Does Worry Dog Your Steps?

“Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add one moment to his life-span by worrying? Matthew 6:25-27 (CSB)

I am a chronic worrier. I have been since I was a child. So I try very hard to take the verses above to heart and apply them to my life. Worry is a bad habit that we need the Lord’s help to break out of.

Even when we know the Lord will see us through terrible and challenging situations it can be hard not to be anxious and worried. When we are struck with a serious affliction, when loved ones suffer, when our joy is overtaken by pain and tears and nothing seems to be going our way--worry is hard to avoid.

Anxiety is an illness in its own right, and physical afflictions can cause anxiety. What do we do when our life is smothered with anxiety and worry? The Bible says we should cast our cares upon Jesus because He cares about us:

casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7(CSB).

There is relief in knowing we do not carry all our cares and worries alone, that we can turn to Jesus and find peace through Him. The Lord has given us His Spirit to comfort us and bring us peace in the midst of our worries. If we were left solely to our own devices our situation would be dire when severe challenges assault us. We could crumble under the pressure. However, when we have confidence in the Lord’s strength to help us through our fear and worries there is nothing that can stop us.

Fear, doubt, and worry can rob us of the courage we need to face our problems and the vicissitudes of life. Yet when even the darkest day comes upon us, if we will hold tightly to our heavenly Father our courage can rise to the occasion. Through Jesus our life can regain its joy in the face of all challenges. We are equipped to face any difficulty through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who abides within every believer.

Prayer: Dear Lord, when life throws difficulties our way, when worry and fear robs us of strength, renew our strength through Your Spirit and presence in our lives. Amen.

Karlton Douglas

Copyright 2017