Robin Harris Kimbrough
One of the biggest challenges we have as humans is worrying. The dictionary has two primary meanings for ‘worrying.’ One simply says is being too concerned about a matter to the point it makes one feel uneasy. The other definition has to do with how a person is inflicted or bothered by another person or a situation.
For example, my sister worries me to no end about her problems. Worry can be a verb, or a noun. Regardless of how old we are or how deep our faith is, we have all found ourselves worried about something. Most of the time the stuff we worry about does not happen, and we find ourselves having wasted precious time worrying about it. Jesus told us not to worry, and that worrying was a waste of time. Jesus ends his discourse on worry with these words, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble,” Matthew 6:33-34.
This solution to a worrying spirit is easier said in done. Our flesh causes us to worry, because the flesh likes to have control over everything. When we cannot control the outcome of our situations, we tend to worry about it. But Jesus lets us know that we do not have to worry about anything, and that he has it all under control. We do not have to worry about what to wear or our next meal, all we have to do is seek the Kingdom of God.
If we spent just as much time worrying as seeking the Kingdom of God, we would be able see more clearly God’s ability to take care of us and supply all of our needs. We spend so much time worrying about tomorrow, being concerned over what is going to happen, that we cannot really enjoy the now—the present. Instead of trusting in Jesus, we tend to depend on our personal abilities to take care of situations. As a result, we worry ourselves to death, spiritual death and physical death. Thinking about the situation at issue, e.g., hunger and clothing, turning it over and over again in our minds, can lead us into a state of depression, overwhelming stress—and even make us physically lick.
There are a lot of people in the hospital suffering with all types of illness that have resulted from worry. Some people are taking pills and going back and forth to the doctor because of anxiety and worry. Others cannot grow their nails out or keep their hair on their head because of worry. For those of us, who have fallen into the worry trap, we have to remember that Jesus loves, and he will take care of each one of us.
As he said in our verses, he takes care of birds and clothes grass. Surely he will take care of us. We cannot ever forget Jesus’ love for us, especially when we start to worry. He has the whole world in his hands. So, don’t worry! Whatever issues or outcomes we are facing, know that he will not put more on us than we can bear.
Like the songwriter wrote: “I don’t know about tomorrow; I just live from day to day. I don’t borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to grey. I don’t worry o’er the future for I know what Jesus said. And today I’ll walk beside him, for he knows what is ahead. Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.” Don’t worry!
