Learning Not to Worry

trust
Originally uploaded by jaki good

Sometimes in life we try to do things backwards and even though we might get where we want to be we end up working much harder than necessary. The truth is we often don’t get there at all when we try to attack a problem from the wrong side. What I mean is this. We work so hard at trying not to worry about things in our lives. In the end we might end up worrying about trying not to worry. I believe we are attacking the problem from the wrong side. Let’s look at this from the other point of view. What is the opposite of worry? I think the answer for us as Christians is TRUST. If we truly trust we will not worry. Rather than learning how not to worry we should be learning how to trust.

I believe this gets to the very heart of the matter. We must trust that God is real. We must trust that Jesus is the Savior who lived, died, and rose again and paid the price for our sins in the process. We must trust that God care about what happens to us. This does not mean we will not see hardship for hardship will happen. Jesus faced hardship and he told his disciples they would also face persecution and hardship. So, how do we trust completely in God even though that is no guarantee we will have difficult times? The key is we need to get our focus on Jesus and take it away from the things of this world. As long as we are looking at the small picture that is the circumstances that are in my life today, this week, or even this year we will be bombarded by the fears and worries that distract us from God. We have to lift our eyes to Jesus. One of my favorite Psalms is 121 that says:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

I don’t believe this means that I will never have problems since I have already proven that to be wrong. But in the middle of everything that has happened in my life I know deep down that God has been watching over me. Helping me get where I am—where he wants me to be. Nothing can happen to me that God does not allow. Getting my eyes focused on God doesn’t mean I don’t care about what is around me—my family and friends; it doesn’t mean I let my responsibilities go. It means, I choose not to worry about those things—I may still be concerned and care but I will trust God and allow Him to watch over things in His own way.

Trusting God means that I realize that He is in charge of everything in my life. I have settled it in my heart that God is in control and I am not. God is my King and my Lord and I will trust Him. As Job said, “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).

Let me share with you another passage from Psalms:

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.” Psalm 40:1-4

I want to be a man who makes the LORD his trust in every situation—no matter what circumstances come I will trust God. And in the end I will be with Jesus forever in eternity. God is faithful and true and can be trusted with all of my life.

Rather than trying to learn how NOT to worry learn how to trust in God completely.

I would love to hear your thoughts about honoring God through trusting Him in all situations. Please leave a comment.

Tim (By the way, it's great to be posting again.)