Living in Trust: Overcoming Worry with Faith
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the profound wisdom of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, focusing on Matthew 6:25-34. Jesus' message is clear: do not worry about your life, what you will eat, drink, or wear. He emphasizes that life is more than food and the body more than clothing. By pointing to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, Jesus illustrates how God provides for all His creation, and how much more He will provide for us, His children. Worrying about tomorrow only adds unnecessary burdens to today, and Jesus advises us to live in the present, trusting that God will take care of our needs.
We explored the concept of worry, defining it as anxious thoughts about the future, which stem from a lack of trust in God. Jesus' advice is to live one day at a time, focusing on the present moment rather than borrowing trouble from tomorrow. This teaching is especially relevant in our modern world, where worry has become an epidemic, affecting our ability to enjoy the blessings of today.
Jesus' message is not about ignoring the future or failing to plan, but about avoiding the anxiety and fear that come from trying to control what is beyond our reach. He uses the example of Martha and Mary to show how worry can distract us from the most important things, like spending time with Jesus. By living in the now, we can experience God's peace and provision, trusting that He will meet our needs.
### Key Takeaways
1. Trust in God's Provision: Jesus teaches us to look at the birds and the lilies as examples of God's provision. If God takes care of them, how much more will He take care of us? This trust in God's provision allows us to live without anxiety about our basic needs. [02:56]
2. Live One Day at a Time: Jesus advises us not to borrow trouble from tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. By focusing on the present, we can avoid the overwhelming burden of future worries and live more fully in the moment. [04:34]
3. Worry is Useless: Worrying does not add a single hour to our lives. It is like sitting in a rocking chair—there is a lot of movement but no progress. Worry saps our energy and distracts us from the blessings of today. [13:17]
4. Enjoy the Present: Jesus encourages us to give our entire attention to what God is doing right now. By living in the moment, we can experience the fullness of God's blessings and avoid the anxiety that comes from worrying about the future. [16:02]
5. Faith Over Fear: Worry is incompatible with faith. When we trust in God's plan and provision, we can live without fear of the future. Jesus calls us to seek first the kingdom of God, and all our needs will be met. [37:58]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:22] - Do Not Worry
[02:56] - Seek First the Kingdom
[04:34] - Borrowing Tomorrow's Trouble
[05:55] - Jesus' Advice on Worry
[07:19] - Living in a Broken World
[08:54] - Disciples' Worries
[10:16] - Worry as an Epidemic
[11:46] - Managing Life One Day at a Time
[13:17] - Worry is Useless
[14:46] - The Rocking Chair Analogy
[16:02] - Enjoy the Present
[17:34] - The Headlights Analogy
[20:11] - The What-Ifs of Life
[22:30] - Martha and Mary
[24:40] - Choked by the Cares of Life
[26:56] - The Time Factor
[28:17] - Birds and Lilies
[31:34] - Removing Time from Worry
[33:15] - The Gift of Today
[35:12] - God's Control Over Our Lives
[37:58] - Pray About Everything
[39:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 6:25-34
- John 16:33
- Philippians 4:6-7
#### Observation Questions
1. What examples does Jesus use in Matthew 6:25-34 to illustrate God's provision for His creation? [01:22]
2. According to John 16:33, what does Jesus say about the troubles we will face in this world? [07:19]
3. In Philippians 4:6-7, what are we instructed to do instead of worrying, and what is promised as a result? [37:58]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:25-34 challenge our common worries about daily needs? [02:56]
2. What does Jesus mean when He says, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself"? How can this perspective change our daily lives? [04:34]
3. How does the analogy of the rocking chair help us understand the futility of worry? [14:46]
4. What does it mean to "seek first the kingdom of God" in the context of dealing with worry and anxiety? [37:58]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent time when you were overwhelmed with worry. How might trusting in God's provision, as illustrated by the birds and lilies, have changed your response? [01:22]
2. Jesus advises us to live one day at a time. What practical steps can you take to focus more on the present and less on future anxieties? [04:34]
3. The sermon mentioned that worry is like sitting in a rocking chair—lots of movement but no progress. Can you identify a specific worry that has been consuming your energy without yielding any positive results? How can you address it differently? [14:46]
