“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 NIV

Little Miss Worry was always that way as far as she could figure. She worried about her little brother after he was born. If they were somewhere without their parents, she took it upon herself to be his mom, keep him safe, and out of trouble.

When she got older and her parents sometimes left them alone, she worried her parents would get into a car accident or never come home.

When she went to sleep, she worried some one might break in the house. When the clouds looked stormy, she worried a tornado might kill them all.

As she got into her teen years, she worried about what others thought of her, how well she could perform in sports, and making straight A’s. By this point, her worry had manifested itself physically with irritable bowl syndrome and frequent headaches.

She got married and her husband went off to war, she worried for his safety. She surrendered her life to Jesus and He began to relieve her fears, but new troubles always seem to arise and fighting worry was difficult.

She had kids and that added a whole new level to her worry. She didn’t want to worry and what was worse, worry led to frustration and that led to a mom and wife who wasn’t fun to be around. She was a mess.

Then, Little Miss Worry had enough…she cried out to God. She pleaded for His peace. She could not do this anymore…

God heard, He answered, and Matthew 6 came alive in a whole new way.

What Does Jesus Say about Worry?

The Bible has a ton to say about worry. It actually tells us not to fear 365 times, and in addition, there are many scriptures that mention not to worry, be anxious, or fret. Instead, we are encouraged to trust, rest, and have faith.

Do Not Worry about Tomorrow

Jesus first tells us not to worry about tomorrow. This is a reminder to live for today. We are finite creatures and are not promised tomorrow. The admonishment is that we are to depend on God for that day and to focus on what good we can do for the Lord in the time and place set before us right now.

In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus tells us to ask our Heavenly Father to “give us today our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11 NIV)

We need God in every single area of our life (physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental). This need is so great that we must come back to our Heavenly Father daily, and typically, multiple times daily.

In the scripture directly before our focus text, Jesus says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV)

When we are intent on obeying God, focusing on His kingdom and making today count, it doesn’t give much place in our minds for worry. What it does is give us purpose and joy in Him. And, the promise is that “all these things will be given to you as well.”

Jesus reinforces this daily dependence and trust soon after by saying ” do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

Worrying Doesn’t Take Away Tomorrow’s Troubles

News flash: Worrying does not change the outcome! All of our “what ifs”, pretend problem solving, and ways out amount to nothing when we consider 2 facts:

1. Tomorrow could bring anything. The unexpected could happen. Our problem could vanish into thin air or it could multiply so insurmountably that we could never have done anything to prevent it. We have no idea!

2. God knows the future. He has seen it. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He can speak a word and it can all change. He has promised “to work it out for good.” (Romans 8:28) He has a plan!

 “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

God Doesn’t Want Us to Worry

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  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. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34 NIV

I just want to remind you that God loves you as one of His children. As a mom, one of the things that really gripped me was this thought: I love my kids. I don’t want them to worry. I will do all possible to help and provide for them. God loves infinitely more than me. So, God doesn’t want me to worry. He will help me and provide for me.

Finally, God has given us such wonderful examples in nature. Look at how the birds and flowers always have what they need to grow and survive. How much more does God love us? How much more will He provide and take care of us.

Today I will Not Worry

It is a choice that we have before us every day. To place everything in the Lord’s hands and to be free of worry. This is accomplished through prayer and meditating on God’s word.

Prayers for When You are Worried

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6 NIV

• Pray more, worry less. Prayer puts us in the presence of God. It changes our focus off of us and our problems and on to the One who can do the impossible. Try these prayers of praise and surrender:

• Lord, you know my anxious and worried thoughts. I want to ask you to strengthen me to focus my mind on You and grow my faith. I give ________________ into your hands. I will not think on it again. I will trust you to work it out. Amen.

• God, I am having a hard time being patient as I wait on you to work this situation out. Please help me to remember Your timing, Your way, and Your purpose is best. Grow my faith and trust in the waiting. Give me peace and encouragement. Amen.

• Heavenly Father, I praise you in advance knowing that you are the God of the impossible and can make a way where there is no way. You are good and want good for me. Strengthen my patience, hope, trust, faith, and love. I praise and thank you.

• Lord, in my worry, forgive me that I have take my focus off of You and Your blessings and have focused on my burdens. Help me to count my blessings and have a heart of thanksgiving. Right now, I am thankful for the air I breathe, the beauty of Your earth, Your past blessings, and ______________. Thank you Jesus.

What Does the Bible Say about Worry?

Instead of worry, fill your mind with the word of God. Focus on His love, truth, and promises. Scriptures for the Worried Mom

• Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22 NIV

• Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19 NIV

• Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

• Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5 NIV

• What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 NIV

• But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV