Tempted to Worry

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 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:25-26)

Overall, everyone in this world, even Christians spend approximately five years of a 64-year lifespan worrying. (Celeb News / 24 August 2015, 6:00pm) It is understandable that non-Christians would worry since they don’t believe in a loving Father. But we should be different, and we should show that difference to the world. This is so much easier to talk about than to do. 

There are more than 300 verses in the bible telling us not to worry, be anxious, or fear, and yet we continue to spend hours each day concerned over things we cannot change. We worry about big things and we worry about things that mean nothing. Worry does not add one minute to our lives and it changes nothing. Worry does not solve any problems. It does not encourage or bring glory to God. Worry is worthless. 

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? (Matthew 6:27)

God’s word clearly instructs us NOT to worry and to have faith that He will manage our situations. When we are overcome with an uncontrollable urge to do those things that are not what God wants, that is temptation. God does not want us to worry or He would not have put so much about it in His word. 

We don’t usually think of worry as a temptation but clearly, when things are not going as we would like them to, try as we might to not worry, we are often tempted beyond control to take our minds off of God’s care and worry, stress, and fret.

If, then, we are tempted to worry, who is it that tempts us? The one who tempts us to do wrong is always Satan. The prince of darkness is the one who wants to harm our relationship with God, who wants to steal our joy, who causes us to worry, and then accuses us of a lack of faith so that we feel even worse in the end.

And give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:27)

The devil will take every opportunity we give him to make us miserable. He will try to turn us from God but if that is not possible and we stand firm, he will try to divert our focus away from God to be anxious about our problems. He uses every trick even making us think that worrying is not a temptation.

Viewing worry as a temptation and not as a human weakness give us more insight and strength to fight and not feel guilty for our lack of faith. We must remember that faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and that faith is something that must be asked for. We can ask for more faith from the Holy Spirit while we resist the devil’s temptation to worry about those things of which we have no control.

So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. (2 Corinthians 2:11)

It is commonplace for us to worry, some more than others. To stop such an ingrained emotion may seem impossible but with God all things are possible. Our minds betray us, so we must start relying on our hearts instead. 

Christ did not worry about paying taxes, about how to speak in public or about how to feed the crowds.  These are the same things we worry about today, but He knew that His Father would take care of His needs. We should not be giving up five years of our lives in worry when we too know that our Father will take care of us. Prayer is the only way to fight this temptation. 

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)

Prayer: Our Father who art in Heaven, help us fight this sneaky temptation that takes our minds off You. It seems natural to worry, but we want our faith to be strengthened by Your Holy Spirit so that we can overcome constant anxiety. We know that it serves no purpose in this life or in Your Kingdom. Free us from worry so that we can give You all our concerns and trust that You will meet our needs. Show us how to give up the burden of trying to solve all the problems that face us each day and guide us to be still and know that You are God. Amen