The Weight of Worry

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matt 6:25-27 (NIV)

Worry has a way of wearing us down. We fixate on something that we have no control over and invite it to consume our thoughts. Our emotional reserves are taxed as worry siphons our energy. The byproduct of worry is erosion.

Worry is like rocking in a rocking chair; it will keep you busy, but you won’t get anywhere. Worry is an indicator of unbelief. Worry is a banner that waves declaring that we don’t trust God. Faith and worry cannot co-exist. You can’t fully rely upon God and worry at the same time.

Jesus commands us: “Do not worry.” Your heavenly Father knows what you need. Do you trust God to do what He says He will do? Do you believe God has the resources necessary to meet your needs? Are you confident that God will meet your needs? You know God is able. Maybe you wonder if God is willing.

Worry is a choice. Trust is a choice. We can choose to worry or we can choose to take God at His Word and trust Him. Be sensitive to God’s invitation for you to join Him in His resolution of your trying circumstances. 

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
(This devotional was originally posted in ’07 or ’08. I’m taking a break from writing for a season of personal renewal.)
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell