January 20, 2022

Matthew 6: 25 (NIV)

“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?”

[Worry is] calling God a liar. God promises, “I will supply all your needs . . .” But worry says, “I don’t think that’s true.”*

I am not a worrier by nature but sometimes I fret. If I’m not worrying about the problem, how will it get resolved? How do I not think about it? Where is the line between “worry” and “it’s always on my mind”? Or, where is the line between “not worrying” and “being irresponsible”?

When Jesus says, “Do not worry,” that sounds like a command. And if he commands it, it must be possible to do it. I think we get hung up on this worry business because – well, we worry too much. Nowhere does Jesus say, “Do not work,” or “Do not try to find a solution to your problem.” What he does talk about – and exemplify - is the big worry-buster: prayer.

I am a journalist. Not at a newspaper but in my prayer-life. Writing my prayers has been my daily habit for more than 30 years. So, when I have something on my mind that looks like it might turn to worry, I ask God to help me find a solution as I am putting it on paper. I define the problem and try to be honest about how I want it to turn out. Then I start listing all the things I can do about it. Almost always, the second one is a very short list. When it is clear that I am powerless to solve the problem, it is much easier to let go of the worry and let God do what he does. Sometimes, my list will include something that I can do, but usually not immediately. Whether it’s because God is teaching me about waiting, or because the time isn’t right, I clearly see his hand at work.

Life is too important to be spent in worrying. We have work to do. But first, let’s pray!

One of the functions of prayer is to give us a release for our worries by communicating our concerns to God.*