Victory In The Wilderness - Helen RobertsНамуна

Worrying

If Jesus had given in to the temptation to meet His own needs and satisfy His appetite, He would have shown a lack of trust in His Father as His provider. The enemy was tempting Jesus to worry about whether God would really come through for Him.

When we allow our thoughts to be consumed with satisfying our own needs, we are drawn into the snare of worry. Worry is defined as “tormenting oneself with disturbing thoughts,” and so many people do, suffering with anxiety as a result.

We try to head off anxiety by taking control of things, reasoning that then we won’t have to worry about them anymore, but this is precisely the wrong strategy. At its heart, worry is a lack of trust. It questions the character of God, who has promised to take care of all our needs. Worry doubts that He will come through for us when we need Him.

Jesus was very clear when He spoke about worry.

“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? … Don’t worry about such things ... your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.” (Luke 12:25-31)

Defeating worry means taking our eyes off our needs and focusing on the One who knows what we need. Instead of looking at ourselves, we look at Jesus instead.

Paul taught the Philippian believers to not worry about anything, but to pray about everything, because God knows our needs. (Philippians 4:6-9)

Worry is us talking to ourselves and going round in circles. Prayer is talking to our loving Father and entrusting everything to Him. Worry will strangle the life, hope, and peace out of us, but the truth of the Word of God will cut through its vice-like grip and allow peace to guard us.

Stopping worrying and starting to pray is not a magic trick, it is a choice. As Paul said, “Keep putting into practice all you learned.” It is a choice which we can exercise.

Today, look for the signs of seeds of worry settling in your thoughts. Chase them off before they take root. Anxious thoughts do not need to be entertained, however small they are. Turn all these negative thoughts into prayer and give them to God – again and again if necessary. Keep praying!