Do Not Worry

Jesus said, "Do not worry about tomorrow."

Easier said than done.

In this episode of FaithFuel, Bob Shaw talks about worry, anxiety, fear, and the struggle many Christians face when trying to trust God with the future. Why do we keep carrying burdens God never intended us to carry? And why do the same worries keep showing up again and again?

Using Matthew 6:34 and 1 Peter 5:7, this devotional encourages listeners to keep bringing their concerns to God, even when the same worries return over and over.

If you've been losing sleep over the future, finances, health concerns, family issues, or unanswered questions, this episode is for you.

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Transcript

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Jesus said, Do not worry about tomorrow. Now I've read that verse many, many times. I've also worried about tomorrow many, many times. I'm Bob Shaw, and this is Faith Fuel. Matthew six, verse thirty four. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. That's a wonderful verse. It's also a hard verse, at least for me. I don't know about you, but worry can take over my life if I let it. And I've lost count of how many times I've handed the same worry back to God, sometimes ten times in the same hour. Worry has a way of finding something to latch onto, doesn't it? Your health, somebody you love, finances, a decision you have to make. Fill in the blank. Add to that that it might be a real problem, or it might be something that hasn't even happened yet. And the things that keep us up at night can end up living rent-free in our heads. What's interesting is that Jesus wasn't speaking these words to people whose lives were easy. The people listening to him had real concerns about tomorrow. Yet Jesus pointed them to the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. Now he wasn't trying to downplay their problems, he was reminding them that their heavenly father knew exactly what they needed. I think one reason worry is so exhausting is that it convinces us we're accomplishing something, as if replaying a problem often enough will somehow give us control over it. It doesn't. All it does is steals today's peace while we're borrowing trouble from tomorrow. That's why I love what Peter wrote in first Peter five verse seven. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. And just like forgiving someone, this is not a one and done thing. We cast our anxiety on him as often as necessary. And when the worry comes back, we're reminded that God is already in tomorrow. He's not surprised or worried about it, and he's not asking us to carry it alone. You remember the old song, Don't worry, be happy? Well Jesus might have said, Don't worry, trust God. Not as catchy, but definitely more accurate. Lord, thank you for caring about the things that worry us. Help us bring our concerns to you instead of carrying them by ourselves. When fear, uncertainty, or anxious thoughts begin to take over, remind us that you're already in control and already ahead of us. And help us trust you again and again, even when the same worries keep coming back. In Jesus' name, Amen. And if you've been hauling around the same worry for days, weeks, or even months, I hope today's devotional encouraged you to keep bringing it to God. Follow Faith Fuel wherever you listen and join me each weekday morning for a fresh devotional. I'm Bob Shaw. Peace and joy.