“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33-34

When troubles assail you, do you envision the most negative outcomes? Perhaps it starts by wondering what will happen, but quickly deteriorates to imagining the very worst. As a result, your situation seems more severe than it really is.

Worry calls into question the sincerity of one’s profession of faith. Worry is not only ineffective, it seems irreligious. It suggests that the worrier is indifferent to the role of a sovereign God. If we profess our faith in a loving God who cares for our life, and then worry about how life might turn out, what does that say? That’s why Jesus said, instead of worrying, focus on God and His kingdom.

Realize that God has never been out of control over His creation for one fraction of a second since the beginning of time. Recognizing and accepting His sovereignty is vital for inner peace – it means that nothing related to you is beyond His watchful eye and loving care.

God is your Protector. He is responsible for carrying out His purposes for you and meeting your needs as you obey Him. No matter what happens, the Lord has a plan to bless you and reward you in eternity. This means everything you experience – even the “bad” things – He will turn for your good if you’ll trust Him as your sovereign Lord. Therefore, stop imagining the worst. Instead, praise God for all the good things in your life. When we focus on what we know about God, what we don’t know about the future pales in significance.

Worry and worship are mutually exclusive. John Blanchard (1932 – 2021)

Adapted, Turning Point Devotional