I’m reading this amazing little book written at the turn of the century. David Wilkerson discovered it and re-published it. The title is God’s Cure for Worry.
One line really caught my attention today. I think it was a Holy Spirit moment: “Do not worry about worrying.” I cannot make myself worry less by trying to worry less. I cannot fill my mind with a negative. It must be filled with substance.
I can’t cure worry by trying to not worry. Worry is a negative. It is what fills the void when peace is not. Just like darkness. It is the absence of light. Worry is the absence of peace. When light comes, darkness flees. When peace comes, worry must go. How can I get peace to dwell? The answer is simple: consider.
In so much of Jesus’ teaching about worry, He tells us to “consider.” Consider the lilies of the field. Consider the birds of the air. Consider this small child.
The concept of “considering” is a divine key to unlocking peace. We must consider that which is good and true, noble and right. To consider means to think on. Think on this flower. Watch the birds and wonder. Take time to listen and watch a child.
Consider my children: how they trust, how they never wonder if we will have enough to eat or what to wear because I take care of them. Consider how the birds go about their business without thought to what the winter will bring because all they have is provided by their Creator. Consider the lilies that display their splendor without concern if it will last or if they are as beautiful as the orchids beside them. Consider.
How utterly fruitless it is to worry. Not one moment, not one inch, can be added to us from anxiety.
I could go on and say it is a command of Jesus to not worry. I could say that it is sin to worry because it shows our mistrust in God. But God knows all that, and I don’t think it really helps produce the change that we desire to see anyways.
Most of us don’t want to worry; we have just become so accustomed to living with anxiety that we often don’t even realize its presence. What we need to do is consider, consider the love of our Father. Consider what a good Dad would do. Consider and dwell on truth.
As peace comes, worry will flee without us even realizing it.
(Some posts may contain links to our affiliates, Amazon.)
