Don’t Worry! Don’t Panic! Be In Control With God’s Leadership!

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?’ (Matthew 6:27)

With the ongoing issues of today’s world, whether it is the overtaking of the Islamic faith in western European nations or the continuing, lingering wars in Ukraine or the Middle East, many people are worried.  Here is southwest Florida, though it has been a quiet hurricane season this year (so far), some of those around us are anxious in anticipation – when will the next one hit us? 

There is good reason to be concerned, and concern is good; concern allows us to think, plan, and act in preparation.  Concern is not worry; worry is concern taken to an extreme.  Worry can cause anxiety and wasted time and actions.

When I was in Army boot camp, our platoon sergeant came in and announced we had 24 hours to prepare for an inspection by the US Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC for short) commanding general and Command Sergeant Major.  He then walked out of the barracks, and all of us being young and inexperienced, went into panic mode, and it became a mob of young men running amok and attempting to do everything – and accomplishing nothing. 

The worry was failing the inspection, and the knowledge that this would lead to an excessive amount of ‘physical training (PT)’ and extra labor, usually involving much wallowing in sweat, mud, and filth.  However, the worry caused the panic, and we all ended up going ‘100 miles an hour’ but not moving forward.  When he returned to check on our progress, and finding none despite everyone’s efforts, the platoon sergeant called us to attention, sat us down, and surprisingly in a calm voice and demeanor gave us specific instructions.  He broke us down into teams and assigned us tasks to accomplish.  The biggest lesson was to have ‘attention to detail’, take the time to do the task assigned properly, the first time.

After we completed the assigned tasks, he came in and gave a second set of tasks, again giving us calm instructions and expectations of results.  Once we completed those, late in the evening (or early in the next morning, I can’t remember), he sat us down and gave us some wisdom; when there are events that need a response, be concerned but don’t worry.  Don’t panic and immediately jump in response, but take a step back and think what the response should be.  I never forget that sage wisdom he laid down, especially since we passed the inspection with flying colors the next day (which we were rewarded with some PT and a long run afterwards).

Concern is intuitive to the human psyche.  We look at our environment around us, whether safely snuggled in our homes or are in the middle of a crisis situation, and we naturally attempt to see what we lack in order to correct our perceived deficiencies.  Worry begins when you start to stress over these deficiencies, or come to realization that you may not be able to correct these deficiencies with your own resources or in your own power.  Sometimes with worry, you begin to stress over deficiencies that don’t even exist, or are irrational.   

We often worry over things lasting until we’re ready to replace it financially or when the time is right.  We dream of the day our children grow up and leave the house, then we worry about how they are doing, if they are safe when they are out on their own.  Today we may worry about mobs coming to pillage our homes, even when we come to the likely realization that most radical groups don’t see southwest Florida as a likely recruiting spot for their cause. 

Jesus responds to worry in Matthew 6:25-34, namely don’t worry, as God is in control.  Jesus points out that whatever you are worrying about, God has a ready response.  He provides for birds, and dresses the flowers, and He will take care of us.  In essence, Jesus says be counter-intuitive.  He does say prepare, but with the understanding there will always be something deficient in your preparations.  Jesus does say defend yourself, but try peaceful resolution first.  Need something that you don’t have?  (Not want, need.) 

In tithing, God says to test Him and be counter-intuitive; give up 10% and end up with more.  How can you give away 10% and end up with 110%?  I can’t tell you that it makes sense, but I can say it is true for my family that God keeps his promises.   There are many examples in the Bible of God’s actions being counter-intuitive; Samuel picking little David as Israel’s king over his brothers, the wealthy Boaz picking the poor Moabite Ruth as his wife, Jesus seeking out the sick and the poor to witness to over hanging out with the priests and the wealthy, and of course allowing Jesus to die on the cross, rather than forcing people to accept Jesus as King, through overt divine actions. 

It’s counter-intuitive to say we welcome those that oppose us, or talk to those who blatantly sin against God, but it exactly what Jesus has asked us to do.  One item is the sinful act of abortion; while it is intuitive to make abortions illegal through laws, we need to be counter-intuitive and also take it on as a moral issue.  People often break laws but keep the moral code they possess.

Are you staying safe by keeping yourself sealed at home?  It is intuitive that this would be true, but being counter-intuitive in Jesus it is needed for you to start getting out, for your health (it’s not good mentally to be alone for long periods) and to perform the Great Commission (if you are alone, it’s hard to share the Gospel of Christ effectively).  It is intuitive that we may not always want to socialize with others outside of our ‘circle’, but being counter-intuitive in Jesus we need to start meeting others and share the Gospel.