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Turning Our Worry Into Worship
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by Donnie Jenkins
hen I was growing up, I was a constant
1 Peter 5:7: “…casting all your anxiety upon Him, because
worrywart. It got to the point of worrying even
He cares for you.”
when I didn’t have anything to worry about.
Did you notice the word “casting” in the 1 Peter 5
I don’t know if any of you have been there or are there
reference? Here’s one way of explaining it: Think for just
currently, but if you are, let me just say, “I’ll see your worry
a moment that you are taking a bag of garbage out to the
and raise you one.”
trash can. I like to stand and toss/fling/cast the bag to see if I
As you are reading this, you may be thinking—that’s
can make the shot. As you and I are casting our cares upon
me! OMGoodness! Did you know that worry can rob us of worshipful moments with God? In fact, even Jesus Himself addressed this by saying, “Don’t worry.” It would be easy to think, “That’s easy for Him to say—He’s the Son of God.” That is the very reason He can say this. Let’s look into Matthew 6, beginning with verse 25, to pick up where Jesus is addressing the issue of worry. “Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying?” Here’s what is interesting: in verse 25-34, there are six references to the state of worry or worrying. Since the subject of “worry” is mentioned this many times in these few verses, it becomes apparent there is
the Lord, it is the equivalent of taking the garbage out. By
a lesson we are to learn and a discipline to develop.
tossing out our spiritual garbage (worries), we are giving the
Did you notice that Jesus did not give the challenge without giving regard to the basic needs of our life? Then, in verse 27, He asked a very profound question regarding
Lord the opportunity to work in and through our lives. When we choose to do this, it frees us up to worship and praise the Lord for His provisional care in times of uncertainty.
worry: Can you add to your life by worrying? anxious for nothing and pray about everything.”
30 // October 2020
About The Author
While we are here, listen to Philippians 4:6: “Be
Donnie Jenkins has been married to his wife Wendy, for 29 years. They have one son, Jonah. Donnie is the pastor at New Union Church in Georgetown, Tennessee, and also serves in the Cleveland/Chattanooga area as a workplace chaplain with Corporate Chaplains of America, which is located in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
