My family comes from a long line of worry warts. Not the mild concern type worry, but the all-consuming hand-wrenching worry that puts knots in your stomach and keeps you up at night.
My dad was a master worrier. It intensified as he got older and moved to a nursing home. He worried about me driving at night, about his grandkids making good choices, about the weather tomorrow.
He would often say with a smile “I have a lot of time on my hands. I need something to worry about!”
He wasn’t alone. Many people’s lives are consumed with worry.
The word “worry” in the Bible is an interesting and revealing study. From the Greek merimnao—it is literally a “dividing of the mind.” In God’s view, worrying is unbelief, the opposite of faith. It divides the mind, pulling it in two opposing directions.
Can we be trusting God and worrying at the same time?
Used five times in the latter part of Matthew 6, the King James Version (KJV) translates merimnao as “take no thought,” while other versions like the New Living Translation (NLT) use the word “worry.” Either way, it is saying “Don’t be divided in your mind . . .”
“. . . I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear.” (vs. 25) “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” (vs.27) “And why worry about your clothing?” (vs.28) “So don’t worry about these things, saying What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” (vs. 31) “So don’t worry about tomorrow . . .” (vs. 34) (NLT)
Our minds aren’t to be divided between worrying about our need and trusting God’s promised provision. In other words, we can’t be living in the unbelief of worry and the belief of faith at the same time!
Philippians 4:6-7 is another familiar passage in which God tells us not to worry, and what to do to instead experience His peace:
“Don’t worry (merimnao—or “be anxious (KJV)) about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)
When consumed with worry, we’re usually trying to figure things out ourselves, leaving God out of the picture. Prayerfully living in the Lord’s presence gives us peace, and eliminates our need to worry. He never leaves us. Jesus Christ lives to make intercession to God on our behalf.
Worrying is imagining the future without God.
As the shepherd leads the sheep and they follow, His presence goes before us into our day.
Knowing that, what have we to worry about?
Copyright © 2015 Cheryl Elton
Good reminders, Cheryl. Thanks from someone who tends to get a little anxious when life feels overwhelming. Then I remember the promises of God.
<3