Why Should I Worry?

In 1988 Disney produced an animated movie based on the story of Oliver Twist. Except it took place in the animal kingdom of cats and dogs living in New York City. A young cat named Oliver is orphaned on the streets of the Big Apple with no way to care for itself. Worried about all the new and scary things of this new world, he runs into a ragtag bunch of street dogs living high on life. The secret of their ring leader, the artful dodger, comes through a song called Why Should I Worry. Everything he needed was available to him on the streets of New York once he understood the rhythm of the city. He didn’t have to worry about the next because each new morning brought with it new provision to live. But can we say the same about ourselves in relation to our faith and interaction with the Living God?

How often do we find ourselves carrying this burden of what tomorrow will bring? We worry about our finances, our schedules, the relationships we have. We worry about our health and how we will navigate this thing or that. Often we plow forward as if the outcome of it all somehow rests entirely on our own strength and planning. There’s no question that there is struggle in this world. There is hurt and pain. The future is ultimately unknown. Where we will be a year from now is often hidden from our view. So how do we go through each day without being crushed by the weight of tomorrow. I believe Jesus gives us the answer to that question.

During the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s account of the gospel, Jesus says I tell you not to worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life (Matthew 6:25-27 NLT)?

Can your worries add extra time to your life? What will you get for all the worrying that we do? Anxiety? Stress? Wrinkles and a total lack of peace? The truth is we hate the unknown. We’ve spent most of our known history trying to uncover what is hidden. To somehow predict what the future will be. All in the hopes to be at peace. However, true peace doesn’t come to us from having every single detail of our lives perfectly figured out. It comes from intimately knowing the One who does have it all figured out. When we can shift our focus from our own issues and struggles to the character of God as our Provider, peace inevitably follows to replace the stress and anxiety. You do not have to hustle for your worth or worry about your next season. 

Jesus went on to say seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today (Matthew 6:33-34 NLT). God knows exactly what you need even before you ask and is weaving together your story for His glory. Your job is simply to seek His kingdom first and trust that His grace will be sufficient for today. He is faithful. He will fulfill all of His promises.