Finding Peace: Overcoming Worry Through Trust in God

We want to remind you of why we're here you know it's one thing to have a church service but what is our purpose and it's really preparing us by developing in each and every one of us a passion for God and compassion for people through the lifechanging message we're preparing to meet Jesus and we do that through four key pillars and that is right exalting our Lord Jesus equipping his people to do the work of ministry right and then we engage his world all the while expecting his return those four pillars uphold the whole mission right there each and every Sunday. [00:04:38]

"This is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear for life is more than food and your body more than clothing look at the ravens they don't plant or harvest or store food in barns for God feeds them and you are far more valuable to him than any birds can all your worries add a single moment to your life and if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that what's the use of worrying over bigger things look at the liies and how they grow they don't work and make their clothing yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are and if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown in the fire tomorrow he will certainly care for you why do you have so little faith and don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink don't worry about such things these things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world but your father already knows your needs seek the kingdom of God above all else and he'll do everything you need so don't be afraid little flock for it gives your father great happiness to give you the kingdom sell your possessions and give to those in need this will store up treasure for you in heaven and the purses of heaven never get old and never develop holes your treasure will be safe no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it wherever your treasure is there the desires of your heart will also be." [00:10:42]

I did some research and these are from a bunch of different sources the physical health strain and medical decline that's caused by worry and anxiety is just all over the map the cardiovascular effects of chronic anxiety that increases our blood pressure our heart rate and causes a lot of stress on the heart it suppresses our immune systems and it also exacerbates any chronic illnesses we may be having to deal with but there's also on the cognitive side of how stress and worry impairs our memory. [00:35:13]

Because my mind is so focused on everything around me that I get really distracted and uh I need that script that says "Okay after this song Whitney's coming up to read scripture after this that song he's going to sing a solo." Just keeping that all in fine why because I allow the stress to build up sometimes on Sunday morning and it causes some memory issues in me not that it's permanent it's just usually during stressful times um although you may think otherwise. [00:36:09]

And that reduces the quality of someone's life and it really affects me socially because sometimes people will say especially Kelly she'll go I I told you this and I go it must been during a stressful time because it just one word right through the other uh in one ear and out the other but also stress causes disability social and and social isolation that's why a lot of times with the elderly um with stress comes the isolation and with isolation comes a suppression of health and also eventual early untimely death did you know that onethird of people being placed in skilled nursing facilities long-term care onethird national statistic die within the first year why because of loneliness and isolation. [00:36:51]

Over 2,000 years ago Jesus dealt with this whole topic of worry and anxiety and Whitney read it this morning thank you Whitney for reading that entire passage over 2,000 years ago Jesus identified anxiety and worry as a challenge to each and every one of us and what I really like about it is he doesn't deny that it's a reality he doesn't go "Oh you don't need to be worried about that don't worry at all." Matter of fact worry is nothing he doesn't dismiss our challenges he doesn't dismiss our anxieties he acknowledges them look what he says. [00:38:08]

In this passage Jesus identifies three access points where worry comes into our lives it's in the area of our needs what we see because we really don't know we need something until we see it right when we see that brand new right uh Ford pickup bright shiny red we go I need that thing right or ladies you know that one little chachki that that you see at the gift shop and it you go "Oh that would fit perfectly in the corner on where those two things come together up on the shelf that chachki would work really well." And all of a sudden we need that. [00:38:58]

So it's our needs that's one area where worry gains access to our lives but also in the area of our mind the things that we think on causes stress and anxiety and worry and the third one is in the areas of our emotions or what we feel now I didn't make those up jesus identifies them right here he says "Worry about everyday life and the things that you need to wear and the things that you eat are needs." [00:40:08]

Jesus realizes worry is not something that you and I can eliminate by ourselves i challenge each anyone to try to eliminate anytime any type of worry in your life you can't so what he does is he gives us the tools of how to overcome it how to gain victory over it and so here are three reflections they're not up on a screen they're just going to be coming here. [00:41:00]

We will overcome worrying over the things that we see the needs by taking consideration of God's care for nature look what he says here he says "Life is more than food and your body is more than clothing." Verse 24 "Look at the ravens." And oh by the way the ravens in the Jewish mind at this time in the first century they were considered unclean animals and no one liked them it's like pigeons does anybody here really like pigeons. [00:41:29]

But Jesus says this about the ravens he says "Look at the ravens they don't plant or harvest or store food in barns where God feeds them are you far more valuable to them to him than any birds?" You see he's doing he's going from the lesser to the greater why are you worrying about all these things that you need if God feeds the birds won't he feed and dress you aren't you far more valuable to God than some stupid pigeon. [00:42:09]

Look what he says look at the lilies how they grow they don't work or make their clothing that Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are and if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow he will certainly care for you why do you have so little faith the way we overcome worrying about needs is taking a hike through nature take a break. [00:44:07]

How do you seek the kingdom two thoughts reading his word what is it God that you have planned today for me what is it that you want me to be aware of what is it you want to share with me today that I might be able to share encouragement to someone else and Lord the second way is by talking to him god I've got a lot of things I'm worried about i'm thinking about all these and do a brain dump with God take your journal out you know what a brain dump is right you just take your journal out and you write down everything that's going on in your mind and go "God here's my brain dump this is yours." [00:47:27]

Every time that thought comes and said "No I I wrote that down i I gave that to God today that's his issue and he's going to deal with it i can't he told me I have no control over it anyways and he knows by me i've already told him and he knows it anyways and so God this is yours so I read his word i talk to him this is not super hard stuff but I challenge you to be consistent at it for a week." [00:48:14]

What about our emotions i got to tell you this third this third access point with emotions i'm an emotional guy if you can tell already i'm really an emotional guy i cry so easily sometimes anymore i see a commercial sometimes i'm like why am I crying over there's just things that make me weep very easily my kids come home i weep out of joy but how do I allow how do I overcome the things of emotions when they gain access into my life and I become anxious and I become worried and I I get upset i get stressed. [00:49:12]

Look what Jesus gives us as an as a a solution so don't be afraid little flock what does that sound like what is that a reference possibly to little flock let me give you a hint the Lord is my shepherd i shall not want one translation says I don't have any needs why because the Lord is my sheep don't be afraid little flock for it gives your father hear this hear it it gives your father great happiness to give you the kingdom the kingdom you've got it you've got the inheritance an inheritance much bigger than you're giving your kids and your grandkids an inheritance that's eternal because every time you cut a check guess what it's replenished how about that. [00:50:03]