Don't Worry

 

[Jesus said] “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? 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? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 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? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:25-34 ESV).

 

I found this image recently. I thought it was apropos as I have been writing about our life-story and the challenges we face in our lives. I am aware that I return to this theme often. Perhaps that’s a direct result of my working with so many people who are struggling in some area of their life at the moment. It may be a financial challenge, or some relational difficulty. Whatever the specific issue, the result is always the same. I am often reminded of the pain of life’s challenges. Jesus has a very clear message in our reading today. Several times in our reading today Jesus says, “Do not worry,” or “Do not be anxious.”

 

Yet simply telling an anxious person to stop being anxious rarely helps. I know no one who is anxious who makes an intentional choice to be that way. So what is Jesus trying to communicate to us? Why, then, would Jesus say this? His words run much deeper than simply saying “Stop it.” He reminds us that there are things beyond our control that require us to trust in God’s care and provision. I’ve had to learn this lesson repeatedly in life. I’ve never been in charge. Yet my humanity wants desperately to be in control. My insecurity drives my desire for control, and realizing that I’m not in control intensifies my insecurity. The inevitable result is anxiety. Jesus points out that God provides abundantly for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. God cares deeply for all of his creation. So we can be confident that God will certainly provide for us. And with God’s providence comes his amazing power to reset our focus in life. We cannot get past our anxiety without knowing that God, who is in control, also loves us and knows what is best for us —­ always.