Why Worry?

Photo by: James Barker

There’s an old song that starts out:

Why worry when you can pray?

Trust Jesus; He’ll be your stay.

It’s simplistic. Just trust the Lord and pray, and you will be just fine.

Is it true?

If it’s true, can it be done? Can we learn to trust God in such a way that we don’t worry?

Some people are very anxious. It seems to be their personality. Others go with the flow, but down deep, they worry, too.

What does the Bible say about worry and anxiety? What can we learn from God’s Word?

Psalm 23—(A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. David understood God’s care. He knew that God would take care of him in every way. He also saw himself as a sheep—one that should follow the Shepherd and trust Him to meet food, drink, safety, and shelter needs. He wouldn’t even fear death, because he wasn’t alone. This is a beautiful picture of how we should trust God.

Proverbs 3:5-6—Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. There are three key phrases here:

1. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart. This is a complete trust with our heart, the most personal, intimate part of our being.

2. Lean not unto thine own understanding. Don’t try to figure things out ourselves; let God lead us.

3. In all thy ways acknowledge him. Look to God first. Ask Him for guidance before making any decision.

In summary, the Lord will lead the person who fully trusts in Him.

Philippians 4:6-7—Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. What’s the cure for anxiety? Prayer (communication with God) with supplication (asking God’s help) plus thanksgiving (giving God thanks for what He will do. It’s actually telling God ahead of time that you trust Him implicitly. I think this thanksgiving part of the equation usually gets left behind. And so we pray and ask, maybe, but then we don’t thank, and we’re anxious. We haven’t completely left our concern in God’s hands.

Experts say that 85-90% of what we worry about never happens.

If we apply that to the spiritual realm, it seems we exercise a lot of needless non-trust.

What is your worry today? 

• Is it a personal need—financial, food, lodging, clothing, or the car broke down?
• Is it a personal relationship—boyfriend, girlfriend, relative, neighbor, or person at church?
• Is it situational—something in the near future, an important decision, moving to another city, fear of the unknown, or planning an event?
• Is it a problem at work, school, or at home?
• Is it a physical problem—pain, cancer, a disease, a weakness, limited movement, problems with diagnosis, or the unknown?

 Whatever your situation:

• God already knows about it. But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold (Job 23:10).
• He cares for you. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you (1 Peter 5:7).
• God will give you grace daily to go through your trial. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).
• Your problem is nothing new, and there is already a solution. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
• If you are a Christian, God is right there with you, always. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Why worry, when we have so great a God?

The Lord is our Shepherd.