by Rev. Dr. David Dubovich
I saw this quote on a church sign recently: “You can tell the size of your God by your worry list. The longer your worry list, the smaller your God.” I quickly jotted this down, and little did I know that I would be sharing this thought with you in the newsletter this month. The root of all worry is fear. Either fear causes us to worry or worry causes us more fear. As Christians, the Bible admonishes us over and over again not to worry about anything. Jesus teaches this to His disciples in Matthew 6:25-34.
He then uses several illustrations. “Don’t worry about what you shall eat or drink, or clothes that you might wear.” He proceeds to illustrate by using the birds in the air, and how God the Father feeds them, and the lilies of the field, and also the grass, and how God protects them. Jesus then makes this statement, “O ye of little faith.” Why do you worry? In verse 32 he concludes by saying, “Your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.”
Someone told me once, “I’ve always been an old worry wart.” I’m sure many of you have said this before. To this, Jesus would reply, in verse 27, “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to your stature?” In other words, not one thing is gained because of your worry.
An old poet once stated, “I am an old man, and have worried about many problems, most of which never happened.” Remember the popular song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. Wise Solomon, in Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to thine own understanding.” Will you “trust”, or will you “worry”? You always have a choice! We can choose to trust in the Lord, or to worry.
This seems pretty cut and dry to me. “Have Faith in God”! It is true, “You can tell the size of your God by your worry list. The longer your worry list, the smaller your God.” All of us know that we are living in very troubling times. Yes, your faith will be tested! Let’s “lean” upon the Lord, and not to “our own understanding.” God is still in control. We have to believe and proclaim this. It is the “Good News” of the Gospel. My prayer for you is this, “May the God of Hope dispel all fear and worry, and may you have the “Peace of God that surpasses all understanding.” May God Bless You each and every day!