Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

To wonder about something or be concerned is an attribute that God created us with. We are called to be concerned about our health and our relationship towards God and others.

Worry on the other hand is nothing more than a lack of faith and trust. Worry is to fear the unknown. Fear is the real culprit. Worry is the effect of fear. To not fear something is to not be worried about it. God did not create us to worry, however he did create us with the ability to worry. God did not create us to sin, but he created us with the ability to sin. We Fear all sorts of things, like losing a job, what others are thinking, about your kids out late, your spouse and who they are with and how they are. This fear is brought on by the lack of knowledge. If you knew what was going to happen, and how it would all turn out, than you wouldn’t worry anymore. We worry about what we don’t know. Well unfortunately, there is an awful lot we don’t know, so this leaves the door wide open to worry about everything we don’t understand. I know that there are some of you that do that very thing. You are “Worry Warts” and you think that if you don’t worry about it, than who will? People worry about death a lot also, this one worry might be the most harshly effectual worry of them all, because this worry wont go away until the issue goes away. So they take this worry to the grave with them. Worry is to fear the unknown. The what if.

I don’t think that anyone needs to be told, that worrying is bad for them. There are those of you who would say “I don’t worry that much” or “I have to worry about certain things that need to be addressed”, and that “not worrying about anything is considered irresponsible”. When I was a young child I worried all the time, in fact I wound up with terrible stomach pains that I had until the Lord took worry away from me. All from worrying about life in general, nothing specific, just general things that kids should not have to worry about. Or adults either for that matter. My Mom who is still alive today is a worrisome person. Hospitals are overrun with people who worry. Some worry about their health, so they run to the Dr.’s office. Some worry so much that the side effects drive them to their Dr’s office. The side effects of worrying are astronomical, like; headaches, sinus, back, stomach, nerves, anger, depression, anxiety, fear,.Your Dr. cannot help you when your symptoms are all self induced from worrying. Worrying is at an epidemic state today.

For the most part people worry about things they can’t change, they worry about their past and future events. It is however important to be concerned about current events. Being concerned is to take preventive action towards an issue. If no action is required or can be addressed immediately, than it is no longer an immediate concern. It is important to consider what others are thinking, but only to curb our actions at the moment. We live in the moment, not in the past or the future. Being concerned at the moment is worthy of your thoughtfulness towards others. Taking care of issues when you can in the moment will take care of future and past issues. If you can’t fix something right now, than stop thinking about it. Worry is nothing more than a thought brought on by a concern about something or someone. It is OK to be concerned, but don’t let the concern turn into worry. If you cant fix it right now, in this moment, than stop thinking about it. Or is it that you think that your worrisome efforts are going to employ God to act?

The Bible tells us that we have nothing to fear with the exception of Gods wrath. And that if we don’t fear God than we don’t know him. He tells us that those who know him fear him and follow what he says. He says a lot about worry. If fact
Christ came right out and said:

Luke 12:22-26, “Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?’”

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”

Proverbs 3:5-8 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones”

Psalm 139:1-6 “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”

Hebrews 13:6 “So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

God knows all men, he knows their thoughts before they think them, he knows everything before it happens. He is God! He allows everything to happen because his will cannot be stopped. It has already been written since before the beginning of time. You are right now, exactly where God wants you to be. He is in control and not you. Worry is to not trust in God. To know God is to trust in him, trust in the truth. Do you believe? Do you have Faith? Do you indeed trust that God created everything for a purpose and nothing can change Gods will? If you really trust in God than you will not worry about anything. God already has it all planned out, he knows every hair on your head, every word your going to say. He is God. He will give you the words to say. He will move you were he wants you to be. He will also give you the comfort to not worry. Just seek him with all your heart, soul and mind. He already knows you, so it is time to get to know him.

So how do we stop worrying, and start trusting in God? It is true that we have issues that need to be taken care of. If you have a bill due and you don’t have the money, “oh what to do?” If you cant do anything about it right now, stop thinking about it. To worry is to not trust in God, and the consequences are devastating. To not trust in God, is to side with Satan. Worry comes from Satan, and if you spend one more second with Satan and not trusting in our Lord, than you don’t fear God.

Tom Moran