Why Worry?
By Julia Fowler, Worship Arts Pastor
Text: Matthew 6:34 (NIV) – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
I can’t tell you how many times I have either read or heard this verse repeated and yet for whatever reason still worry about tomorrow, and the next day, the next month, the next year... and on it goes. Seems like we’re all in the same boat when it comes to worry. We worry about finances, worry about jobs, about relationships, what we’ll wear, who we’ll see, who we won’t see, what our children will do, who’ll they will be, how we’ll be perceived, the state of our health, the shape of our future, the consequences of our past. Worry often holds us captive to its mesmerizing scenario of what if’s, so why do we do it? Matthew 6:27 says, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” C. S. Lewis wrote, “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.”
The apostle Paul suggests we replace this useless habit with a more productive mindset when he writes, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phil. 4:8)
My encouragement to you and to myself this week is to confront the issue of worrying with this alternative. Each time you find yourself stressed about things that haven’t happened yet, things you have no control over, try replacing those thoughts with what you do know – think about the Lord, think about His goodness and what’s He’s brought you through already. Think about things that are worth your praise and worship. Turn your suffering into rejoicing, and your doubt into praise. God keeps His promises: He will never leave you or forsake you, He will work all things together in his time and for your good!
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