God’s Message to the Worried

It has to be the most insulting advice in the world: “Don’t worry about it.” No matter how organized and on pace our day may start, it doesn’t require much clock or much reality before we have plenty of reasons to get really stressed. Life is unpredictable, and often our first inclination when anxiety-producing things pop up is to get stressed out.

I sometimes amaze myself at how I can take such a small piece of negative information and dwell on it until I envision all manner of horrible outcomes. Although these outcomes never turn out as badly as I imagine they will, I nevertheless continue to dream up awful scenarios. When I want to worry, I worry.

God speaks about worry and anxiety in Philippians 4:6-8, where Paul writes: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

God lovingly tells us not to be anxious, but rather to trust Him, making all our worries a matter of prayer. We remember and thank God for how faithful He has been, and then we trust Him with the future, praying all the while.

The result will be peace that passes all comprehension. This peace guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. 

Usually, when someone says, “Don’t worry about it,” they are patronizing us. When God says it, He is comforting us with His proven faithfulness, His love, and His peace.  That is an alternative I can learn to rest and relax in.

Chris Heinss