Proclaiming the Good News!

Do Not Be Anxious

25 “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? 26 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? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 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? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  34Therefore 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

Stress and worry are two of the most common problems that we experience in our lives. In fact, it is so common, that a recently published study reported that almost half of all Americans (44%) have said that their stress levels have increased over the last five years! One would think that with all of our technological advances, that stress would be going down, but it is not. Stress and worry over things like health, food, money, survival, and a job are still more common than ever. It is in times like these that we really need to focus on the comforting words of our Lord Jesus.

He says, “do not be anxious about your life…” Let that sink in for a moment.  Oftentimes, we do not realize the depth of what is included in the word “life.” It includes everything! Jesus says do not worry about things like health, food, money, your life, and job. If God takes care of the birds and if He so beautifully clothes the flowers, we can be confident that God will take care of us as He sees fit. The birds and flowers are reminders of this. Besides, worrying will not help anything. Jesus comforts us by saying that God knows what we need, and He gives us some advice about what to do.

Jesus says to focus on the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. He says to focus on living the Christian life, expanding God’s Kingdom, and on Christ’s death and resurrection for us that gives us righteousness. Jesus reminds us that as we focus on these things that God will take care of the rest. I do not know what that will always look like, but we take God at His Word and promise. Our Lord tells us to take one day at a time, since each day has its own struggles, challenges, and worry. To help with this, He has given us 365 verses in the Bible about worry and stress, which is one new verse for each day. I do not think that this is a coincidence. Our Lord says, “Do not worry, for I know what you need, and I will provide what is best for you.”  We can take Him at His promise and word.  ~Pastor Nick Kooi

(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XVIII, Number 3, October 2016)