DON’T WORRY, IT COULD BE WORSE
By: C. Mason Davis
A Peanuts cartoon showed Charlie Brown bringing Snoopy his dinner on Thanksgiving Day. But it was just his usual dog food. Snoopy looked at his bowl and said, “This isn’t fair. The rest of the world today is eating turkey with all the trimmings, and all I get is dog food. Because I’m a dog, all I get is dog food.” He stared at his food for a while, and said, “I guess it could be worse. I could be a turkey.”
TODAYS SCRIPTURE
Matthew 6:34: “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.”
Worry is a state of the mind. It’s not a disease. It’s not an illness. But it is an excuse. It is one of the most overused excuses one can use to hide from life. An excuse to avoid anything and everything in attempting to shelter oneself from living a life that God would want you to experience. The Bible tells us that worrying is a complete waste of time. Matthew 6:27 says, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" This verse suggests that most of what we worry about doesn't happen. Jesus also says in Matthew 6:25, “Therefore, I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”
There are two things in life you should never worry about. First, those things you can actually change, and things you can do something about. Second, those things you can’t do anything about. If there is nothing you can do why spend your time worrying? Don’t waste your time. Matthew points out that life is much bigger than the things that we worry about, and think are so important. In Matthew 6:26, Jesus says, “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” Do you think they’re worried? God takes care of them. He takes care of us. So, worrying is simply a waste of time and time is precious.
Although to worry about anything is a waste of time, as humans, most of use worry because we think the worst of every situation. That every situation that we find ourselves worrying about is at a level that “nothing could be worse” than what you’re going thru at that time. Everything becomes dire. Because of this, we scare ourselves into becoming very negative in every thought and start to feel that there is no hope. We lose faith in ourselves to the point of forgetting or denying our faith, but by turning to God in these times can make all the difference. There is a truth to life that most of us never come to realize, and that is that no matter how dire something in our lives seem to be, things could always be worse. Everything can always be worse than whatever happens. Worrying can drag you down into the depths of despair, but if you start to look at the ways your situation could be worse, you can then be more thankful that things aren’t as bad as they seem. So why worry?
As a child, I was always made fun of because of my first and middle names. I constantly worried that my teachers or family would use my given names to others and that would just be horrifying to me. I had asked my mother why she gave me the names that she did, and she told me that my first name was her father’s first name, and my middle name was my dad’s father’s middle name. That really didn’t stop me from worrying about other’s finding out my real name and the constant teasing and bullying that came from those names. In case you’re wondering what, my real name is, it’s Carlie Mackenzie Davis. The Davis part of my name is great, but the first and middle names are…well, embarrassing to me. I had asked my mother why she didn’t name me after my dad’s father’s first name and her father’s middle name, the realization of just how much worse my name could have been. I would have been named, Ego Wayne Davis. Thus, this issue could really have been worse than it was. Since that time, I’ve tried not to worry about anything because no matter what I’ve been through, it could always have been worse. You may be thinking that how could losing a loved one be worse than actually losing them? Well, it could have been worse if you had lost that loved one much earlier than now, so you didn’t have as much time with them in your life as you had. How could it be worse if you just lost a job you loved and you can’t find one you love just as much? It could be worse if you couldn’t find a job at all or that no one would hire you. How could it be worse if you’ve lost everything including your home, and now you’re homeless? It could be worse if you didn’t have your car to live in or a shelter to go to, instead you had to sleep out in the open without anything to eat and no one to help. God is always there for us and because of this, we should never wane in our faith of Him. We can’t give up on Him!
Worry can become even worse as it can develop into anxiety which is an overwhelming apprehension that causes people to become distressed, distraught, and tormented with the inability to cope. Worry is very bad for your overall health. Bad for you, mind, body, and soul. What is worry spiritually? The spiritual side of worry is an indication of emotional attachments, lack of willingness to put forth consistent effort, lack of faith, and ultimately a lack of understanding of how life in God works.
We also learn that worry demonstrates a lack of trust. But a lack of trust in whom? Yourself? Your faith? Your lack of trust in God? We worry about so many things that are just not that important. Don’t you think He will provide for you too, oh, ye of little faith!
