There is a lot that goes on in life. Every one of us have things happening and we are dealing with them each day. I was talking to my neighbor yesterday. He was describing some things that they were dealing with and how it might affect their plans for the Christmas holiday. As he talked he said but that is nothing, today is the only thing that counts. I was blessed by his observation for that is exactly where we all need to be in our lives.
In Matthew 6:34 Jesus said using the New Living Translation-
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Worry was not uncommon in the days of Jesus here on earth and certainly that is no different today. People worry about things and those things can and do overwhelm us. Jesus wasn't saying or implying that there wouldn't be things that cause worry but rather dealing with what is that day only. Don't even consider what may be the thing that causes you to worry tomorrow.
Now I know that is hard but it is not impossible. How do I know that? Well, because if it were impossible Jesus wouldn't have said it. So what do we do and how do we handle these things?
I would imagine that you began just as I did by saying we should pray. There is nothing we can't pray about and everything we should pray about. We are told when we sin to confess the sin.
1 John 1:9 tells us that-
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Keeping a short account of sin is important to us and our well-being. Unconfessed sin becomes a means by which the adversary can attack a believer.
Now it does not mean that a beleiver cannot or will not worry. However, it is important to keep this in the right context. We are a new creation according to Scripture. There is an important difference between the natural and the spiritual man. Paul puts it this way in 1 Corinthians 2:14-15
14The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
15The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
We have all met too many people who profess that they are saved. Yet we are not able to easily see that their life is a spiritual one. There should be no doubt in anyone's mind when they meet and speak to you that you are a true believer.
Worry causes us to be anxious and to be anxious is to be-full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; apprehensive1
Being anxious leads to worry and so what do we learn from the Bible about being anxious? In Philippians 4:6-7 we read-
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
God has provided the perfect medicine for those times when we will be anxious and thus find ourselves starting to worry. Go back to where we began and pray. Giving thanks that God is and will be working in our circumstances. He then provides peace beyond even our ability to understand. Guarding us physically and mentally through Jesus Christ.
Do we get anxious? Yes, and that can lead to worry. So if we pay attention to what He has said we can handle the situation. We won't like it and will wish we weren't going through it but we are assured that He will make a way.
In God's Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
