Do Not Worry

Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you,

do not worry about your life,

what you will eat or what you will drink,

or about your body, what you will wear.

Is not life more than food,

and the body more than clothing? ...

And can any of you by worrying

add a single hour to your span of life?"

-- Matthew 6:25,27

Worrying wastes time. It has no productive value. But don't confuse worry with constructive thinking and healthy self-analysis. Sometimes these mind activities can turn into worry, pure and simple. That's a trap Jesus would encourage us to avoid falling into.

What's been on your mind in recent days? Struggles with your family? Conflict in an important relationship? A financial squeeze? A decision you must make? A loved one's illness? A shaky job situation? An uncertain future? It seems the mind never lacks for something to worry about.

Step back from the situations, and look carefully at how you are dealing with them. Are you obsessing endlessly about them, or are you taking time here and there to think them through, ponder your options, set them aside in God's hands, and let whatever happens happen? Jesus invites you to shut off your worry and trust God.