After many years of not going to church an elderly lady decides to go to her local service. Although very poor and with worn-out clothing, she dressed in her best and headed out. As she approached the church, she saw all the people dressed in such splendor. Not a stain, not a rip or tear on any of their clothes. The preacher and deacons stood and welcomed people as they entered. She?began to walk up the stairs when one of the men stopped her and explained that they had a dress code. He explained that clothes must be pristine and sharp to show respect to the Lord and turned her away. Dejected and embarrassed, she left and sat on a nearby bench, crying and composing herself, wondering why a church of God wouldn't accept her. As she sat, Jesus sat down next to her. He put a comforting hand on her shoulder and said, "Don't worry, they won't let me in, either."
How many of us feel that our lives would improve if we could spend more time worrying about things? In?Matthew,?Jesus talks about a topic we can all relate to, and that word is “worry.” Now we understand worry and we understand what it means to be thankful, but I don’t think that we understand the connection between the two and how thankfulness can help us overcome worry. Matthew 6:31-33 says, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
But why worry? There only two things to worry about.
Either you are well, or you are sick.
If you are well there is nothing to worry about.
If you are sick, then there are only two things to worry about.
Either you will get well, or you will die.
If you get well then there is nothing to worry about.
If you die, then there are only two things to worry about.
Either you will go to heaven, or you will go to hell.
If you go to heaven, then there is nothing to worry about.
If you go to hell, you will be so busy catching up with your old friends that you won’t have time to worry.
Worry reflects a lack of gratitude. He tells us stop worry about what you are going to eat, what you’re going to drink and what you’re going to wear. Stop and focus and what you have, not what you don’t have. Because most of us have plenty, especially compared to people in other parts of the world. Does this make sense? Worry reflects a lack of priorities, but when you know to be thankful for what you do have, it’s because you know things could be worse.
We all struggle with worrying, but when you follow Jesus’ instruction in this passage you will not worry about anything, anymore. Wouldn’t that be nice? Not to worry about anything? It is possible, but you need to follow Jesus’ instructions to get there. Don’t worry, for when you put God first, God will take care of you.
The key word in today’s passage is “worry.” Worrying is not supposed to be an option for the Christian. Jesus doesn’t suggest we stop worrying. He doesn’t tell us he thinks it’s a good idea. He commands it. And so, we need to obey and not worry. If anything, be more focused on how things can be worse than they are or than how you expect things to be, then give thanks to God for the life you have. Growing up, I was always in multiple athletic sports where we had a saying, “Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff.” We went into every event with confidence just as God wants you to live each day with the confidence to overcome every hurdle in life that could possibly make you worry, but instead, defeat those hurdles with confidence. Can you add even one hour to your life by worrying about it? The answer of course is no. Worrying can actually shorten your life, but you cannot add a single hour to your life by worrying. God can show you the way or provide the way for you. He didn’t remove the Red Sea, He parted it. God doesn’t always remove your problems, but He will make a way through them.
Your life is in God’s hands. He determined the day you were born, and he determines the day you will die. Some of us live a long life; some of us die sooner than others. Jesus also teaches us here that worry is incompatible with faith. Worry replaces faith. Worry is impatient with faith. Matthew, 6:30 states, “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Another way to look at worry is to ask yourself what Jesus asked. He asked, “Why do you worry?” Now he reveals the answer to his own question. It is due to a lack of faith. First of all, worry has to do with the future. Jesus says, in Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." I once saw a bumper sticker that read: “Smile! Tomorrow may be worse!” Don’t let worry about tomorrow rob you of God’s blessings for today. Jesus is telling us to live for the moment, not in fear of the future. Why add tomorrow’s trouble to today? This reminds me of a story… One day a very wealthy father took his son on a trip to the country for the sole purpose of showing his son how it was to be poor. They spent a few days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. After their return from the trip, the father asked his son how he liked the trip. “It was great, Dad,” the son replied. “Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked. “Oh Yeah,” said the son. “So, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.” The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “It showed me just how poor we really are.”
