It’s A Command, Not A Suggestion

Are you a worry wart?

I used to worry a whole lot more in the past. I don’t know, maybe ask my husband and he’ll tell you something different, but I personally feel I don’t worry as much. Though maybe where I worry the most is not having my ducks in a row. So often I’ve had my days thrown off because I had to go to take care of my health issues. So I always try to have my ducks in a row. Is my sometimes over-planning masked in worrying? Something I constantly have to check myself for.

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I immediately thought this is what’s going to take my life. I immediately thought worst case scenario. Then the doctors reiterated that if I had to get cancer, this is a good one to get. That eased some of my angst. And truly, like many other things in life, our circumstances may seem like the end all, but it’s not an automatic death sentence. Stepping into a car doesn’t mean I’m going to get in an accident. Having cancer, doesn’t mean you’re going to die. Now could that be part of God’s good and perfect plan? Maybe. But a tree could fall on me while on a walk, under the sovereignty of God. I can only control so much and we could worry ourselves sick. Literally.

There is a passage in the Bible from Philippians 4:8 and it says…

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I actually have this verse framed on one of our shelves. It helps me remember to think about the things I say, like is it helpful or hurtful, but it also helps me keep my mind focused on Christ, and not the worries of tomorrow. We could play the “what if” game to death, couldn’t we? And yet so many of us live our lives with the “what ifs”. Think about this though, the majority of things we worry about, never happen. And that’s why the Bible addresses worry and says, “DO NOT WORRY” (Matthew 6:25-34). Do we heed to that command? Or do we see it as a suggestion? Or maybe God meant we could worry about some things and not others? Not true. God did not design us to be worry warts, so therefore we shouldn’t be.

So how do we not? Trust the truths of the Scripture, that not a hair falls from our head without the will of our Father in heaven (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1). Worrying cannot add a single hour to our life (Matthew 6:27), so why waste our time? Stop leaning on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Don’t be anxious about anything, but pray about everything – just release it to God (Philippians 4:6).

Worrying isn’t of God, it’s of the devil. It’s not a suggestion, it’s a command. I need to remind myself of this often because otherwise I will succumb to my worry every time.

Let me leave you with this verse from Isaiah 41:10. May it give you freedom, confidence, contentment and joy:

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

BOOM. Microphone DROP.