There is one thief of joy and gratitude that we all need to be vigilant against: worry. Worry’s companions are anxiety and fear. But, as Charles Spurgeon reminded us, “Anxiety does nothing to change today’s troubles, except rob you of today’s potential.”
Worry is a cunning thief that drains us of our life energy. As David writes in Psalm 55:3, “my sorrows give me no rest.” Worry certainly won’t extend your life; on the contrary, it robs you of your health. (Go and read Matthew 6:27 about this.)
Peter writes: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God… Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7. Also read Psalm 55:23). Let’s be honest: worry is a lack of trust in God’s providence! Martin Luther frequently preached about worry and trust. One of his sermons had a simple theme: “Pray, and let God worry.” As St Ignatius of Loyola said, “Pray as though everything depends on God, and continue your day’s work as though everything depends on you.” This was also the motto of the earliest Christians: “Ora et labora”: pray and work.
Have you ever seen how a constant trickle of water can wear away a rock? In the same way, worry erodes our trust in God. That’s why Peter continues: “Be sober-minded; be watchful! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith…” (v8-9).
For Jesus, worry was a futile and time-consuming activity, hence His command: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
No, we Christians are not guaranteed a worry-free life. (The martyrs of the Early Church would testify to that.) But why worry about things you have no control over? It’s no wonder that Julian of Norwich (14th century) said,
“All shall be well,
all shall be well,
in all circumstances, all shall be well.”
PRAYER: One by one, I hand my worries over to Your care, Lord.
MUSIC:
We watch the lyric video of “All Shall Be Well” by Shaun Garrison. The lyrics appear on the screen.
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