Wow!  What a crazy week it has been here in America!

Scrolling through social media and the news this week, it’s easy to become discouraged.  If you’re anything like me, you don’t like uncertainty in life.  Yet here we are in uncertain times.  

It’s easy during these times to lose focus and instead, turn our eyes on things which are not certain.  It’s simple to dwell on something to the point where it begins to impact us mentally, emotionally, and physically.  

I worry about things too.  In fact, worry is something I’ve always struggled with.  I’m not ashamed or embarassed to admit it.  If each of us were honest with ourselves, although we know it isn’t healthy, we could admit to worrying about something at some point in time.

When I was in the military and saw things on the news taking place in foreign countries, especially the Middle East, I would often worry how it would effect me.

Would I have to leave home again?

How long would I be gone?

Would my family be okay?

What was this deployment going to be like?

We worry about finances:

Car Payment

Rent

Mortgage

Groceries and putting food on the table

Monthly bills

We worry about our health:

What will the blood test reveal?

What will my recent MRI show?

We worry about our country:

What will happen if President Trump stays in office?

What will America look like with former VP Joe Biden in the White House?

Will they really take away my guns?

Will the rioting and violence across the nation continue?

What will be left of America for my children to grow up in?

I heard Biden wants to get rid of God and stop Americans from going to church.  Will he?

Will America become more racist?

What will happen with immigration?

We resort to worrying about every single thing.  When each of us was a child and we found ourselves in difficult circumstances, what did we do?  For many of you, like me, we ran to our parents or guardians, or to an adult that made us feel safe.  We didn’t worry.  We didn’t know what worry was, apart from wondering if our parents would find out we said a cuss word, took a cookie before dinner, or about our report cards.  

As adults, what is the first thing we now resort to when faced with difficult circumstances, uncertainty, or things outside our control?  We resort to worrying.

We as Christians go to God last, only after realizing all the worrying we had done resulted in only more worrying.  We worried and dwelled on something so much, that it brought up more thoughts and questions that made us worry even more!

Because a lot of people are going through this week wondering what’s next, and becoming more and more anxious, I wanted to do a quick study as to what the Bible says in regards to worry and anxiety.  The following are just a few verses that touch on the topic.

In Matthew 6:25-27, Jesus says - “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?  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?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”

Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6 - “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.”

Psalms 94:19 says, “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your (speaking of God) comforts delight my soul.”

Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.”

Jesus, during His earthly ministry, wasn’t a stranger to emotional and mental agony.  Leading up to the most difficult time of His life here on earth, prior to being arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, beaten, scourged, and then crucified, Christ did the same thing we did as children.  He turned to His Father.

Let’s take a look at the gospel of Matthew 26:36-46

In chapter 22 of his gospel, Luke describes the agony Jesus was in, and that His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  It is unknown as to whether Luke was describing Jesus’ tears metaphorically, or if Jesus was actually sweating blood - a condition where extreme anguish or physical strain causes the body’s capillary blood vessels to dilate and burst, mixing sweat and blood.  In either case, Luke is highlighting the intensity of Jesus’ emotional and physical trauma.

Why are you worried about tomorrow?  Why is your mind consumed and your heart weighed down with things that haven’t even begun to happen yet?

Proverbs 15:3 tells us, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the eveil and the good.”

The prophet Isaiah wrote in chapter 40 verses 28, 29, and 31, “Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.  His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.  But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.  They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:27 through 31, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.  And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?  And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Psalms 147:4 and 5 says, “He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.  Great is our LORD, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.”

The same God who knows the stars by name, created the universe, rose from the dead, numbered the hairs on your head, and holds the very beat of your heart in His hands, was present yesterday, is here today, and will be there tomorrow.  

Stop worrying about things you have absolutely no control over.  Isn’t it so much easier to resign your position as the all-knowing and all-controlling master of the universe, and just allow God to do His job?  After all, you and I can’t even add one extra breath to our lives.  Learn to let it go and rely on God.

Thank you all so much for listening.  Digging deeper into scripture today and seeing what God says about worry was insightful for me, and I hope it was for you as well.  Until next time, take care of yourself, take care of each other, pray for our nation, or leaders, and God bless America.