Don’t Worry

Don’t Worry

Jesus’ Teaching

Read: Luke 12:22-31

Miko walked down the aisle of blouses and tops. After being out of the job market for so long, she felt nervous about her upcoming interview. She had been worried about not owning an appropriate outfit, and she had no money to spend on new clothes. Thank goodness her friend had suggested this thrift store. Glancing at the tailored tweed blazer in her cart, she thought, What are the chances of matching that shade in my size? A few minutes later, her mouth dropped open as she pulled out a turtleneck in the perfect color and size—with her initials monogrammed on the neck!

The women who heard Jesus teaching his disciples in today’s passage had the same everyday concerns that we do. They could easily relate when Jesus spoke about worry over food and clothes, since their lives largely revolved around feeding and clothing their families. They listened as he reminded them that if God fed the ravens, he would certainly feed them. They watched with rapt attention as he gestured at some nearby lilies, beautifully “dressed” by God. Did they feel a burden lift from their shoulders as Jesus assured them of their heavenly Father’s continuous care?

God commands us not to worry about our everyday lives for good reason. Worrying wastes our time and energy without changing the situation. It contributes to poor physical and emotional health, and it interferes with our relationship with God. We can’t trust in God and worry about our needs at the same time.

Faith is the only antidote to the harmful habit of worry. If we truly believe that our heavenly Father knows our needs and will provide for us, then we can train our minds to substitute a prayer for every anxious thought that crops up. God wants us to concentrate on spiritual matters and leave the details of everyday life to him.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

Philippians 4:6