Wasted Time
Have you ever wondered how much time you spend being anxious about things throughout just one day? I tend to overthink and it leads to worrying about things that I shouldn’t worry about. I spend too much of my time thinking about my future and how things will work out when I should be remembering Jesus Christ and how He has changed my life. God has given me salvation through His only precious Son, so I should trust Him in every aspect of my life. I am undeserving of everything that He has so kindly given me…why wouldn’t I rest in His promises and trust that He will take care of me no matter what.
One of the most precious gifts that I`ve received is from my parents; they gave me my college class ring. One thing you may notice about me if you are around me long enough is that I wear the same three rings every day. My college ring has Proverbs 3:6 engraved on the inside of it and I am often reminded of an important truth about life.
Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
While I can make my own plans, the Lord directs my path. All I can do is take life day by day, living according to His Word as it is a guide for my life. As believers, we should be good stewards of our time, talents, and treasure (1 Corinthians 4:2; Matt. 25::14-30). I rely on Him to direct my path as I try to live for Him. I shouldn`t waste my time worrying about the future, because my future belongs to the Most High King (Dan. 5.21). Everything that I have is His and He can direct me as He sees fit. As Christians, what should our perspective be when it comes to worrying about the cares of this life?
Daniel 5:21, “…The Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes.”
What Is Worry?
The Dictionary of Bible Themes defines Worry as, “A sense of uneasiness and anxiety about the future. Scripture indicates that such anxiety is ultimately grounded in a lack of trust in God and his purposes.”
God`s Faithful Character
The Old Testament recounts the stories of the Israelites. God always keeps His promises and He delivers the Israelites time and time again. Yet, again and again, they fall into a place of doubt and fear, despite how God has continually taken care of them. As I read through the Old Testament I often criticize the Israelites for their lack of trust in God, but then I examine myself and realize that I do the same thing. God has continually provided for me time and time again, so why do I still worry that He won`t take care of me sometimes? Often when I worry, I try to take matters into my own hands and fix them myself, instead of waiting on the Lord. The history of the Jewish people from Old Testament times to the present day reveals just how faithful He is to His people. He reveals His sovereign hand orchestrating events in history. As believers in Christ, we can learn from Israel`s history (1 Corinthians 10:11-13). We can trust His heart even when we don’t fully understand some of the situations we find ourselves in (Isaiah 55:8-9).
God`s wisdom is perfect, and truth only comes from His word (John 17.17; Psalm 147.5). He has infinite knowledge, and creation depends on Him to sustain it. God was not given life; He gave life and continues to give life (Genesis 1.1; Acts 17.25-28; Isaiah 40.28). The prophet Isaiah writes, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable” (Is. 40.28).
What Does The Bible Say About Worry?
In Matthew chapter six, Jesus talks about the issue of worry. He uses the birds of the air and the lilies of the field as examples of God`s care. He says, “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 6:26-27).” God pays attention to detail and it is so evident that He loves me. So why would I assume, when I don’t understand what He is doing, that He doesn’t care or want what is best for me (Psalm 55:22)?
Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Another story that comes to my mind when I think of worry is the story of Martha in Luke 40:38-42. Jesus went to a village and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. Martha`s sister Mary sat at Jesus` feet and listened to His teaching, while Martha was busy making sure she had everything she needed to serve. She was anxious and overwhelmed which led her to ask the Lord, “Do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me (vs. 40).” Jesus told Martha that while she was worried and troubled about many things, but her sister Mary has chosen the best thing and that is to be with Him.
Many times, I get so caught up in the rush of life that I don’t choose to do the best thing… and that is being with Jesus and studying His word (Ps. 94:19; 2 Timothy 2). The best cure for a worried heart is abiding in Christ and ultimately resting in His promises. All that I have in Christ has been given to me by God and can never be taken away (John 10:28).
The Believer`s Identity In Christ
Remembering who I am in Christ often helps me not to worry. As I said before, I was bought with a price and everything that I have belongs to Him. My job is to live out and defend His word in every stage of life. Even if my life doesn’t go the way that I planned, I am called to be a good steward of what He has given me in any situation I find myself in. I can trust His heart infinitely more than I can trust my plans and dreams (1 Peter 5:6-8; Psalm 42:11). As believers in Christ, we are called to defend the truth and bring glory and honor to Him through our thoughts and actions (Philippians 4:4-9). God gave us the most precious gift through His son, why would He not take care of us when it comes to the lesser things in life? He wants us to bring our worries and our fears before Him. As a good father delights in talking to his children, our Heavenly Father delights in His children talking to Him about all aspects of life (1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6-7).
Proverbs 12:25, “Anxiety in a man`s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”
First Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
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