Worry Is Fear That God Will Fail Us
The Lord does not want us to worry (Eccl 11:10, Moffatt; Phil 4:6-7). Being anxious results in various kinds of trouble (Ps 37:8, TEV). It undermines faith in God (Mt 6:24-25), encourages us to act as if God doesn’t love us (Dan 10:19, TEV), weighs us down (Prov 12:25, NCV), and disrupts our intimacy with the Lord (Ps 46:10, GW). In addition, worry leads to disturbed sleep (Eccl 5:3, NAB), emotional disturbance with foolish decisions (Ps 73:21-22, Harrison), inability to be happy (Prov 12:25, EVD), and distorted views of God and the future (Eccl 5:3, NJB). By worrying, we bring trouble on ourselves (Lk 10:41, TCNT).
What is the answer to worrying? We don’t give in to it (Ps 37:8, TEV) but entrust our concerns to the Lord (1 Pet 5:7). When appropriate, we confess our sins to make sure we maintain a clear conscience (Ps 38:18, TEV). We remember that God loves us (Dan 10:19, TEV) and takes a great interest in us (1 Pet 5:7, Moffatt). In addition, we focus on the Lord (Col 3:2, LB), entrust our future to Him (1 Pet 5:7, Wuest), and routinely confide in Him all the specifics of our needs with thanksgiving (Phil 4:6-7, Phillips). Praising God is a key way to avoid worrying. As Cowman put it, “It is easier to sing your worries away than to reason them away.” Receiving an encouraging word from another is helpful (Prov 12:25, CEB).
Oswald Chambers said that “worry springs from a determination to get our own way” and “means ‘I know you will abandon me.’” Let us trust the Lord to strengthen us as we recognize that “anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength” (Charles Spurgeon).
Unending pleasure in the next life; training for godly pleasure in this one.