Matthew 6:25 “So my counsel is: Don’t worry about things--- food, drink and clothes. For you already have life and a body---and they are far more important than what to eat and wear. [Living Bible translation]
Matthew 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his/her life? (Or a single cubit to his/her height) [New International translation]
Matthew 6:34 [D]o not worry about tomorrow…. [New International translation] GOD will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time. [Living Bible translation]
Summary
There are a number of scriptures in the Bible about worry. Psalms 55:22 tells us to give our burdens (whatever we worry about) to the LORD. Psalms 55:22 assures us that “HE will carry them.” “He will not permit the godly to slip or fall.” In John 14:27, JESUS promises us peace. Comforting HIS disciples, HE tells them (and us) “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” In 1Peter 5:7, we are told to “Let HIM have all your worries and cares, for HE is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.” In Psalms 37:1-3 we are told to “Fret not” because of evildoers but instead to “trust in the LORD.”
One of the longest discourses on “worry” is found in the sixth chapter of Matthew. It is interesting that this discourse occurs right after the discourse on prayer. It was as if the writer knew that even after we prayed that instead of leaving our concerns with GOD, we would have a tendency to pick up those concerns, put them back in our mental “backpacks,” and just swing them back over our “shoulders” and walk away from the altar or our prayer “closets” as burdened down with fear and worry as we had been before we bowed down to pray. So, after teaching about prayer, knowing our nature, JESUS gives us some instructions about worry.
In Matthew 6:25, we are told not to worry about “things.” Although food, clothing and drink are mentioned specifically, we could easily add hundreds of other “things”---like houses, cars that need repair, bank accounts, 401K’s, over extended credit cards, pay checks, student debt or bills in general etc. Just as we are not to “love” money, clothes, credit card spending, we are not to “worry” about these things either. (See, Matthew 6:24)
As a practical matter, Matthew 6:27 reminds us that “worry” is a useless exercise. It is the useless depletion of energy. Worry “solves” nothing. It “adds” nothing to resolving the problem. It is just “negative” energy. It grows nothing. It especially does not grow faith or trust in GOD.
Matthew 6:34 tells us that worrying about tomorrow is actually a distraction preventing us from focusing our full energy and attention on today. In other words, worry robs us of “present time.” Instead of enjoying “the moment,” we are constantly trying to look around the next bend thinking we can prevent a collision. This kind of behavior is completely in opposition to a daily life of prayer. Like the Israelites who were given “bread from heaven” in the wilderness---bread which could not be stored, but had to be gathered each day (Exodus 16:15-21), we have to trust GOD on a daily basis too. We must live one day at a time, in GOD, in CHRIST JESUS.
HOW WORRY AFFECTS THE BODY
While some concern or heightened awareness can be healthy and can even motivate a person to achieve their best, excessive or chronic worry, on the other hand, can interfere with appetite, lifestyle habits, relationships, sleep and job performance. See, “How Worry Affects the Body,” www.webmd.com.
According to www.webmd.com, chronic worrying and emotional stress may trigger a number of health problems:
The problem occurs when fight or flight is triggered daily by excessive worrying and anxiety. The fight or flight response causes the body’s sympathetic nervous system to release stress hormones such as cortisol. These hormones can boost blood sugar levels and triglycerides (blood fats) that can be used by the body for fuel. The hormones also cause physical reactions such as:
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• fast heartbeat
• fatigue
• headaches
• inability to concentrate
• irritability
• muscle aches and muscle tension
• nausea
• nervous energy
• shortness of breath
• sweating
• trembling and twitching
When the excessive fuel in the blood isn’t used for physical activities, the chronic anxiety and outpouring of stress hormones can have serious physical consequences, including:
• suppression of the immune system
• digestive disorders
• muscle tension
• short-term memory loss
• premature coronary artery disease
• heart attack
There have been a number of studies how exercise is helpful in reducing anxiety. In “Three Tips For Using Exercise to Shrink Anxiety,” Margarita Tartaskovsy, MS, notes that:
- Exercise “reduces the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol and stimulates the production of feel-good endorphins.”
- Moderate to intense exercise raises the core body temperature, which reduces muscle tension, thus affecting a person’s feeling of anxiety.
- Researchers are also exploring whether exercise acts as an anti-inflammation and anti-oxidative and nitrogen stress agent.
See, http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/07/17/3-tips-for-using-exercise-to-shrink-anxiety. Tartaskovsy suggests that when looking for an exercise to reduce stress, she suggests that you just “find activities you enjoy.” Think about the kinds of activities you enjoyed as a child. Think about what sounds like fun to you. Go to the gym and watch other people exercise and find out what makes you smile or want to do what they are doing. Sample a variety of exercises and just have fun. If you have a medical condition, consult your personal physician who may have suggestions or recommendations.
In “Diet for Stress Management Slideshow: Stress-Reducing Foods,” WebMD suggests a number of foods for managing stress including:
- Oranges. Oranges contain vitamin C. Studies suggest this vitamin can curb levels of stress hormones while strengthening the immune system. In a study with people with high blood pressure, blood pressure and cortisol levels (a stress hormone) returned to normal more quickly when people took vitamin C before a stressful task.
- Spinach. Too little magnesium may trigger headaches and fatigue, compounding the effects of stress. One cup of spinach (or other leafy vegetables rich in magnesium or avocados) goes a long way toward replenishing magnesium stores.
- Black Tea. In one study of people who drank four cups of tea daily for six week, the tea drinkers compared to another group that drank another beverage reported feeling calmer and had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol after stressful situations. On the other hand, some studies have shown that caffeine in coffee can boost stress hormones and raise blood pressure.
- Raw Veggies. Crunchy raw vegetables can help ease stress in a purely mechanical way. Munching celery or carrot sticks helps release a clenched jaw and that can help ward off tension.
See: http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-diet-for-stress-management. Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD on June 24, 2016.
One of the greatest forms of “meditation” for stress management is prayer. One of the strongest social networks in our community is the church. Some churches even provide professional counseling services if you need help.
THINK ON THESE THINGS
One way to not worry is to pray and don’t allow worry to “occupy” your mind. Philippians 4:8-9 tells us to fix our thoughts on what is true and good and right. We are to think about things that are pure and lovely. We are to dwell on the fine, good things in others and to think about all we can praise GOD for and be glad about. Philippians 4:9 tell us to practice. (Living Bible translation)
So, today, practice. Practice positive meditation on GOD’s GOODNESS.
Focus just on today. As our ancestors would ask:
Did HE wake you up this morning?
Did HE start you on your way?
Did HE allow you to see another day?
Did HE watch over your family?
Did HE watch over you all night long?
Did HE make a way out of no way?
Did HE give you strength for another day?
Did HE wake you up in your right mind?
Has HE been better to you than you’ve been to yourself?
Then count your blessings. Count them one by one.
Exercise your faith in GOD, don’t worry and BE BLESSED.
