Biblical Reasons Not to Worry

During the 1800s in Bristol, England, George Mueller had a burden to help the many orphans of the day. He established several orphanages to house and care for them. The amazing thing was not his compassion or his plan to establish orphanages. The amazing thing was how he financed them: He prayed. He didn't share his needs with other people; he simply brought those needs to God in prayer-and God answered! There were times when the staff and children in an orphanage were seated for breakfast and there was no food on the table. At just the right time, someone would stop by with a donation of food. That process went on for years as God proved to be a faithful partner in Mueller's ministry. What was Mueller's secret? He didn't worry; he trusted God. For people of faith, that is the answer to worry. The following passages give biblical reasons for not worrying.

Isaiah 64:4. "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." Two things stand out for me in this verse: (1) God-the all-powerful God-acts on our behalf; and (2) We need to wait-be patient. If there's one thing that marks so much of life today it's impatience. We want instant gratification, a concept that our forefathers generally would not have recognized. When God is on your side, why worry?

Romans 8:28. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Sure, things may not be good in the short term, but this verse promises that everything will work out for good sometime. Note, however, that this promise is to those who "love" God and who have "been called according to his purpose." If God works all things for good, why worry?

Romans 8:32. This is a great verse with a tremendous promise: "He [God] who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" With that kind of promise, there is absolutely no reason to worry!

Matthew 6:25-34. This passage begins with Jesus saying, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life..." It continues in verse 32 by saying that God knows what we need. Then we are urged to seek first God's kingdom and righteousness and all the things we need-food, drink, clothing-will be given to us. If we have God providing the things we need, why worry?

Philippians 4:5-6. The important words in these two verses are: "The Lord is near" and "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Now, granted, there is an element of faith involved in all of the verses above and the ones to follow. Given that, however, the implication is that the nearness of the Lord should calm us, and we are to go to that God for the things we need. Why worry?

Philippians 4:19. "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Doesn't that say it all? A pastor was once asked what his retirement plan was. He replied, "Philippians 4:19." Are you trusting in that same faithful Lord? If so, why worry?

Psalm 50:9-15. This God who will meet all of my needs is the same God who, according to Psalm 50, owns the "cattle on a thousand hills." Because of God's "wealth," we are told that God does not need anything from us. More than that, we are to call on this God in times of trouble, and God will deliver us. In a world where there are people who think God needs them, we are told that we need God and that God will help us. If we take those words seriously, we have no need to worry.

Psalm 23. This beloved psalm begins with the words "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want." The reason I shall not be in want is because the Lord is with me. If there's one thing that separates the Judeo-Christian faith from all other religious faiths, it's this idea of a personal God who is personally involved in the lives of people. This God is the one who created all things (Genesis 1 and 2) and holds all things together in and through Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:17). With that kind of involvement and that kind of power backing us up, why would we have any reason to worry?

Deuteronomy 2:7. One of the values of the Old Testament is the story of the Israelites in their relationship to God. Even though they were punished for a lack of faith and forced to wander the desert for 40 years, God was still with them and providing for them. Deuteronomy 2:7 summarizes this Divine care: "These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything." The story of the wandering is filled with examples of God's provision, especially food and water to keep the people alive. If God cared for believers in the Old Testament, cannot New Testament believers expect the same?" If so, why worry?

Jeremiah 29:11. This verse has become popular as a life-verse for Christians and as an expression of trust in God. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." We have to be careful when dealing with Old Testament passages to keep in mind that they were originally written to the Jews, not to people in general. However, it is helpful to keep in mind Genesis 12:3, in words addressed to Abraham, the founder of the Jewish nation: "...all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Whatever those blessings are intended to be, we have no reason to worry.

Fulfilled Prophecy. There are many prophecies-foretelling of the future-that are given and fulfilled in the Bible. Even though most of them do not promise blessings or benefits, the fact that God spoke and then brought to pass what was spoken should give us confidence that God is a promise-keeping God. Numbers 23:19 reminds us that "God is not a man, that he should lie." If we can trust God to be a truth-telling, promise-keeping God, we certainly have no need to worry.

I have to confess that people of faith are not free of worry. I worry and so do most of the people I know. What I am trying to say is that if God is God and if we are the people of God, there is no reason on earth why we should worry.

Source:
The Bible quotations come from The Holy Bible, New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1978)