Worry

Like I have always said, it is much easier to read the lines of the Bible than to practice what it says. But by the grace of God it is not impossible to practice the instructions of the Bible, it’s all about where our focus is and our ability to trust God to help us through been able to do what He ask and wants us to do.

One important thing that keeps coming to mind is that: “Is it a sin to do what God hates?” There are a lot of laws and instructions and requirements in the Bible that are totally separate from the 10 commandments. So is it only the 10 commandments that are regarded as sin or every don’ts of the Bible should be regarded as sin?

Well permit me to express my own view at this point as the first to share her thoughts. For me I will say that it is not just the 10 commandments that are regarded as sin but every word that comes out of the mouth of the Lord prohibiting us from taking a step or doing a thing contrary to the desire of the Lord. Eve at the beginning ate the forbidden fruit and sinned, then the 10 commandments were not in existence yet she and Adam sinned. So we will not be wrong to say and put a stamp of approval as sin on doing anything that the Lord hates or prohibits us not to do.

Now is we have been able to get this fact straight that it is a sin to do what God hates and has expressly instructs us not to do, then you will agree with me that it is a sin to worry. Please do not wow at this, I didn’t give that instruction, the Lord did.

Matthew 6:25-34

“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 important than food, and the body more important 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 more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

“And why worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour 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, O 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. 

With this passage it is very well understandable that the instruction not to worry isn’t given by any man but by God Himself. But in truth it is easier to say the words “don’t worry” than to actually not worry, most especially when the challenges of life seem too much to bear.

When God instructed against worry, He very well understood that worry never stops the problem or create a path way to the solution of the problem. But rather what worry does is to invite fear that works contrary to our faith requisite to obtaining a solution to the problem. Worry also works contrary to our well-being and has become the root cause of quite a number of health problems that do not go away with a tap of the finger. Worry is the mastermind of sicknesses like hypertension and high blood pressure.

In truth it isn’t so easy not to worry but when we are able to trust God’s ability to solve our problems then we are miles ahead of the challenges that are overwhelming our lives. The Bible tells us in Roman 4:18-25 that Abraham believed the promise of God to give him a child because he knew that God had the power to do what He has promised.

Romans 4:21 reads “being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised to do,” the focus for Abraham was not as much on the promise given as it was on the One who made the promise. You might tend to worry when you are yet to be aware of the ability of God to solve your problems, but when you have a revelation of the awesomeness of God, your confidence in Him is awakened, and your faith boast up and you are able to trust that what you are going that otherwise should have ignited worry in you is just a temporary passing face that God is mindful of and is in the process of taking you out of it. Do you know of the awesome mighty power of God? If you do not know then pray for God to show you just a bit of Himself, I am positive He will be glad to do that.

The Lord Jesus in Matthew 6, tells us not to worry, this instruction was given because God knows that worry paralysis faith. And yet never get the problem solved. But one instruction that Jesus gave that we need to always remind ourselves of is that instead of worry we need to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be added to us. To seek the kingdom of God is to delight ourselves in pleasing God. As children of God, the Bible tells us that our relationship with God should be of topmost priority to us. When our relationship with God has been firmed up and looking good, all other things will be taken care of by God.

Our relationship with God determines our true knowledge of Him, and once we know God well enough, we will know the magnitude of His power and then trusting Him will not take an effort. Once we are able to trust God well enough, He pours Himself out for us and meets all our needs in the fullness of His power that we have come know and embrace.

David said in Psalm 37:4 that “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” This sounds very similar to what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all other things will be given to you as well.” When you have a relationship with the Lord then your life is very well covered; those challenges of your life that appears big and impossible are all just a word away from being over.

The Roman Centurion in Matthew 8:5-13 understood the truth that his problem was just a word away from being over. All he needed was a contact with Jesus, then a word from Him and all will be well. He didn’t request for much from Jesus, all he asked the Master was the He speaks the word and his servant will be well. And all that Jesus told the centurion is to “Go! It will be done just as you believe it would.” By the time the centurion got home, it was done just as he believed it would.

Matthew 7:7-11

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  

I really like the arrangement of things in the Bible, just as Jesus was finishing with the instruction of not to worry, He spoke about criticizing others and immediately gave the next instruction on asking. It is as if the Lord is telling us that instead of worrying ask. As a child of God knowing, understanding and embracing the truth of the awesome power of God then instead of worrying and fretting, God wants you to ask Him for anything and He is ready and willing to do as you have asked.

He did not limit our ability to ask, He didn’t tell us what to or not to ask for, but said we should ask and we shall receive. John 15:7 reads “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” John 16:23-24 reads “In that day you will no longer ask me anything, I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” Jesus didn’t tell us we are only allowed to ask for specific things or make some definite requests alone, but that we should have for anything in His name and we will receive. No limit, no restrictions, no barriers, but that we should ask for anything.

But this open check of withdrawal from heavens resources is only open to those who are God’s children. Those who belong to Christ and remain in Him; this largesse is not extended to unbelievers, neither is it open to pagans, but to the true sons of God.

If you are yet to give your life to Jesus, I suppose you know that you are just subjecting yourself to unnecessary hardship. Why not look around you and know that you can truly overcome those challenges and struggles only by the power of God made available only to the sons of God. It is not possible to claim the goods or enjoy the inheritance of a Father who is not yours.

Becoming a child of God does not cost money; you don’t have to make absurd sacrifices to receive abundant life in Christ. It does not call for the shedding of blood, it is just a heart that is tired of this miserable life embracing a mighty power that saves and delivers. John 1:12-13 reads “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” This is all that is required of you to become a child of God. Nothing big, not bogus, just a heart that is yielded to the perfect finished work of Christ on the cross at Calvary; acknowledging that you are a sinner that needs a Saviour and receiving Christ into your life as your Lord and Saviour. Once you have been able to truly make this decision, I implore you to start reading this post over again from the beginning to know just in a minute part what grace you have found in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanks giving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I want us to close this discussion with Paul’s words in the passage above. Just like Jesus, Paul said we should not be anxious about anything at all. Anxiety and worry are just two words implying or meaning the same thing. Paul says DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING. The sickness is there, but don’t worry is what God says; the debt is there, but don’t worry is what the Lord says; the bills are growing and there is no income to meet them, yet the Lord says don’t worry. It might sound strange but it’s the truth. Worry does not make a difference in the matter anyway, so even without God saying don’t worry, worrying makes no meaning in the solution we seek.

But instead of worry, God wants you to pray. Jesus says ASK, Paul says PRAY, two words point to the same thing. Paul adds that while praying, remember to thank God. Don’t wait for the solution before thanking God, thank Him while still asking because you believe like Abraham did that He has the power to bring a lasting solution to that problem you are praying for.

Then Paul said “the peace of God that transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When you have stopped to worry and you have asked in faith knowing and believe that God has the power to answer your prayers and grant you the desires of your heart, that peace of God that flows from the throne of God and from the knowledge of what you believe will guards your hearts and minds. Now what is that peace guarding your hearts and minds against?

When I thought about this, what the Holy Spirit dropped in my heart is that the peace of God guards your hearts and minds against recurrent thoughts of worry and the anxiety that might reappear as you wait on God for your answers. Always let the thought of the power and ability of God to solve your problems block your view of the problem itself. The problem is there no doubt as it stares you in the face daily, but you need to let the power of God to solve the problem stare you in the face all the more. Then daily you will enjoy that peace of God that transcends all understanding.

With all that I have learnt, I will rather pray and trust God than to worry and be anxious. May the Lord help us daily as we walk with Him to a glorious end.

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