Faith Overcomes Worry – Part One

Matthew 6: 25 – 34

        Jesus is in love with you. Like all who love another He is concerned about your welfare.  He is interested in your personal duress and mental stress. Your central nervous system and peace of mind are of concern to Him.

        He, as our creator, knows that worry is to a human life what rust is to metal or decay is to wood. 

        Question: “Do your friends classify you as a worrier?”

        Medical science has closely tied worry to heart trouble, blood pressure difficulties, ulcers, thyroid malfunction, migraine headaches, a host of stomach disorders, and numerous other difficulties. Worry is not a disease but it can contribute to many diseases. Though it is not a disease, it is more contagious than many diseases. 

        A leading physician has stated that 70% of all medical patients could cure themselves if only they got rid of their worries and fears.  

        The word Jesus used that is translated “worry” is often translated “take no thought” is “merimnao”. It comes from “merizo” meaning “to divide” and “nous” meaning “mind.”   It means to have a divided mind. It is a mind divided between worldly attitudes and Biblical precepts. 

        Incidentally, the AKJ was written in 1611, and at that time the word “thought” meant anxiety, restlessness, or the penetration of fear which upset the balance of life and turned the entire mind into a mood of dejection and weary anxiety. The use of the word “thought” for anxiety is seen in the death notice of a queen of which it was written: “Queen Catherine died of thought.”  She worried herself to death.

        “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” James 1:8.

        Worry divides our mind, our understanding, therefore we end up confused and wishy-washy.

        Worry divides our discernment, therefore, our observations and conclusions are cloudy.

        Worry divides our feelings and as a result our emotions are unstable.

        These conditions can cause abulia, the loss of the will. A more common term for abulia is a nervous breakdown.

        Trust is the antidote offered by Jesus. In reality every time a problem arises Jesus is standing by saying “Don’t worry. I’ve got this one.” Trust Him, He has.