What Worry Does

July 22, 2024

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 than food, and the body more than clothes? Matthew 6:25 NIV

Words depend on context. A single word can have a variety of meanings, according to its context. Think about it: We are created to fear God, to show Him all honor and reverence because He is holy and almighty. But we are told “fear not” repeatedly, meaning not to allow others or circumstances to determine our state of mind. Care is good, and it is the attitude we are to have toward others, meaning having concern for them. But when we are told to give our cares to God, the word means our worry.

Any word we use to mean worry (cares, anxiety, concerns) we will be urged to release. Worry is always wrong because it paralyzes faith in our lives. When you worry, you assume responsibility for things you were never intended to handle. Worry is a choice that does not please God. And it is a choice, no matter how powerful and consuming your worry seems to be.

Jesus tells us in many instances to not worry. Worry is foolish and wrong because it doesn’t help anything – Jesus says that since worry won’t even help us grow an inch, why would we spend a moment on it for truly important issues. It is wrong because it divides our thinking between what is helpful and what is not. You cannot proactively receive God’s ideas and direction for your situation while worry is clogging your connection.

Worrying does not change anything in a positive way. It only works to pull your focus away from your faithful Father and His care for your life. It pulls you into the weeds of concern about the things of life, such as possessions and resources and other people’s opinions. These are areas you can’t control anyway. Worry saps your energy and elevates human strength, power, and ingenuity above God’s power and purposes.

Worry is the opposite of faith. It always feeds the thought that God cannot be trusted. He either doesn’t have the power or the love to be trusted to take care of you or to provide what you need at the right time. Worry causes fear to crowd out faith and peace.

When worry tries to take over my mind, I can choose gratitude. Gratitude and worry can’t inhabit the same thought. I can be grateful right now no matter my circumstances, that nothing and no one can separate me from the love of God. His love will carry me (Romans 8:35).

• If you are worried right now, read Philippians 4:6-7 aloud and thank God for at least three things He has done for you recently.