“Worry is interest paid on something you might never own.”
Someone really smart said that once (I’ve heard it attributed to many people), and the sentiment is true. All of us have spent far too much time worrying about something that never came to pass. I’ve done it a million times. I’ve been stressed about hard conversations that I was sure were going to blow up and destroy relationships, only to have those conversations go way better than I ever imagined they would. I have worried about how I was going to pay for a major car repair only to have it end up needing a cheap part. While there have been times when something I worried about did go wrong, it was never as bad as I had feared, and my worrying didn’t change it anyway. I know all of this, but I still find myself anxious or stressed about one thing or another.
What about you? Do you ever “pay interest” on problems you don’t end up owning?
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is addressing an enormous crowd of people who were following Him (we know it was many people because Luke tells us: “the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other.”) While He is teaching them, He tells them not to worry. Here’s what He said:
Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?” (Luke 12:22-26)
There you have it. Just don’t worry.
I wonder how the people in the crowd responded to Jesus’ teaching? Were they encouraged because Jesus said don’t worry, and because they believed He was the Messiah, they took Him at His word? Or were they discouraged, thinking, “I wish it were that easy, Jesus”? After all, when you are going through something difficult or you are worried about something, having someone tell you not to worry doesn’t always help. In fact, it can make things worse: “Don’t tell me not to worry! It’s not your problem, it’s MY problem!”
Whenever someone encourages us not to worry about something, there is one thing that makes all the difference. It’s the “why.” Why shouldn’t I worry? For instance, if you are having a hard time coming up with the money to pay for a new refrigerator because your old one died, and someone says, “Don’t worry about it,” that doesn’t help much. However, if that person says, “Don’t worry, I’d like to buy you the new fridge you need,” or “Don’t worry, I have an extra fridge that’s in great shape and you can have it,” that changes everything. They have given you a legitimate reason not to worry. It’s the why that makes all the difference. It’s not just empty encouragement, it is a reason to hope. It’s a reason to stop worrying and start believing. We worry when there is no “why,” when there’s no reason to hope. That’s why there is no “why” in worry.
So, what was the “why” that Jesus gave to His followers when He told them not to worry? It’s found in Luke 6:29-31:
“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.”
“Don’t be concerned, don’t worry,” Jesus said. Why? Because God already knows what you need, and He will give you everything you need. You and I don’t have to worry about even the most basic of things because God is aware of what we need and will make sure we have it right when we need it.
So, what are you worried about right now? COVID-19? Election results? The economy? Social and racial unrest? Your kids? Your marriage? Your job? Your money (or lack thereof)? Your future? Your past?
“Don’t worry,” Jesus says, “Your Father knows exactly what you need and He will give it to you.” That’s our why.
You might be thinking, “That sounds great, but it’s easier said than done.” Let me share something that has helped me to trust God more and worry less:
Reflection.
When I take the time to look back on my past, I can see God’s fingerprints all over it, especially during the times I was stressed and going through difficult times. When I look back, I see how God brought me through those times and gave me just what I needed. And He did it again and again and again. God’s faithfulness in my past fills me with faith for my present and my future. He has been my why in the past and He is my why today. So when you feel the temptation to worry or start to feel stressed out, take a few minutes and reflect. Remember how God has been there for you in the past. Give Him thanks for being your why and honestly tell Him about your current situation, entrusting it to Him. Then let it go and stop stressing. There is no why in worry, and you don’t have to worry when you have a why.