I am a worrier. Yep, I honestly hate to admit this because I know that this is not a good trait to have, and is, in fact, a sin, but the reality is, I have been a worrier for as long as I can remember. I can’t tell you how many times the phrase, “I am so worried about ______”  has come out of my mouth? For some of us, cause I know I am not alone, this phrase is said every day and often more than once a day. I have met a few people in my life who never worry, and this is truly hard to believe for a “career” worrier. I don’t know when it started, but I can remember as a small child being worried about all kinds of things. I would create “what if” scenarios on a regular basis. I would lay awake at night trying to fall asleep, but I couldn’t because I was too worried. I worried about my parents, my grandparents, my siblings, my friends and even whether I was going to wake up in the morning. Now, before you start thinking this girl needs help, I will go ahead and admit that I do. In fact, I know that worry has been a joy killer and a peace slayer in my life during different seasons, and there is nothing like a pandemic and a political divide like we have never seen to cause an all out war on a girl’s nerves and move the worry meter to danger levels! 

So, what is the cause of worry? The simple answer is that it is a lack of faith, but this is anything but simple. If you asked me about my faith in God; I would wholeheartedly, passionately and without doubt express that I believe that Jesus Christ lived, died for my sins and was raised again to give me victory over death. I believe that He is both Savior and Lord and He is the only one who can make life worth living. I believe that God is sovereign over all things and holds the “whole world in His hands”. I believe He is the creator and sustainer of life, and without Him we are irrevocably lost! So if I believe all of this so emphatically, how can I also be a worrier? This is the question I ask myself every time I fall into a cycle of worry! 

If I believe that God is who He says He is, how can I allow anxiety to overtake my emotions? Why do I listen to the lies from the enemy rather than resting in the promises of God? The concept of worry is not a 21st century problem though; it is actually a problem that has existed since the fall of man and one that Jesus, himself, addresses in His famous sermon on the mount recorded in Matthew 6. In fact, he spends a significant amount of time encouraging His listeners with this admonition not to worry! He reminds them that worry has no place in the life of the believer. Why? Because God cares and just as he takes care of the birds of the air, He will also take care of His children. But Jesus does not just tell us to stop worrying, He also tells us how. He sums it all up with: 

 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. NASB (Matt. 6:31-33). 

Jesus’ remedy for worry is to SEEK HIM FIRST! 

The writer Isaiah says it another way, 

You will keep in perfect peace

    all who trust in you,

    all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (NLT) Isaiah 26:3

So, if we can put all of this together by saying, 

When we seek Him first, and keep our mind focused on Him rather than our worries, we will have peace. In a world where so much is unknown and every morning there are new things to worry about we have to commit ourselves to a “seek Him first” mentality. However, we have to acknowledge that the world (satan) is in an all out war to take away our peace. A Christian who is consumed by worry and fear is powerless to serve and draw others to Christ. This is why we have to be diligent, steadfast and resolved to FOCUS on God and HIS WORDS. Just a short time before Jesus left the disciples and went to the cross, he left them with these words: 

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27 – NLT) 

Jesus reminds us that we will not find PEACE in the world! No election results, vaccine, justice system, scientific discovery… will bring an end to our worry. Did you catch an important point that Jesus said? The PEACE he gives is NOT like the world’s peace. In fact, the world CANNOT give this type of PEACE. So, we need to stop looking for an end to our worries from anything the world brings. Only the PEACE that Jesus gives us will make our hearts calm, restful and ultimately joyful. Will you commit with me today to seek HIM first. Grab your Bible and a prayer journal and seek HIM who is PEACE and let the things of the world fade away!