God doesn’t promise you a trouble-free life, but he does offer you a worry-free life. God gives you all grace and mercy you need for each day. Everyone has daily troubles, but as God’s children, we also have daily mercies. We read in Lamentations 3:22-23, “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” God cares for you, for me, for us, for everybody, very much. And he does! If you are in Christ, you have a heavenly Father who knows what you need and has promised to take care of you. Worry is incompatible with faith. Put your trust in God and seek his kingdom first.
How many would like to learn how to worry more? Worrying about things is like riding a stationary bike. There is a lot of energy expended but there is no forward progress. Jesus uses the birds of the air and the flowers of the fields to drive home this point. But I think the best evidence that tells us how much God cares for us is found in?John 3:16."For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God loves each of us. We needn’t worry because God will NOT put more on our plate than what we can handle. We worry because we care too much about the wrong things. Our priorities are wrong. We worry about what we are going to eat but we don’t care about what we are going to do with the life that the food makes possible. We worry about what we are going to wear but we are not concerned about what we are going to do with the bodies we put the clothes on. We worry about living to a ripe old age and we care less about what happens after our earthly bodies give up. Putting first things first gives us the right perspective and it gives us the strength to face life without worries. Doesn’t this make sense?
Seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness involves a continued hunger for knowing Him and wanting to be like Him. A true believer is never content with where they are at in their walk with God. When growing in that relationship is our top priority God will take care of everything else. When our priority is the spiritual God, He will take care of the material because as God guides God provides. That is why the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”? Ask and ye shall receive. Seek and ye shall find. Knock, and doors will open for you.
After hearing this message to this point, do any of you still believe that your lives would improve if you could spend more time worrying about things? Is worrying more going to help you to be more prepared for each day to come? When we are seeking God first, we are trusting in His power rather than our own power. We are trusting in His wisdom rather than our own wisdom. We are told not to worry because worry can lead to selfish decisions in life. The day and age that we live in has been called the “Age of Anxiety.” People today are worried about so much. We worry because life can be difficult; we worry because sometimes bad things happen. Being concerned about something means that you have an interest in and want to give attention to something. Concern can become worry if we fail to turn every situation over to God.
Are you a person who worries a lot, or are you a person who worries little?
Here is the bad news. We live in a real world that has sin in it. Because sin is in the world bad things happen. People will get sick, cars will break down, there will be wars, there will be forces of nature that cause things to happen. I am not trying to be fatalistic. I am not saying what will happen will happen so there is nothing we can do. Our future can be uncertain and that is the main reason people worry. We worry because we don’t know what is going to happen tonight, tomorrow, or next week. Don’t cry over the past, it’s gone. Don’t stress about the future, it hasn’t arrived. Live in the present and make it beautiful. We worry because we are not in control. We worry because it’s all we can do and still it is not enough. Give it to God and He will provide.
Stop waiting for the world to help you. Stop trying to impress everyone. Let yourself hope (in God). Identify your life needs and focus on what really matters. Deal with distress. Question yourself. And get advice when you're stuck.
Be aware of what's happening around you and learn to trust and love the Lord unconditionally.
I’m trusting in a God who loves me always. Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I’m trusting in a God who has everything pass through His hands first. Psalm 103:11 says, “For His unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.” I’m trusting in a God who is working for my good. Matthew 10:29-31 says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” I’m trusting in a God who will right all wrongs someday. Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I’m trusting in a God who will trade every sorrow for joy in eternity. Acts 17:31 says, “For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” And finally, I’m trusting in a God who will kiss my boo-boo’s when I fall. Revelation 21:4 states that, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
How do we surrender to God? First, you need to understand that It's a conscious choice you need to make. Pray and acknowledge Him as your Lord. Ask Him to take over. You can give your worries to God through emotional acceptance of Him, you can yield to His every want, and you must be thankful. Remember that God has a plan for all of us. So, give your worries to God for real peace. If you worry about being perfect all the time, then you’ll miss out on all of life’s surprises. You’ll miss out on all of life’s challenges and end up empty inside. We need to destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We need to capture our rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. God has given us the power to take control of our thoughts. When overthinking becomes an obstacle to our relationship with Him, it's time to capture those thoughts! So, don’t worry, it can always be worse.
My prayer for you is that you stop worrying. Amen!
