Everyone Worries
A Devotion For All of Us
If you find yourself caught in the grip of worry, you're not alone. We've all been there. Worry is rooted in fears about our needs or the needs of the ones we love not being met. Worry is triggered in our animal brains, which instinctually floods our nervous system with adrenaline at the first sense of danger or lack. In the face of a future in which we have limited control, our instinctual minds want to fight, flee, or fawn—whatever it takes to make us feel safe.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:34, NKJV
Jesus talked about worry and anxiety in one of his most famous teachings: The Sermon on the Mount. As the sermon concludes in Matthew 6, Jesus speaks to us about our most primitive worries and invites us to rethink our relationship with the future and our material needs. Jesus doesn't teach us to not plan for the future or neglect our needs but encourages us to not let thoughts about the future and our needs overwhelm us.
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? 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?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
Matthew 6:25-27, NKJV
Worry does not add any value to our lives. In fact, it can keep us from fully experiencing the present moment, where Jesus is with us as the "I Am." Living in the present can be a real challenge, especially in a world that urges us to constantly think about the future. If worry is the natural instinctual way, what is the better way? What is the way of Christ? Jesus teaches us three ways to live free from the thorny snare of worry.
1. Prayer
Jesus teaches us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11, NKJV). It's not about praying for tomorrow's needs or for more than what we need today. By trusting God for present needs only we cultivate being present in our hearts and minds.
This was Israel’s test in the wilderness when they lived on Manna. Manna was bread from heaven. It was given each day, and only good for each day. The former slaves longed at times to go back to the comfort they had in Egypt, where at least they knew in advance they would have food and shelter. God was teaching them that the only way to be freed from the comforts of the prisons of their own anxiety was to trust God in the present for the bare necessities and nothing more.
Consider the wisdom from Proverbs 10:22: "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it." What does it mean to be rich? Does it mean having enough money in your accounts, or does it mean trusting in God's infinite provision in our lives? The wealth of this world often leads to suffering, while the hidden treasures of the Lord, dispensed in God's great wisdom, come with no sorrow. Trusting God for our daily bread saves us from the relentless pursuit of more, helping us find contentment in the present.
The opposite of more is enough.
- Wm. Paul Young
2. Fasting
Fasting is another practice that can help us shift our focus from future anxieties to the present moment. It's not about making our bodies live with less, but it's a way to transform our minds. Our thoughts often wander into future scenarios, crafting both the best and worst possible outcomes. Fasting teaches us that hunger doesn't equate to starvation, helping us maintain perspective.
3. Alms Giving
Giving in alms not only encourages us to be generous but also helps us detach from temporary possessions. It's a practice in stewardship and a reminder that all things in this world are impermanent. This practice nurtures a sense of mindfulness about what truly matters.
In a world that often encourages us to be anxious about the future, Jesus' teachings offer a way to break free from the chains of worry. Through prayer, fasting, and giving, we can find peace and contentment in the present, trusting in God's care and embracing the impermanence of life.