Worry comes naturally to us but as Christians we are aware that we should not worry. So how do we become worry-free? The fact is, the majority of our worries either don’t materialise or are resolved, and we shouldn’t worry about the things we can’t control anyhow.
We must entrust the only One Who is able to handle the situations we are powerless to change. Only God can do all that He can once we have exhausted our options. Trust God and put your trust in His control and timing. God always takes His time, and His timing is always optimal. The Devil is constantly rushing. Worrying only makes things worse and, at worst, has little effect other than to make our lives more stressful. Health problems, stress in daily life, strained relationships, and loss of confidence in God can all be brought on by worry. Worry has no positive effects.
Can you picture one of your kids approaching you and expressing concern about whether the family will be able to afford groceries this month or whether the energy bill will be paid? No child naturally checks their parent’s bank account to see if there’s enough money in there to get by, but that’s what we tend to do when we worry about finances or health issues or anything else that we have no control over.
All of our wants are met by the merciful God who created us. What makes us believe that our perfect heavenly Father won’t provide for His own children and in a much better way than our worldly fathers and mothers did for us? Who is more abundant than God?
Matthew 7:11 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him.”
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
God won’t change His mind about us like humans tend to do. He doesn’t withhold gifts from His children. Since our Father is God, we should “not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear” (Matthew 6:31)? God will not supply all of our wants, but He will supply every need we have, and we can take comfort in the fact that “our heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matt 6:32). Our responsibility is simple:
Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
What things will be added to you? Everything God deems that you will need to get by until you pass into glory or He returns again. What we need (not want) is promised by God but we must trust Him, even when the cupboard is nearly empty.
One of the most calming and reassuring doctrines in the Bible is the sovereignty of God. The late pastor Adrian Rogers once said, “Not a fly moves unless God approves.” He is sovereign over all things, including the bad things (Romans 8:28). Only God can make good come from evil (Genesis 50:20; John 3:16).
The point is we can trust God and rest in the fact that He is in complete control. Did you realize that nothing has ever occurred to God? God has never been caught off guard or surprised. Whatever happens, God knew it would happen, so whatever happens in our life, God intends it for our good and not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11). That should deflate our worries a lot. Things might surprise us, but never does it surprise God. If it happened, God intended it for our best, including the bad things that we encounter. The Apostle Paul came up with one of the best solutions to worry. He tells us to
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Make a list of things you’re worried about at the moment. Call it your “Anxiety List.” Now make this list your prayer request list. Make all your anxieties prayer requests and lay them before God Who not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills; He owns the hills (Psalm 50:10)! Just pray about all the things you’re anxious about. Make those requests known and then walk away. God has heard you. It’s up to Him now. Let it be in His timing. Jesus tells us to “not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.” (Luke 12:29).
As a dear friend once told me, “When you give God a job, don’t take it back by worrying about it!”
