Worry

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I find it interesting that Jesus likens worry to self-indulgence and drunkenness (Luke 21:34). At first glance, it seems an unlikely comparison, as I would never place drunkenness in the same category with worry. I’m not sure about you, but when I choose to indulge in worry and entertain anxiety there is always good reason, at least from my point of view. Worry gives the illusion that we are accomplishing something positive, but in reality it only hurts us. In the same verse in Luke, Jesus says that worry weights our hearts down. Even worse, worry (and selfishness and drunkenness) distract us from fellowship with Christ. When we wallow in our own helplessness and let the worries of the world choke us, we lose the power that comes from dwelling in His peace and strength. One of my favorite Bible verses in the KJV deals with worry: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof” (Matt. 6:34). I often have to take captive the worrisome thoughts that pop into my head (II Cor. 10:5), so the end of the Matthew 6:34 verse has become a mantra of sorts to remind me that I don’t really need to add to the troubles that come my way by engaging in worry over them. When I stay in the Word, I worry less and it reminds me that the power of Christ dwells in me. Also, I remember that His power is more than sufficient. Even more amazing, I find that “His power is perfected in my weakness” (II Cor. 12:9). That being said, I’m still striving to be like Paul and be able to say that I am “well-content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties” for His sake (II Cor. 12:10). Needless to say, He’s still working on me.

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