4 Things the Bible Says About Worry

Biblically Solid Reasons Not to Worry

What Does the Bible Say About Worry?
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We worry about grades in school, job interviews, approaching deadlines, and shrinking budgets. We fret about bills and expenses, rising gas prices, insurance costs, and endless taxes. We obsess about first impressions, political correctness, identity theft, and contagious infections.

Over the span of a lifetime, worry can add up to hours and hours of valuable time that we'll never get back. Most of us would rather spend our time enjoying life more and worrying less. If you're not yet convinced to give up your worrying, here are four solid biblical reasons not to worry.

Anecdote for Worry

Worry is a futile thing

It's like a rocking chair

It will keep you occupied

But won't get you anywhere.

4 Things the Bible Says About Worry

1. Worrying Accomplishes Absolutely Nothing.

Most of us don't have time to throw away these days. Worry is a waste of precious time. Someone defined worry as "a small trickle of fear that meanders through the mind until it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained."

Worrying won't help you solve a problem or bring about a possible solution, so why waste your time and energy on it?

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. (Matthew 6:27-29, NLT)

2. Worry Is Not Good for You.

Worry is destructive to us in many ways. It drains us of energy and saps our strength. Worry causes us to miss out on the present joys of life and the blessings of God’s provision. It becomes a mental burden that can even make us become physically sick. A wise person said, "Ulcers are caused not by what you eat, but by what is eating you."

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. (Proverbs 12:25, NLT)

3. Worry Is the Opposite of Trust in God.

The energy that we spend worrying can be put to much better use in prayer. The Christian life unhampered by worry is one of our greatest freedoms. It also sets a good example for unbelievers.

Live one day at a time and handle each worry as it comes--through prayer. Most of our worries never come to pass anyway, and those that do can only be handled at the moment and by God's grace.

Here's a little formula to remember: Worry replaced with prayer equals ​trust.

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (Matthew 6:30, NLT)
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)

4. Worrying Puts Your Focus in the Wrong Direction.

When we keep our eyes focused on God, we remember his love for us, and we realize we truly have nothing to fear. God has a wonderful plan for our lives, and part of that plan includes taking good care of us. Even in the difficult times, when it seems like God doesn't care, we can put our trust in the Lord and focus on his Kingdom.

Seek the Lord and his righteousness and everything we need will be added to us (Matthew 6:33). God will take care of us.

That is why 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? (Matthew 6:25, NLT)
So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 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 6:31-34, NLT)
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7, NLT)

It's hard to image Jesus worrying. A wise person once said, “There's no use worrying over what you have control over because if you have control over it, there’s no use worrying about it. There’s no use worrying about what you don’t have control over because if you don’t have control over it there’s no use worrying about it.” So that covers everything, doesn’t it?

Sources

  • Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (p. 406). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books
  • Shannon, J. M. (1996). Sermon Outlines for Seekers. (p. 12). Cincinnati, OH: Standard.
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Fairchild, Mary. "4 Things the Bible Says About Worry." Learn Religions, Aug. 26, 2020, learnreligions.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-worry-701994. Fairchild, Mary. (2020, August 26). 4 Things the Bible Says About Worry. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-worry-701994 Fairchild, Mary. "4 Things the Bible Says About Worry." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-worry-701994 (accessed March 19, 2024).