What really happens when we worry? When we worry, we get laser focused on the wrong thing. Many times, we put that laser focus over our problems, circumstances, needs, wants, and desires when we should be giving our undivided attention to Jesus Christ, who is working on our problems, circumstances, needs, wants, and desires.
One of the scriptures I often read out from in my daily devotions is Matthew 6:25–34, where Jesus talks about worry. Well, admittedly, I read it a lot because I'm a very anxious person. I was clinically diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, which probably doesn't help much with my anxiety, but I have experienced many victories in the war against unnecessary worry.
Worry may seem harmless, but once out of control, it can drive your life down a road where you wouldn't want to go. Most of the time, worry can even be illogical and very unlikely to happen, but weirdly enough it's those illogical and unlikely things that we worry about most.
Anxiety at its core really is a sight problem. No, I'm not referring to our physical sight, but a different set of eyes that determine the focus of our hearts. When we worry, we lose sight of what really matters and what really happens because we're so stuck on what could least likely happen before it even does.
And while foresight and deliberate consideration is good, it becomes dangerous when it starts defining our life. Next thing you know, you're refusing to try new things, obey God's dangerous call, or trust God for provision all because you're too worried to.
What is God's antidote to worry? In scripture, Jesus tells us to "Look at the birds of the air..." (ESV, Matthew 6:26a) and "Consider the lilies of the field..." (ESV, Matthew 6:28b). It's interesting how, as we worry, Jesus basically tells us to look around. Why? Because if we really look around us and see just what wondrous things God is doing, we realize how our worries were wrong all this time.
We worry about finances, but when we look around and see just how financially blessed we are, the worry disappears. We worry about being alone, but we look around and see how God has blessed us with relationships and calls us to grow in them.
More importantly, God tells us to look around and see that He is all around us. He is in creation, which He created for us to enjoy. God is Emmanuel and He is with us. Instead of locking in our laser focus on things that might happen, let us look instead now to Jesus Christ, who can make things happen for our good as we love and trust Him.
