Don't Be Anxious
By Elaine Cook Carr
TODAY’S TREASURE
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? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." - Matthew 6:25-29
"When I am afraid, I will trust in you." - Psalm 56:3
"Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:7
Sometimes while walking in the very early hours of the morning, I wonder aloud about many things. This is likely irritating to my husband, my walking partner, who prefers not to converse until after coffee and 10:00 am, generally speaking. But, because he is infinitely patient and he loves me he attentively listens and occasionally answers. On this particular day, I was noticing all of the beautiful plants and wildflowers along our route. They are always colorful and vibrant even in the middle of the summer in Florida when it is brutally hot. Curious, I asked why it is that none of the wildlife ever looks wilted or burnt up in this heat. If I neglected to water the shrubs and flowers in my flower beds, they would all shrivel up and die.
Not long after that, we saw two deer, an adult, and a fawn. They were frozen in place –obviously afraid of the humans that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. They stood there for a moment staring at us and then bounded quickly away which was a reaction to their natural instincts and fears. We, humans, have gut instincts and fears as well. The problem is that the things that frighten us are not always easily escaped by simply running away.
I don't know what it is that scares you but most people have fears of some kind. My mother had a lifelong fear of the water after nearly drowning as a child. My little brother was terrified of bad weather after lightning struck our house. I have friends whose fears include things such as spiders, birds, cats, and dogs. Daily news can make us fearful and anxious because we don't know what is coming or how bad things in our world might get.
My personal fear is that something might happen to someone I love. Fears created by negative experiences can quickly get out of control and may even border on becoming irrational at times. Our current global situation with the pandemic and unstable political environment is frightening, to say the least, and if we are honest, alarm bells go off in our heads and in our hearts. We begin to wonder and fear that we will perish for lack of water or food. Illness and death seem constantly looming and persecution seems to stand just over the horizon. The "what ifs" can swirl around in our minds until we have no peace or rest.
But there is good news! God is in complete control and his Word can provide us both comfort and relief from our fears and anxieties.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Those beautiful flowers I see here in the summer remind me that God is a complete provider:
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? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. - Matthew 6:25-29
I am also reminded that I am never alone:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will never leave you or forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6
It is also comforting to know that we can admit to God that we are anxious and afraid:
"When I am afraid, I will trust in you." - Psalm 56:3
"Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:7
And lastly, we can be assured that he has already equipped us to fight our fears and anxieties:
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:7
We are but frail human beings. Fear does creep into our hearts and minds, but thanks be to God we don't have to allow it to take up residence there. He has provided all that we need.
PRAYER
"Remind us Lord that when the howling storms of fear and doubt assail, by the living Word of God we shall prevail, standing on the promises of God. (Verse 2 of the hymn "Standing on the Promises of God "– by John Newton.
More free resources for help hope & healing:
Ask Dr. Betters is a topical series of over 400 videos that have reached over 1 ½ million views. Dr. Chuck F. Betters answers questions submitted by our listening audience on suffering and the sovereignty of God. This week’s featured question is: Is talking to the dead a sin?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elaine Cook Carr is a 38-year veteran educator, now retired, and has been married to a wonderful man for almost 48 years. He is also now retired from nearly 40 years of full-time pastoral ministry. In addition to teaching children with special needs, I have, over the years, been deeply involved in both women's and children's ministries in multiple capacities. We are parents to two adult children (a pastor and an RN) and have four precious grandchildren ranging in age from 15 to 5.
For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.
Originally published Friday, 18 August 2023.
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