I am back already with another post! God laid this on my heart approximately seven minutes ago so here I am!
Worrying. To give way to anxiety or unease. Or, if you're a dog, to tear at, gnaw on, or drag around with your teeth. Now if you can relate to the second definition, then you are a dog that not only can read, but a dog that can operate a computer and probably do other amazing things so I would truly love to meet you and shake your paw. Now if you can relate to the first definition, then you are not alone. Let's specifically look at what it looks like to worry as a Christian.
The best passage, I think, in scripture to look at is Matthew 6:25-34. This is the best example of what scripture has to say about worrying because it comes straight from Jesus. Here is the scripture itself in the NAS translation:
25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to 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, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 "But if God soclothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or'What will we drink?' or 'What will wear for clothing?' 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all thesethings; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Three times in the passage does Jesus command not to worry. In verse 25 He acknowledges worry as a common practice and says, "do not be worried" in verses 31 and 34 He uses the same word, but in a way that means "Don't even start worrying." To continue worrying about anything, or to start worrying in the first place, is to disobey the Lord's command.
Think about this. To worry is to basically be like: "Okay God so I know you have broken all my chains from satan and from sin and from this entire world. I know that because of Your unconditional acceptance that I am made new in Christ and I am secure in my salvation. Buuuuut I really don't know if You can get me through this next week." Isn't that ridiculous? How is it that we can have our faith in God for the absolute eternity of our lives but not for the little things? That is just silly don't you think?
To some or many, worrying seems like a very trivial sin and it's one of those where you say, "Every Christian does it so I am not going to worry (see what I did there?) about it." When you live constantly worrying, you are essentially saying, "God, I don't trust You." And that is striking out God. Worrying is a tool of Satan that paralyzes you. When you are consumed with your worries of your life you cannot give your full surrender to God. Worrying is a severe and evident characteristic of unbelievers.
I read this and wanted to share it with you. "God gives you the glorious gift of life today; live in the light and full joy of that day, using the resources God supplies. Don't push yourself into the future and forfeit the day's joy over an anticipated tomorrow that may never happen. Today is all you really have, for God permits none of us to live in tomorrow until it turns into today."
Isn't that beautiful? God gives us the glorious gift of life today. Why would you worry about what the future brings when our ultimate and eternal future is secure as believers? To worry is to distrust God. Scripture tells us (Proverbs 3:5) "Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." Give it all to Him. He can handle it. "Though we are faithless He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself." He is always faithful. Do not let satan take your eyes off of The Lord with petty worrying.
What if you do worry? The most important thing you can do when you catch yourself worrying is to go back to scripture and reread God's promises. Let God reopen your eyes through His scripture. I have said this before and I will say it again. John MacArthur says it best. "The scriptures are the food for our faith and prayer is our breath."
To close, simply think of this beautiful and absolutely perfect promise of who Jesus was, is and always will be. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) Has Jesus not sustained you in your past? Yes. Therefore, He will sustain you in the future as well.
