Jay Adams once told a story about two men – one was a worrier and the other his friend. One day the worrier acted carefree. His friend asked him about his new carefree attitude. The worrier told him that he had paid someone else to worry for him. The friend asked, “How are you going to pay him?” The worrier said, “That’s not my problem! That’s his worry not mine!”
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could simply pay someone else to worry for us? But if you struggle with worrying, then you understand it is not that simple. If it were, most worriers I know would willingly pay quite a bit for that service.
Jesus also understood that worry plagues so many of us.
Do Not Worry
Catch what Jesus said…
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (Matthew 6:25-27)
Look Up and Around to Worry Less
Jesus pointed our attention outward. He pointed out that the birds provide the evidence needed to trust our heavenly Father. God provides for the birds. They eat every day, yet they never worry about where they are going to get their food. In fact, they do not sow nor reap it. Instead, God provides. With a little research, we learn that He provides in all kinds of creative ways – sometimes even by us going out and buying a bird feeder and seed.
Today and this week, watch the birds. Every time you see one, allow the bird to remind you that God is trustworthy and has every means at His disposal to take care of you. Whatever it is about which you worry, trust Him. He’s got this (cf., Matt 6:31-36).
Image Credit Timothy Dykes – cardinal
Image Credit Noah Rosenfield – blue bird
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