What, me worry??
Normally, I love to hear the sweet tweets of the birds, but today outside the window of our office their joyful clamor tells me that they are very busy. Each summer, against our wishes, they attempt to build their nest under the eaves. Twig by twig, on and on, they flutter to and fro.“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?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”Matt. 6:25-34
Take note that Jesus compares worrying about these things to being like a pagan! When He says, “Do not worry,” it’s not a suggestion. It’s an instruction. When we choose to worry, we are being disobedient, we are choosing to sin which can have dire consequences. “Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” 1 Sam. 15:23
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After hearing the birds yesterday, it was my husband who suggested today’s post. Now he is a natural-born worrier, descended from a long line of worriers. Yet, God has shown him the futility of worry. He told his mom once, “Worry is like a rocking chair. You spend a lot of energy, but don’t get anywhere!”
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I think it’s important to note that freedom from worry does not mean sitting back, resting, doing nothing, hoping for God to provide. The birds don’t expect their nest to materialize on its own. They spend countless hours searching and building. It’s just that they don’t fret about it. We can, no we must, take our stand for important issues and work to make them right. But in the end, we must trust God to do the heavy lifting. Trust Him for the outcome, knowing there’s an eternity to look forward to and everything here is temporary. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:18 So seek first His kingdom – the eternal things, and trust God for the temporal. . S.
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“Worry is believing God won’t get it right.” -Todd Wagner
This is a very timely message as we are in a vigil at my mom’s bedside. She is at the end of her life and has not trusted Jesus. I am learning to trust God with this most difficult struggle. Thanks for your post today Susan.
What a great reminder to not worry about the outcome. May I trust in His provision, yet still do my daily duties with joy.
Thanks for the encouragement! Great thoughts! I like the part that the birds just don’t sit and wait for their nest to happen on its own.