Note of Faith January 5, 2024
Worry Is Worthless
Here are two short devotions on worry and trusting in God’s care for us.
My soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. — Psalm 57:1
Worry is a complete waste of energy. It solves nothing. That’s why Jesus said,
Which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life’s span? — Matthew 6:27
In essence He was saying, “You go to bed tonight and fret and fuss because you’re not five feet, eleven inches; you’re only five feet, nine inches. But when you wake up in the morning, you’re still going to be five feet, nine inches.”
Worry will never make you stretch! And it won’t solve that anxiety on your mind either.
Let me be completely candid here. Do you know why we worry? We have a quiet, hidden, love for worry. We enjoy it! When one worry is gone, we replace it with another. There’s always a line of worries waiting to get in the door. So as one goes out the back door, we usher in the next one through the front door. We enjoy entertaining them.
Worries are our mental and emotional companions. But Jesus says, in effect, that they’re worthless!
~Perfect Trust
Worry won’t solve that anxiety on your mind.
God Takes Care of You
Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. — Joshua 1:9
Did you know that worry erases the promises of God from your mind. Jesus implies this when He says,
O men of little faith. Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ — Matthew 6:31
The promise of God is that He will not allow His children to beg for bread. He will care for our needs and that’s the promise you can claim. Since He took care of our greatest need at Calvary by giving us Christ, then you can be sure He will take care of everything else He considers important for us.
~ Perfect Trust
Excerpted from Wisdom for the Way by Charles R. Swindoll, copyright Thomas Nelson.
Luke 12:25-32
25 "And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span? 26 "If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? 27 "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28 "But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! 29 "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.
Try, try hard not to worry. It seems to be part of our makeup. But try, because it truly is worthless. Trust in God, who is faithful to provide all that you need both now and for all eternity!
Pastor Dale