A WING AND A PRAYER

The Sin of Worrying About Our Future

Carlin Lawrence carlin@agairupdate.com

I’ve learned in my own life’s experiences that pushing through worry and fear is usually one of the best ways to handle these anxious events in our life. I’m not saying it’s easy! Worrying and fear can have paralyzing effects; especially during a life threatening sickness and serious financial problems. We all know that being fearful and worrying about all these problems usually doesn’t help much; but worrying seems to be characteristics of human nature. When certain situations cause me to worry I almost always turn to the Bible for God’s wisdom to guide me through those circumstances in my life.

The Moabites, Ammonites, and others were planning a battle with Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah. Jehoshaphat was fearful so he prayed to the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout Judah, and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:1-4). Jehoshaphat prayed, “O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?” (2 Chronicles 20:5-6).

The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel…And he said to King Jehoshaphat! “Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight this battle! Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”

“Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:14-18). Jehoshaphat said, “Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20).

Jehoshaphat appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out in front of the army and said: “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.” “When they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, and they were defeated…they destroyed one another” (2 Chronicles 20:21-23).

Jesus said, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matthew 6:31-32). Why should we worry about our future when God promises: “Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You… For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones” (Psalm 9:10, 38:21). “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:4-6).

Many Christians worry about their health and are fearful of death. God said to the Hebrew people, “If you do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you…There is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand” (Exodus 15:26, Deuteronomy 32:39). “For He wounds, but He also binds up; He injures, but His hands also heal” (Job 5:18).

Peter said, “It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has completely healed him” (Acts 3:16). God may use doctors to treat us for our illnesses, but ultimately all healing comes from God. God promises that He will work all things for every Christian’s good (Romans 8:28).

We worry about our financial situation: But Jesus said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). If we’ll seek God’s wisdom for our daily provisions He will provide for our necessities. The psalmist wrote, “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread” (Psalm 37:25). Solomon wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

If we see someone who is in need we should help them if we can: “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given” (Proverbs 19:17). “Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard” (Proverbs 21:13).

Many Americans worry about the USA failing or going broke; but God won’t allow that to happen until He chooses. God’s word says, “God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another…The Lord is the Most High over all the earth” (Psalm 75:7, Psalm 83:18). “God removes kings and raises up kings; The Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people…The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses…He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” (Daniel 2:21, 4:17, 32, 35).

The Bible tells us to put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, or perish (John 3:14-18). “Anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). Is your name written in the Book of Life? Your choice has eternal consequences! Chemical Mixing Streamlined