, let’s be honest everything. Jesus says in the verses before, twice in fact, DO NOT WORRY about what the world says is important. In verse 27, Jesus even says, “And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life.” (Amplified Version) Just think of that statement, can you add even a minute of time to your life by worrying about it? Actually, studies have shown that worry actually leads to a multitude of problems in our health and dramatically shortens life! When it comes to adding to your stature, I have personal experience with that one. I was the smallest kid in class when I was going through almost all of my schooling. I wanted to grow, so bad, and be as tall as the other kids. I worried about it constantly and guess what, it didn’t help anything. I stayed the smallest kid. I did finally start to grow in high school, but when I was a freshman, I was 4’10” tall. Today as a grown man I am 5’9”… not bad for a child that even his parents didn’t think would grow to be that tall. I maxed out my genetics but, truthfully, I would like to be around 6’-6’1”. Guess what, though…I am not worrying about it anymore, because I know it won’t do anything. No matter how much time I spend worrying or being anxious about how I wish I was taller, I will still stay 5’9”.
Jesus goes on in Matthew 6:34, “So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.” (Amplified Version) Now what on Earth does that mean? Does it mean, don’t worry about tomorrow because you have enough to worry about today and just go ahead and focus on those problems. No it doesn’t mean that at all. In fact, in this verse, this is the third time that Jesus says not to worry. He is simply saying, don’t take on tomorrows worries, because there is enough in tomorrow that will try to make you worry and anxious and when you come to those…don’t worry about those either. Or in other words, don’t focus on the things that you could worry about tomorrow, focus on not worrying about the things you have in front of you today!
I really appreciate how Jesus says not to worry in the King James Version; it is really a profound way of thinking about how we slip into worry. All three times Jesus tells us not to worry in Matthew 6:25, 31 and 34 He puts it this way, “take no thought.” To enter into worry you have to take a thought and then dwell on that thought. You then might ask, how do I “take” a thought. In verse 31 we are told how we “take” thoughts. It says, “Therefore, take no thought, SAYING, what shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” We take or possess thoughts by the words that come out of our mouths. This is an important truth that we need to realize. The words that we speak are so vital to our growth in becoming more Christ-like and in getting closer to the lifestyle that God wants us to live in. God wants us to live in life and life more abundantly (John 10:10). That type of lifestyle comes through Him, though, and through following His Word. And His Word says don’t take these thoughts of anxiety and worry.
There is one more scripture I would like to share with you. It is a powerful reminder of what we are to do with those thoughts and worries. In 1 Peter 5:7 we read, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.” (KJV) We are to cast, or in today’s language we would say throw, all our care to Him, meaning Jesus. That is a little different from “taking” a thought, isn’t it? We are to get rid of the thoughts of worry and anxiety by throwing those cares to Jesus. Why do we do this? He cares for us and He will take care of it. I really love how the Amplified Version says it, “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” Doesn’t that sound intimate? Jesus will take all of our worries, anxieties and concerns, once and for all! That is the God I serve.
When we take on the worry and concern ourselves and not throw those cares to Jesus, we are unintentionally saying, “I don’t think you care enough to take care of this for me.” Or, “I have to take care of this, Jesus; this issue is just too big for you.” Can you imagine saying that? I am sure you can’t, but that is what we do when we take on the worry that can so easily slip into our minds.
I encourage you to cast all those cares onto Him. Jesus is big enough to take care of everything that may be plaguing your mind and/or life. He wants you to throw your worries, anxieties and concerns to Him, because He loves you so much. He knows what to do and how to take care of the problems you may be facing. I am not saying that this is the easiest thing to do, but it is important to do. It is going to take some effort. When thoughts come to your mind that make you want to worry, say out loud, “I don’t accept this thought and by an act of my will, according to 1 Peter 5:7, I give this thought, I throw it to you Lord. You have the care of this and I don’t receive the worry, I receive the answer.” You may have to do that 100 times in a day, but check every thought at the door and if it produces worry, throw it away. I know you can do it! I will stand in prayer with you! You stand in prayer for others and together we will defeat the enemy and live the care-free life that God wants us to live in.