“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” – Matthew 6:25 NKJV
Anxiety, worry, and fear have become an intrinsic part of human society. We worry about the choices we make. We are fearful for our children and family members. We worry about things outside of our control. But worry and fear didn’t initiate with modern society.
Oh no, worry and fear became part of the human condition because of sin. When Jesus lived among us, He addressed this topic in His most famous teaching, The Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus identified that a lot of our fears were tied to our basic needs and so He addressed the major ones:
- Food and drink: if you’re worried about where your next meal is coming from, God feeds the birds of the air (Matthew 6:26).
- Clothing: if you’re worried about what you’re going to wear, God dresses the flowers in all their glory (Matthew 6:28-30).
In both cases, Jesus wanted His followers to understand that God cares about seemingly insignificant things like birds and plants and meets their basic needs. He cares much more for us and so will take care of all our needs.
What did Jesus mean when He said do not worry?
But, you’re probably thinking, worrying about our basic needs is something that can’t be helped, especially for those who are struggling financially. So what did Jesus mean when He said “Do not worry”?
The Oxford DIctionary defines worry as “feel or cause to feel anxious or troubled about actual or potential problems”. I don’t know about you, but most of the things I worry about never happen…and the things that do happen, worrying about them did nothing to change the situation.
God doesn’t want us to spend time and energy being anxious about things that may never happen or that we have no ability to change. He wants us to trust Him.
Instead of worrying about all the things we do not have, Jesus encouraged us to seek after the things of God and to trust our Heavenly Father to meet our needs. God is faithful. He takes care of the smallest creatures and the areas of His creation that seem insignificant. We are the apple of His eye, He will take care of us as well.
My friend, I don’t know what you’re worried about but I want to say do not worry. I want to remind you God is faithful. He knows your needs and wants and He’s faithful to meet all of them. All He asks is that you trust Him and put Him first in your life. Will give God your worries today?
Prayer
Father, we’re so grateful that You see our needs. We ask You to help us remember how much You care for us. Help us to focus on You instead of all the things we need but do not have. Remove the taint of worry from our minds and replace it with Your peace, hope, and joy. In Your Son’s precious name we pray, Amen.
Pause for Reflection
- What are you worried about? Make a list and give them over to God.
- What are three things you can do instead of worrying?
- Challenge yourself to do one of the three things you listed above when you find yourself worrying.
Other actions you can take:
