A cure for worry

How can we win over worry in 2017?
We've learned from our studies last week that worry is a serious sin, even though we might not have thought so, initially. It's one that many of us commit every week. Even daily.
We can see that it would be unrealistic to believe there will be an easy cure.

But we can overcome worry and anxiety.
Remember those birds sitting on the wire, last week? Jesus told us in Matthew 6:26 to "look at the birds" of the air. Observe them. Maybe we can learn from them . . .

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  (Matthew 6:26)

People are way more important than birds, right? We read in Genesis that God created people in His own image. That He breathed into us the breath of life. And we've been promised eternal life, too.
But look at what Jesus also said about the birds:

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31)

God cares that much about the birds; and then we are told that we are worth much more than the sparrows. The things of this world are awfully important to those sparrows, no? How cold the night winds are, how plentiful (or scarce) the seeds left behind in the threshing floor will be, and so forth. But humans are spiritual beings. We are special, and made for a higher purpose. We should live with eternity in our view, not just the here and now. We need to remember what Jesus said about life being more important than food, and our bodies being more important than clothing. . .

Recently, there were wildfires in our area, and some folks had to be evacuated from their homes. They were told to leave the treasured places of their families' fun and memories. Leave behind much of the "things" that are considered precious. I don't think that these people spent time mopping the floors, or painting the hallway, or making sure the pictures were hanging straight. They were quickly loading their car or truck with only those things that were truly valuable, and truly special -- the irreplaceable things.

We know for a fact that this world will eventually be consumed with fire (I Peter 3:10), so our focus should be on the things that are eternal. If someone comes along a hundred years from now, they won't be dwelling on whether or not we were five pounds overweight, or if there was a dent in the fender on our car. They probably won't zone in on whether or not our child was in the highest rank of the band roster, nor if our purse and our shoes always coordinated. The things that will matter will be issues like whether or not we were generous and hospitable, if we spoke up for God and witnessed to folks, and if we were known for being gentle and kind.

Everyone can show a serene exterior when things are going well. But if the only time we are calm is when things are going great, we're going to live a very anxious life! Peace of mind comes mostly from keeping eternal things in perspective . . . as they say, not sweating the small stuff!

That is an important reason to worship regularly, and to have our own quiet times, too. We can be reminded that life is more important than food, and that humans are valued more than birds. We can focus on seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, because we know all these other things will be provided when we need them.