How often do you think you succumb to temptation without even being aware of it? Do you consider worry to be a sin?
For many of us, the sin of worry is at the top of our lists. But have you ever stopped to think of how worry and anxiety are insulting to God? It doesn’t matter how much we say we trust God and have faith in His plan if our actions don’t back it up. And when we worry, we completely contradict the truth in Scripture that tells us that God is faithful and trustworthy.
Fear and anxiety are tools of Satan. And the Bible specifically tells us that worrying doesn’t accomplish anything. Consider this verse in Matthew 6:27, “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”
In short—Jesus was telling us that worry doesn’t gain us anything. God wants us to be fully dependent on Him.
King David is a great example, because he understood how to trust God fully. He wrote in Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.”
“My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped.” Nine simple words with a very powerful truth. When our hearts trust God, He helps us. After all, God not only knows our past and present, He knows our future. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has plans to give us a future and a hope. Since God knows His plans for us, why isn’t that sufficient? Why is trust so hard? Why is it so hard NOT to worry?
When we think of temptation, we think of the devil whispering things like “tell a lie,” “gossip about that person,” or even more “sinful” things (I put “sinful” in quotes because I know that a sin is a sin is a sin…. I’m referring to “more sinful” by the world’s standards, not God’s).
However, Satan is a master at subtle. And what a clever way to tempt us…to tempt us to worry. Worry and anxiety are tools he uses to tempt us from following God’s plan for our lives.
However, when we stop referring to “worry” as “human nature,” and begin to look at “worry” as a temptation to NOT trust God, it gives us a different perspective on how to fight it. When worry creeps up on us, we can CHOOSE how to react. Will we choose to succumb to the temptation to worry? Or will we choose to trust in God? Personally, I want to choose the latter. It’s not easy, but God will always make it worth it and prove Himself worthy of our trust.
Additional verses about letting go of worry and trusting God:
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. ~Matthew 6:34
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me.”
~John 14:1
Be anxious 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding. ~Proverbs 3:5
