(The phrase from the title is not from Mad Magazine! It goes at least back to the 1800’s)
All of her life, my precious mother only had one flaw in my view. She worried about many things. She would even worry if she could not quickly think of something to worry over.
I had another precious woman in a former church who was a worrier. I will call her Miss C. She was a rather thin woman, and if she claimed to be five foot tall, I would smile at the supposed exaggeration. She was a good friend and I loved her dearly. She is now with the LORD and she is not worried!
Miss C worried mostly about her children and grandchildren. Most good people will, but not to the excess of Miss C. For her, it was unhealthy. I was her pastor for twelve years, and in those twelve years, she probably came to me twelve times at least worried about her salvation. I would give her a chance to express her beliefs aloud to me again, and she would leave my presence in renewed confidence.
While it is good to review who you are, and why you are, in Christ, it is never good to have doubtful worry and fear about your salvation. This is one area the enemy of God and man, Satan, brings weakening confusion to the hearts of believers.
Worry and be fearful of tomorrow? Why should I? Worry adds no strength to face tomorrow, but it will absolutely drain today of any strength and joy of heart. Believer, the All-Knowing God was in your yesterday and today; choose to fear not!
How might our living and praying be different if we truly believed that God knows all? “Be anxious for nothing.” That is the peace you feel when you are content with God as He is. To pray rightly is to place all your trust in God. You cannot do this and worry at the same time!
Robert Frost said, “The best way out is always through.” David said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . . “ Beloved, whatever you are facing in life, do not stop; do not quit, go forward in Him Who is your strength! Paul said in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Allow me to share a few verses from the Word of God right here:
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” (Matt. 6:25-27)
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matt. 6:34)
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Col. 3:15)
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30)
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful (anxious/worried) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:4-7)
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)
Again, worry in the life of a believer is a very serious matter. Worry casts away trust in God. Therefore, believer, worry is sin!
When a believer worries, he actually doubts his LORD in at least three areas:
1) His wisdom is doubted.
2) His power is doubted.
But, perhaps worst of all;
3) His love is doubted.
Worry is a wolf. Worry is evil.
“Fret not.” “Be not afraid.” “Be anxious for nothing” . . . no thing!
When you finally come to the end of yourself . . . God! Pray On!
