help | His Glory My Joy, a blog of Author Luana Ehrlich

What Does God Know About Worry?

July 29, 2021 Leave a comment

Everything, of course. That’s why we should follow his instructions about living a worry-free life. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life.” Matthew 6:25.

Even though it’s worded a little differently each time, the command not to worry appears in all of the gospels, including a double warning in the gospel of John. “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27.

Paul also teaches the worry-free life in his letters. “Do not be anxious about anything . . .” Philippians 4:6. As clear as that command is, the “how to” of dealing with worry is equally straightforward.

Philippians 4:7, “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Not surprisingly, Peter echoes Paul’s solution to worry in 1 Peter 5:6-7: “Humble yourselves . . . casting all your anxieties upon him, for he cares for you.”

The writer of Hebrews says we can be sure of his help when we are troubled. He writes, “So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear . . .” Hebrews 13:6.

According to God’s Word, by bringing our worries and cares to the Lord, we are rewarded with the strength and peace to deal with life’s inevitable anxieties.

And, because God is always overflowing in his care for us, He promises to do this for us anew every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning . . .”

What does God know about worry? Everything.

Trust Him. He’s got this. Leave your worries with Him.

Categories: Anxiety, Bible, Faith, Fear, God's Control, God's Presence, God's Word, Prayer, Trust, Worry Tags: Anxiety, Faith, help, Peace, Trust, Worry

Help Wanted?

July 21, 2011 Leave a comment

There is much talk today about unemployment. In my Bible study class, we often pray for people who need jobs, who are interviewing for jobs or who are changing jobs. My husband is about to retire from a position, essentially becoming unemployed or about to have no job. So it is probably not a surprise that I have been meditating on a recent devotional thought I received from author and pastor John Piper. He noted that God’s message to us, that is the gospel of Christ, is “not a ‘help-wanted’ sign but a ‘help available’ sign.”

When Paul was preaching to the Athenians in Acts 17, he told them, “God is not served by human hands as though he needed anything.” If God cannot be served, that is really bad news to anyone trying to “score points” with Him by religious ritual or evangelistic zeal or by observing His laws. The rest of verses 24-25 says, “He himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.” Now this is really good news to anyone looking for the “help available” sign. Jesus pointed out that he did not come to serve but to “give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) That’s the help available for all who would come to Him for mercy and grace. His arms are open wide. His help is available.