“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matt 6:27 NIV
Worrying can be a huge distraction from one of our single hardest tasks as Christians, keeping our eyes on the Lord in all circumstances. Jesus makes simple, what we tend to complicate. Why worry? What benefit is there in worrying? Does it serve a single good purpose, or does it keep us from serving him?
He later goes on to say:
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself, each day has enough trouble of its own” Matt 6:34 NIV
Worrying is a result of two things:
- a lack of faith
- taking our eyes off Jesus
As difficult as it is through hard times, we must remember that God has everything under control. We have already given our lives to him, as Christians, and we have put our trust in him; so we must believe anything that has happened, was supposed to happen.
The boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:24-31 NIV
While the storm raged around him, Peter walked on water, until he took his eyes off the Lord and started to sink. As far as we know, other than our Lord Jesus, Peter was the only other one who ever walked on water. Where did Peter go wrong? He took his eyes off Jesus when he saw the wind. That worry caused his faith to fail and he began to sink. Jesus was quick to question Peter only to help him understand why he fell. Our Lord shows us here, just as Peter said “Lord save me;” that even when we worry, taking our eyes off of him and losing our faith, all we have to do is call his name and he’s quick to save us.
Paul writes:
Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving , present your requests to God. And the peace of God which, transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus Philippinas 4:6-7 NIV
As we put our trust in the lord we might ask ourselves; why worry?
Barnabas
Special thanks for this submission by guest blogger – Barnabas