Worry. What a strange word and a strange practice. Have you ever looked up the definition of worry? Don’t worry, I just did it for you at dictionary.com: to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.
Why in the world do we choose to torment ourselves? Does worry really help? Let’s look at today for example.
What do we really need today? Is it possible God knows more about what we need than we do? Do our children really need what they think they can’t live without at times?
The Lord does provide our daily bread just as promised here in Matthew 6 where Matthew is sharing with us the Lord’s Prayer we are all familiar with. Familiarity and practicality are battling here aren’t they? In Matthew 6:11, the source of this affirmation we are seeing that Jesus is telling us to ask God for our daily bread: Give us this day our daily bread.
He does you know. He gives us exactly what we need. This is the bread of life the bread that truly satisfies. You may recall that back in 6:8 we have already been told that God knows what we need before we even ask. He knows what we REALLY need.
Matthew 6:24 clearly advises us we can NOT serve two masters. We will love the one and hate the other. As hard as we try to serve multiple masters we can not do it; which brings us right back to worry.
Verse 25 is clear: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, (highlighted for emphasis) 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? (NKJ)
So do we believe the Lord is going to provide our daily bread today or not? Why do we torment ourselves when it really makes NO difference in the outcome? Verse 27 reminds us: Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
- 6:31: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
- 6:34: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Ok, Jesus is clear that we should not worry. We should NOT torment ourselves. We are to fully trust that He will give us our daily bread today. Yes, a bread sufficient to meet today’s trouble. I know some of you are already worrying that it said today will have trouble…Don’t worry. God knows what we need and will provide it today.
Can you buy this? Can you live it? Are you worried today? What are your thoughts? Thank You God for providing the exact amount of bread we need today. No worries.
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations 4 Life
For the most part I am a truster Tom. But I have to admit there are those times when trust comes a little hard or a little more reluctantly. After 57 years on this earth and over 49 of them as a christ-follower you would think I wouldn’t worry at all. 🙂
Thanks Bill…why do we do that?? We are a stiff necked people BUT thank God we are here to encourage and spur each other to keep these words in our mouths so we may turn sooner rather than later…man I am soooo week but thank God worry is one of my lesser worries…ha!
This is what I realize. My flesh doesn’t want to trust. It wants to whine and complain like a kid who knows they are going to have to do their chores – but wants to put them off. My flesh wants to moan and complain and “wow” my friends with my misfortune so they can all feel sorry for me and give me lots of attention and then I can feel better before I trust. My flesh doesn’t want to trust God with the fact that I have a medical issue that may leave me permanently handicapped; my flesh doesn’t want to trust God with providing me with a new boyfriend or meeting my needs now that I finally ended the bad relationship I’ve clung to for 3 years; my flesh doesn’t want to trust God that the first good co-partner I’ve had in ALL my years of teaching just told me she was leaving and now my “perfect” year is up in the air. Especially when all of these things have happened in 48 hours. My flesh doesn’t want to “take no thought about my life”. My flesh wants to call the old boyfriend for sympathy – email girlfriends for support. Do I really have to be a “grown-up in God” and not complain? Give up all that attention? Only if I want to please God by trusting Him – that He is good – that He is in control – that “He is aware of all my needs.” What a discipline it is to take every thought captive – rather than to “take all my friends captive” with my story.
Debi, I am so thankful you have shared. You are brave and I know this bravery and honesty will bring you to that place of trust. I too have been where you are. Wow what a 48 hours… I know that in the heat of the battle many times we can’t see God or believe He is there. But it is amazing how when we look in the rear view mirror at times we see that God really was there and He did know exactly what we needed more than we. I pray you do have healthy friends to share (and complain)with and pray with and they will walk with you and encourage you to find your peace and your comfort in God…I am sure God doesn’t mind a little complaining…of course I hope not as He hears enough from me!! Keep on the lookout He will show you blessings in these things that seem disheartening…I pray he provides you comfort…please drop in here any time and thanks again for your honesty and courage to jump in…very refreshing!
“torment” …that’s what hit me. And it is torment. When I worry I inevitably start to turn my focus which causes me to head down a rabbit trail of ‘trying to fix’ the object of my worry. This rabbit trail can last for minutes, hours, days or heaven-forbid weeks or months. I’m battling this right now with 2 of the fruits of my womb…my thoughts, if not controlled (yes, Debi I’m w/ ya on this!) quickly spiral and I’m in a very dark place.
I very much needed this affirmation this morning. I will hold onto the word torment. Every time I start to worry I’m going to ask myself: ‘Okay, do you want to torment yourself today or do you want to trust?’
Lord help me trust…thank you Tom. And boy I love Debi!
Thanks Robin…why do we do it to ourselves?! You are sooo right it can take us to some really dark places can’t it…. great question…. what’s gonna be today? Torment or Trust? Good stuff Robin, Thank you as always!