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God is in control!

I am one of those people who struggles with always trying to do everything myself. I hate asking people for help, oftentimes feeling like I am being a burden when I ask something of someone else. As much as I hate to say it, I foolishly do this with God at times too! Yet, the Bible tells us that when or if we have problems, or worries, or trials, we shouldn’t get caught up in trying to solve our own problems. In fact, there is honor in admitting and confessing our helplessness to Him.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

God wants to be in all aspects of our lives, helping us with even the most rudimentary worries we have, including and even the “groanings too deep for words”. Matthew 6:25-34 is phenomenal, as it dives a little more extensively into the subject of worry than any other chapter and verse of the Bible. Let’s look at that:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you— you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

We worry about money and finances, our children, our lives, our relationships, and anything else that might cause a person to lose sleep. Yet, we are told that a tiny, almost seemingly meaningless creature like a bird is taken care of and tended to by God… so how silly are we to think or believe for a second that every action we take, whether great or small, is not important to God? After all, we are created in His image, and referred to as His children! The ungodly and non-Christians all over the world chase after thoughts of “What shall I drink? What shall I wear?”, and yet they too eat, and are clothed. When God cares so much about those who forsake Him, then how much more confident should we be that He too loves us, and will provide for us unfailingly?

The power of of God telling us, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own…” is a simple masterpiece and marvel. It reminds us that we should not worry, and that God is in control. When God tells us, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.” (2Timothy 4:18), how can we justify our worry? When God is your rock, the One you lean on in times of trial, and you are promised to be rescued from every evil deed set against you, how can we justify continuing to worry? Notice the Bible doesn’t say “most” evil deed against you, it says you will be rescued from every evil deed against you.

When you put your trust and faith in Him, there is never a single reason or legitimate justification for worrying. Not one! Yet we all do it. So, what is the trick to losing our worries? I remember one of the first books that I read in college which had a profound impact on me. It was by a Christian psychologist (ironically, before I was a Christian) named M. Scott Peck. This, from his book “The Road Less Traveled”, has impacted me for years: “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult- once we truly understand and accept it- then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.”

Life is tough! And funny enough, the sooner we accept that, the easier it becomes not to worry. The Bible supports this notion, because God never promises us that we won’t have trials, or difficulties, or that there will not be seasons of discontent or strife in our lives. In fact, just the opposite! The Bible warns us that even a righteous man will have many troubles, “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.” (Psalm 34:19).

God never promises that life isn’t or won’t be difficult, He only promises that the temptation or results of sin will never exceed what you can handle, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1Corinthians 10:13). Our problems are common! There is nothing that you are experiencing that hasn’t already been experienced by another person throughout the course of human history. God knows your troubles, He’s seen them before, and best of all, no matter what pressure you feel, trials you experience, or season of despair you feel you are living, God promises that you will be provided a way out from your sin or your temptations.

One of the most common worries for a brother or sister in Christ are those worries of our past. People think to themselves, “I did ___________, which is a sin that is so much greater an offense than how most other Christians sin…” It is the lie of self-guilt! Sometimes, people have an easier time forgiving others, than they do themselves. Yet Paul felt that same shame, self doubt, and guilt, and he was one of the 12 apostles! Whenever I find myself saying, “Dangit, I am such an idiot…”, I can’t help but smile and think of the Apostle Paul saying, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25).

Paul felt the exact, same way as we do at times, calling ourselves names, questioning why we are “so this” or “so poorly that”. “What a wretched man I am!” That verse makes me laugh because of how literally and directly I can relate to it! Yet Paul also shares earlier in Romans, that despite that self-loathing and worrying of what sinful creatures we are, we are to be confident and encouraged: “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-24)

We all sin! We all suck! We are all idiots! I know that comes across a little strong, but the fact remains, in the eyes of a Righteous, Omnipotent, Just, Pure and Holy God, we all fall short of His glory! My sins, your sins, they are covered by the sacrifice of Jesus, and thrown into the Sea of Forgetfulness! It’s funny, because one of the areas of our lives that many Christians often worry the most about, is the one area of our lives that we should be worrying the least about. God has got your back… don’t worry!

In fact, relating back to that statement from M. Scott Peck’s book, the trial and difficulties that we experience actually help to make us stronger, and better equip us to deal with those trials and difficulties. “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4). Further, and even better, God is right there with us every step of the way… he is there while we deal with those learning experiences that teach us character and hope. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18).

“…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6). “Let not your hearts be troubled.” (John 14:1). “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12).

It does not matter what it is you are worrying about. It could be your Internet business, losing a job, financial difficulties, getting married, getting divorced, a fight with your spouse, your child is sick, your child is partying and seems to be away from God, you’ve lost a family member, or any of the vast array of problems that this world likes to pile upon us. The fact remains: the worry or the problem is irrelevant! What matters is Whom you place your worry with. Where or Who do you turn to when a trial, or season of change falls upon you? If you place your worry in Him, then you have nothing to fear, and nothing which to worry about.

Remember, this life on this earth is not a race to the end, but a journey… and when we accept it as being a journey and being difficult with trials along the way, the sooner we can revel in the amazing blessings that God has in store for us.

I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.   (Ecclesiastes 9:11)

God gives us free will, and when given the opportunity to make our own choices, things can happen by chance. As stated in the highlighted verse above, “…time and chance happen to them all”. This is why it is important to pray to Him, so that He may intervene when chance falls upon us. One day I might be driving down the street and blindsided by another vehicle, totaling my car and injuring myself in the process…  because “chance happen to them all”. This is why that relationship with Him is so crucially important. Pray, and have relationship with Him, so that He may intervene.

Isaiah repeats this same idea more often than any other person in the Bible. Don’t try to solve all your problems yourself! Just as I said in the opening of this post, I error in trying to be too self-sufficient. Yet instead we should be looking to, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Trust in God.

Today, we pray and lift you up that you will not worry, and that you give all your cares to God. We pray that you do not worry about this business endeavor your are pursuing, that you do not worry about the naysayers in your life that insist, “That sounds like a scam. It’ll never work. You can’t make money online, sheesh!” We pray that you give your worries about family, relationships, and finances, to God! God loves you and cares for you, and He will never forsake you. Hold tight to that thought, and give to Him all your worry with prayer and supplication, and you too will be blessed and more worry-free than you have ever been. 🙂

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and may God bless you wildly!