…THEN WHY WORRY?

Dearly Beloved, …THEN WHY WORRY? “Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel” (Philippians 4:6-7 CEV). Recently I received a video clip through one of my WhatsApp groups that is very inspiring to me. In the clip, a man humorously presented a timeless truth about worry by rhetorically asking some questions. Let me try to transcribe part of his presentation: “Do you have a problem in life? No. Then why worry? Do you have a problem in life? Yes. Can you do something about it? Yes. Then why worry? Do you have a problem in life? Yes. Can you do something about it? No. Then why worry?” The presentation may sound humorous, but it is something that one should ponder about. Why worry for a problem that does not exist? Why worry for a problem that you can do something about? Above all, why worry about a problem that you cannot directly do something about? Then why worry? That presenter did not complete the timeless truth about worry. One may not worry about non-existent problem, a problem that one can easily find solution to, or most especially a problem that one cannot solve by oneself. However, there are antidotes for worry: prayer and faith. Anyone who can pray to and have faith in God will not worry, but have peace of mind in spite of the problem. There are many biblical injunctions in support of this. Apart from Philippians 4:6-7 (quoted above); Psalm 23:4; 56:3; Proverbs 3:5-6; 12:25; Matthew 11:28-30; Luke 12:24-34; John 14:27; Romans 8:38; Colossians 3:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Hebrews 13:5-6 and many other Bible verses, consider these verses quoted below: “I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? ...Can worry make you live longer? 28 Why worry about clothes? ...Don’t worry and ask yourselves, ‘Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?’...Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today” (Matthew 6:25-34 CEV). “Our Lord, we belong to you. We tell you what worries us, and you won’t let us fall” (Psalm 55:22 CEV). “Be humble in the presence of God’s mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes. God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him” (1 Peter 5:6-7 CEV). You may not be able to do anything about the problem of your life, but you have a caring God who is ready to listen to you and give you His peace when you pray to and put your trust in Him, then why worry? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will not worry, but always pray to and put your trust in God no matter the problem of your life.