Peace or Worry?
Dearly beloved of God, worry is to be mentally distressed. It is an emotional state of being troubled, disturbed, harassed, full of cares, anxiety, and strife. Peace is the end of strife; it is undisturbed believing.
Some people are overwhelmed by worry and they seek professional help. Others deal with their worries by drinking, taking drugs, or prescription medications. A noted Dr. said, “More than half our hospital beds are occupied by people with nervous and emotional troubles.”
There are plenty of things to worry about if your thoughts are consumed with the course of this evil age; the adversary sets that course.
Satan tempts us to worry about our finances, worry about our job, or our retirement; worry about our health, worry about Covid or some other disease; worry about our spouse, worry about our family; worry about the past, worry about our future, worry about what other people think of us, worry about failing, worry about the country, worry about dying; worry, worry, worry!
A mind full of anxiety and cares is full of distractions; it is an unsound mind.
In Matthew 6, the Lord said, “Therefore, I say unto you, “Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”
“Take no thought” is “merimnao,” which means to be full of anxiety which divides up and distracts the mind; to be full of cares, anxious; be full of anxious or distracting care.
The Father takes care of the birds, are we not much better than them? The Father takes care of the grass and lilies of the field, shall He not much more clothe you, “…O you of little believing?”
Here the Lord rebukes anxious cares of worry because of their little believing.
In Matthew 8:26 he rebukes their fear due to their little believing.
In 14:31 he rebukes their doubt because of their little believing.
In 16:8 he rebukes their reasoning by the five senses due to their little believing.
The right way of believing comes from hearing the Word of God. Believing what God says brings peace. Peace is the end of strife and worry in our lives. Peace is the opposite of worry.
“Therefore, take no thought [merimnao: to be full of anxiety which divides up and distracts the mind, to be full of cares; to be full of anxious or distracting care] saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or, ‘Wherewithal shall we be clothed?’ (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take no thought [merimnao] for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow has not yet come. Today is all we have. Live one day at a time trusting God as your sufficiency. He is our sufficiency today, and He will be our sufficiency tomorrow. Believe Him, and you will be at peace.
Since we believe Him for our salvation, we can trust Him with the things of this life, also. Humble yourself before Him and take Him at His Word. “Cast your cares on Him, for He cares for you,” dearly beloved.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; he is at hand to deliver you. Be anxious [merimnao] for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Our Heavenly Father is the Almighty God, and He is able and willing to supply our every need as we look to Him. He is our sufficiency in all things. He will defend us, support us, and supply our every need.
Satan is the source of worry, and he wants us consumed with it. Don’t listen to him; listen to God. Don’t let Satan ruin your life with worry, fears, and thoughts evoked by the course of this evil age.
Dearly beloved, believe who you are in Christ, and be at peace in your heart.
The One True and Living God is our Father, and He cares for us. Walk with Him, and be at peace. He will never leave you or forsake you; you are His dearly beloved. He gave us access by the new birth spirit so go to Him with your cares, beloved of God. There is joy and peace in believing.