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Worry is a condition that is common to mankind. Children and adults, men and women, professional and artisans, are all known to suffer from this malady. However, as Timothy Lane reminds readers in Living Without Worry, the problem with worry isn’t primarily the resulting symptoms. At the root of worry is a spiritual problem.

Lane writes, “While these various factors and components [biology, psychology, life, history, and social and natural environments] are very important, the Bible cuts deeper, because it say that worry is a deeply spiritual issue. This is not to say that the Bible ignores or disputes the mental, psychological, historical, social, or environmental aspects of worry, but that it seems them as a part of a spiritual issue – that worry, ultimately is a response to life lived in God’s world. Worry is, therefore, a response to God Himself.”

After reviewing Jesus’ teaching on worry in Matthew 6:25-34, Lane continues, “Jesus is not telling us not to be concerned about things. He it is telling us not to be over-concerned. The two are not the same, and you can recognize the difference because concerns takes wise action and prays dependently. Worry, or over-concern, thinks and acts as though everything is up to you, or completely out of control, and prays desperately, if at all.”

Precious saint – when we are tempted to justify our worry as “just being concerned,” we need to ask ourselves, is our concern overamplified? Are we anxious that we need to handle things ourselves and we don’t know how we will do so, or are we appropriately emulating Jesus who lived and ministered in dependence on His Heavenly Father? Are we bearing the weight of the world, or are we bringing our cares to the One who created it? Is our concern focused on self – the abilities, time, and conveniences that we think we possess? Or is our attention focused on God – relying on Him to complete the work He has started (Phil 1:6) in His good time?

When the temptation to worry comes, may we make sure that we are responding to God in the right way. May we recognize that our worry is evidence of a lack of dependence our good and gracious Heavenly King. Make we confidently rely on Him to work all things together for the good of His children (Ro 8:28) and may we eagerly anticipate how He will use the situations we face and the concerns we have, to make us more like our Savior (Ro 8:29).

One of the things that I have been convicted of lately is my tendency to pray about “the big things” but to act as if I have the little things covered. Of course, in a single day there are numerous attestations that life is very much not in my control, but sometimes my prayer life does not reflect this same realization. I will pray fervently when I or someone I know is facing a crisis, but think I have the solution to a frustrating work situation or a difficult relationship. This is foolishness. First, because God is sovereign over all – not me. Second, because He loves me and like any good Father – He cares about the big and the small things in my life. And third – His ways are not my ways, and His thoughts are not mine (Isaiah 55:8-9). When I bring my concerns – both large and small to Him – it helps ensure that increasingly I am aligning my life with His perspective, not trying to compel Him to bless mine.

Another reason it is so good to pray about everything is because as God answers those big and small prayers, we have increasing reasons to give Him thanks. A while ago, a coworker told me about a situation and rather than trying to come up with a solution, we agreed that we needed to pray. When I was done with my next class, God had already provided the answer! If we had stressed and worried about it, God may have still orchestrated the same outcome, but we would have missed the opportunity to thank Him for hearing our prayers and answering so quickly. What a kind God we serve!

I don’t know what thoughts and worries are weighing on your mind today, beloved child of God, but I know the One who does. Let me encourage you – whether BIG or small – lay it all at His feet. Then watch Him work – in you, through you, and around you. And as He graciously answers those prayers, let’s remember to give Him thanks.