Matthew 6:27 “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?”

Worry is poisonous. It multiplies the damage negative events have on us. Jesus told us very clearly that in this world we will have trouble, (John 16:33) but worrying about it ahead of time makes us suffer through it again and again. Often, the particular thing we’re worried about never happens at all! I’m reminded of the recent submarine disaster in the Atlantic. As Bill Whittle has pointed out, those five people died essentially instantaneously, doing something they enjoyed and were excited about. Their eternal destiny (which he didn’t touch on) was decided some time before they ever got into that vessel, and that’s what really matters. If we have a right relationship with our Creator on the basis of His Son Jesus Christ, we have literally nothing to worry about. As Jesus talks about after this verse, we do all have various needs while we are on this earth. We aren’t to be cavalier about them, taking things for granted, but the path of happiness and joy is to trust God with them. As Jesus famously says in verse 33, our focus is to be on God’s kingdom and His righteousness. If we don’t have such a focus, worry can easily steal our peace and joy and literally shorten our life. That’s a perfect example of unintended consequences. We are to be good stewards of what we have been given, and that includes our bodies and our health. However, obsessing over it all is counterproductive. We are to maintain our weight and our activity levels, but not just to make us feel good or live a long time. Rather, we are to be focused on doing the things that God has prepared for us to do, (Ephesians 2:10) resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in Him.

I am aware that some people seem to have anxious personalities, but I believe that can be healed. I’m grateful that I don’t seem to be one of those people. I would describe myself as fundamentally optimistic, but it’s been a long road getting here. John 16:33 has been something of a mantra for me for a long time. I am horrified and disgusted at many of the things I see in the world around me, and I know those things could come upon me, too, but experience has taught me that God is more than able to bring me through anything at all. Physical injury and disease aren’t fun, certainly, but they are temporary. If my focus is on God and my eternity with Him, then all these things are no more than hiccups along the way. There are indeed things that I would very much like to see happen. I am to work toward those goals, but being anxious about them won’t make them come about any faster! It’s been quite a few years now since the Lord told me to rest, relax, and rejoice. I don’t get any hint of worry in that!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for Your grace toward me on so many levels. May I be an available, effective channel of that grace to others, drawing them also into the trusting relationship with You that they need and You desire, for their glory. Thank You. Praise God!