Have you ever lost sleep over a situation because you were just filled with worry? Most of the things we worry about will never happen. We can’t change the past and worrying about the future only causes us to miss the present. So why do we worry? It’s an attempt to control the uncontrollable. But the more we worry, the less able we are to control even what is controllable. So, worry is a ‘lose–lose’ situation.
Jesus said it’s not worth it to worry because God has everything under control. Therefore, you need not worry yourself with worry.
Matthew 6:25-30 (ESV) “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Next time you begin to worry, step outside and take a lesson from the birds and the flowers.
Worried? – Trust God to handle it! Leave the situation up to Him. He is sovereignly in control so trust Him by stepping back and leaving the results to Him. But how?
1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV) 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Notice a couple of things about this passage. First, we are called to humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God. Whenever we try to carry our own problems through worry, we are actually acting in pride as if we can control the uncontrollable, which is something only God can control. Therefore, we should look at the situation over which we are worrying as a signal to humble ourselves before God by calling upon Him and secondly, cast all our anxiety upon Him. Thirdly, fall back on the promise that He cares for us.
Let’s think about that passage: “casting all your anxiety upon Him.” Fishermen who cast a fishing line or cast a fishing net will tell you the key to casting is knowing when to let go. Often it will take multiple casts to get the line or net into the designated area. Likewise, as you cast your concerns to God in prayer, you need to learn to let go. Instead of taking it back, which is what most of us do immediately after casting the care upon Him in prayer, learn to give the concern to Him totally, even if it takes multiple casting which more than likely it will. Whenever you feel like you’ve pulled it back, like a yo-yo, spend some more time to give it back to Him. Otherwise, your time in prayer will seem for naught and you’ll still be carrying around a heavy burden of worry with the added weight of doubt and discouragement.
Instead of pulling the worry back when you cast it upon Him, we should really be bringing back the promise of His care and love into our minds by way of meditation on His word and allow that to fill our hearts where the worry had taken up resident before we cast it upon Him.
The same principle is outlined in another place.
Philippians 4:6-8 (ESV) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
As you cast the worry upon God, focus on His care with an attitude of gratitude both for what He has done in the past, what He promises in the form of peace, and what He is going to do about the situation which has caused you worry. In return, you will enjoy peace in place of anxiety. This is casting your care upon Him instead of playing yo-yo with your cares.
Matthew 6:33-34 (ESV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Knowing and seeking after God, rather than just knowing about God and just giving Him the leftovers of your life, will lead to a lifting of the burden of trying to control the uncontrollable. The more you know Him, the more you’ll be able to rest upon the fact that He has everything under control, and He has your best interest in mind – so why worry? Let go and trust God to handle it.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
