Today’s Reading Matthew 6:25-34 ; Psalms 82
Upon reading todays passage of the Sermon on the Mount, “Worry”, my mind started to sing different songs about “Worry”. The first melody that I started to think of was “Don’t you Worry ‘bout A Thing”- Stevie Wonder, due to the countless times that the movie “Sing” has been played in our house for the last several months. The next song was “Three Little Birds”-Bob Marley and then the iconic “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. My curiosity kept me searching and I found that hundreds of songs subject is Worry and anxiety. The conclusion is there is so much Worry and Anxiety everywhere in the world.
As I think about the worry and anxiety, I wonder if the where the origin of this visceral emotion started, The Garden of Eden? Before Original Sin, Adam and Eve did not have to worry about anything: food, clothing, shelter, protection, or the future. But once they took their focus off of God and began to think about self, then worry and anxiety started to creep in and manifest in their mind.
Jesus purpose for the Sermon of the Mount was to give us guidance and direction in some of the most profound issues that were separating us from God. His main purpose was to bring the true word of God and create a new relationship between God and us. In these verses Jesus tells us that we should not allow the anxieties and worries of this life to distract us from the ultimate goal of living for God. In another example we are shown that even in the midst of Christ we can have worry.
Matthew 14: 28-33
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,[d] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
While on the Sea of Galilee, Peter sees Jesus walking on water to the ship. When Peter knew that it was Christ, he asked to come and he started to walk on the water to Christ. When the Peter felt the shift in the wind and sea, he started to worry and took his eyes off of Christ and started to sink.
We have the tendency to worry about many things on a daily, sometime hourly basis. We worry about finances, family and friends, the future. We worry about jobs, schools, food, shelter, and keeping up with others. We have to really ask ourselves “why are we worrying?” Why do we worry when God has the ultimate control? He has the control over all things, including Satan. Satan has to ask for permission to expose, inflict, tempt, and create worry. Worry is the illusion of having power and the fear of losing this power. God has control and has planned good things for us, why worry?
Matthew 19:13-15: 13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”15 And he laid his hands on them and went away. As I have stated on many occasions, God speaks through me from my experience as a father. The one verse that resonates with me about worry and God’s provision for me is the one mention previously. We have to have the heart of a child and allow God to be our Father. With my kids, I can take them to the doctor’s office, the movies, the museum, the dentist’s office, event up rocky hikes and steep cliffs and they will be at ease and calm. They have experienced that I will protect them and give them good things and love them unconditionally. If we adults can have this same amount of trust in Our Heavenly Father, we will not have to worry.
God,
Allow us to not lose sight of you when the world gives us obstacles that distract us from you. Please give us the ability to realign and focus on you and rest in your Calm and Comfort. Amen