Facing Worry

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

Introduction

When life turns upside down or the weight of our battles wears us down, worry often feels like a natural reaction. We find ourselves stuck in anxious thoughts, wondering if things will ever get better. Dr. David Jeremiah, in his book Keep the Faith, speaks right to this feeling, offering a reminder that Jesus has already given us an answer to worry—a message that challenges our fears and grounds us in God’s faithful love.

This week, we’re sharing insights from Dr. Jeremiah’s reflections on one of Jesus’ most comforting teachings from the Sermon on the Mount. In this message, Jesus shows us why worry is inconsistent, irrational, ineffective, and even illogical. Through these words, He calls us to let go of anxious thoughts and place our confidence in a loving God who provides and sustains us.

As we explore these truths, let’s allow them to ease our hearts, reminding us that God’s love and faithfulness remain steady, even in our toughest times. Enjoy this excerpt and find encouragement in the peace God promises us.

• Worry Is Inconsistent

Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? — Matthew 6:25

Worry is simply inconsistent. Jesus is asking, “Who gave you the body you live inside? Who established its requirements — for food, for clothing, for shelter? Do you think He has gone anywhere? Don’t you think that same Provider will see to your needs?”

In essence, this is an argument from the greater to the lesser. Consider the God who created us a little lower than the angels, ordaining and establishing the miracle of human life in all the beautiful complexity of the human organism. Then He fashioned with His powerful hands the heat of the sun, the revolving world, and the four seasons.

He took an awful lot of trouble, didn’t He? Why, then, would He be careless about these little things — a crust of bread, a patch of clothing, a dry haven from the storm? A God so tall could never overlook something so small, according to Jesus. “Is not life more…?” Those are His words.

If you buy into a Creator God, you must buy into a Sustainer God — or you’re simply inconsistent.

 

• The evidence of His loving and timely care is all around us. Use your mind and you’ll find comfort for your soul.

 

• Worry Is Irrational

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? — Matthew 6:26

Jesus’ first argument is irrefutable. He who gave us life can surely sustain that life. But Jesus has anticipated the follow-up question: God can provide, but will He provide?

Jesus attacks this second question from the opposite direction. Now He moves from the lesser to the greater — in this case, from birds to human beings. He says, “Look into the trees and you’ll see the little sparrows. A plain copper coin will buy you two of them. Few things are sold so cheaply. Does your Father value you less than a copper coin? His hand is behind every bird that falls to the ground; if He’s got the whole world in His hands, doesn’t that include you?” (Matthew 10:29, paraphrase).

Sometimes we make fascinating discoveries when we bring two separate Scripture passages together. Consider this matter of the value of sparrows. Take a side trip over to Luke 12:6, and you’ll find another market value: five sparrows for two copper coins. Put Matthew and Luke together and it’s two for a penny and “buy four / get one free.”

A copper coin was worth one-sixteenth of a denarius; a denarius was one day’s wages. So, what Jesus is saying is this: “A copper coin gets you two sparrows; two coins get you five. Not even the free sparrow, who has no market value, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing about it. He follows every movement, whether it’s bird or beggar or baron.”

As a matter of fact, says Jesus, if He knows every sparrow that falls to the ground, He knows when one of your hairs does likewise. Somewhere He has a database that tracks the very hairs on your head.

• And if He is so meticulous with the smallest, most incidental inventory items, won’t He also tend to your deeper concerns?

Once again, Jesus gives us an argument we can’t refute, this time from the lesser to the greater. We must conclude that worry is inconsistent and irrational. But there’s another problem with it.

Worry divides the mind and multiplies misery. It subtracts from our happiness. But it never adds.

To be continued!

Stay Blessed!

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