The Teachings of Jesus in Luke: Worry

He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. ~ Luke 12:22-30


 Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength. ~ Corrie Ten Boom

I have to admit that I find this passage to be one of the most difficult teachings from Jesus. Worrying isn't something that's easy to let go of sometimes for me.

 And today, when we have learned that anxiety is a real thing - a mental illness that is treatable with medication and care - it's tempting for me to say: "Yo, Jesus! Be real!"

 So Corrie Ten Boom's quote is helpful to me. As is remembering what I wrote about Martha and Mary earlier this week: Jesus is all about being in the present.

 God's kingdom breaks into the here and now. And to fully be part of that kingdom - and to enjoy it - keeping ourselves grounded in the now is so very important.

 When I do worry - and even when I don't find all of what Jesus says here to be helpful - I go back to verse 25: does worrying add any time to my life?

 Nope. Instead, it takes away from it.

 What I find helpful about Corrie Ten Boom's quote is that she truly had things she could worry about: being a prisoner in a concentration camp and losing most of her family there.

 And yet, knowing that she would have sorrows - she did not let those sorrows define her. She did not give into their strength.

 I don't know where you are with worrying, and if you suffer from anxiety, you need not read judgment into Jesus' words here.

 Instead read care and promise that whatever worries you will not have the final say. And that Christ meets you in the here and now to walk beside you during that time of trial.
Prayer: Your rod and your staff comfort me, Lord. Help me to hold on tight when all feels hopeless. Amen



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