What time I am afraid [worried], I will trust in Thee.
Psalm 56:3

Have you been anxious lately? I know I have and it makes me so angry with myself, because I know it’s so useless to worry. Yes, I said worry. It sounds so much better to say, “I’m anxious”, rather than saying, “I’m worried”. Or how about, “I’m just stressed.” It just sounds more refined, when actually they are all one and the same and each has the same results. Last night when I got home from work, I had the beginning of a headache.  I could just feel the tension creeping slowly up the back of my neck like an ominous cloud rising on the horizon. The real problem is I don’t even know what I was stressed about!

Worry wears us out emotionally, mentally, and physically. It might be worth it if it was productive in any way, but it isn’t. It doesn’t change a thing… except our perspective. Jesus told us not to be anxious or worried about anything. Now why would He say that if we weren’t capable of doing it? He said in Matthew 6…“when you start to worry, look at the birds. Do they plant a garden and reap the grain. No, but our Father feeds them. They don’t worry about where their next worm is coming from. Have you heard of Solomon and the fine clothes he wore? Well, look at the flowers I’ve created…how beautifully I’ve dressed them. Solomon in all his expensive robes was not as magnificent as they are. Now don’t you think if I can clothe the flowers so well, I can also give you the clothes you need. And what about the way you look? Can you make yourself one inch taller or one pound lighter just by thinking about it? I don’t think so!

Well then, don’t worry about what you’re going to eat or drink or about what you’re going to wear. Your Heavenly Father knows that you need all of these things. Don’t even worry about tomorrow and what it will bring. Tomorrow will present its own problems and you can deal with them then. Today put your trust in God, do your best to do what is right and He will give you everything you need.”

I paraphrased the above passage, but the meaning is still intact. Bottom line…it just doesn’t benefit us in any way to worry or be anxious. Instead, let’s remind ourselves that God is in control and He cares about everything that concerns us. Isaiah 26:3 says this in the Amplified Bible, “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.” Memorize the short verse at the top of this page and make it your own by saying…

“Father God, I will not be afraid or worry. I will put my trust in You!”