4. How can you incorporate the practice of praying about everything, as suggested in Philippians 4:6-7, into your daily routine? What specific worries can you bring to God in prayer this week? [37:58]
5. Jesus used the example of Martha and Mary to show how worry can distract us from important things. Are there areas in your life where worry is distracting you from spending time with Jesus or loved ones? How can you refocus? [22:30]
6. The sermon highlighted the importance of enjoying the present moment. What are some blessings in your life right now that you might be overlooking due to worry? How can you make a conscious effort to appreciate them? [16:02]
7. Jesus said that worry is incompatible with faith. How can you strengthen your faith to combat fear and anxiety about the future? Are there specific Bible verses or practices that help you trust in God's plan? [26:56]
Devotional
Day 1: Trust in God's Provision
Jesus teaches us to look at the birds and the lilies as examples of God's provision. If God takes care of them, how much more will He take care of us? This trust in God's provision allows us to live without anxiety about our basic needs. Jesus emphasizes that life is more than food and the body more than clothing. By pointing to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, Jesus illustrates how God provides for all His creation, and how much more He will provide for us, His children. Worrying about tomorrow only adds unnecessary burdens to today, and Jesus advises us to live in the present, trusting that God will take care of our needs. [02:56]
Matthew 6:26 (ESV): "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"
Reflection: Think of a specific area in your life where you are struggling to trust in God's provision. How can you actively place this concern in God's hands today?
Day 2: Live One Day at a Time
Jesus advises us not to borrow trouble from tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. By focusing on the present, we can avoid the overwhelming burden of future worries and live more fully in the moment. Jesus' message is not about ignoring the future or failing to plan, but about avoiding the anxiety and fear that come from trying to control what is beyond our reach. By living in the now, we can experience God's peace and provision, trusting that He will meet our needs. [04:34]
Matthew 6:34 (ESV): "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Reflection: What is one worry about the future that you can let go of today? How can you focus on the present moment and trust God with your tomorrow?
Day 3: Worry is Useless
Worrying does not add a single hour to our lives. It is like sitting in a rocking chair—there is a lot of movement but no progress. Worry saps our energy and distracts us from the blessings of today. Jesus' advice is to live one day at a time, focusing on the present moment rather than borrowing trouble from tomorrow. This teaching is especially relevant in our modern world, where worry has become an epidemic, affecting our ability to enjoy the blessings of today. [13:17]
Luke 12:25-26 (ESV): "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?"
Reflection: Identify a specific worry that has been consuming your thoughts. How can you remind yourself of the futility of worry and choose to focus on God's promises instead?
Day 4: Enjoy the Present
Jesus encourages us to give our entire attention to what God is doing right now. By living in the moment, we can experience the fullness of God's blessings and avoid the anxiety that comes from worrying about the future. Jesus uses the example of Martha and Mary to show how worry can distract us from the most important things, like spending time with Jesus. By living in the now, we can experience God's peace and provision, trusting that He will meet our needs. [16:02]
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (ESV): "I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man."
Reflection: What is one way you can be fully present today, enjoying the moment and recognizing God's blessings around you?
Day 5: Faith Over Fear
Worry is incompatible with faith. When we trust in God's plan and provision, we can live without fear of the future. Jesus calls us to seek first the kingdom of God, and all our needs will be met. By living in the now, we can experience God's peace and provision, trusting that He will meet our needs. Jesus' message is not about ignoring the future or failing to plan, but about avoiding the anxiety and fear that come from trying to control what is beyond our reach. [37:58]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where fear is holding you back? How can you actively choose faith over fear today, trusting in God's strength and provision?
Quotes
1. "Jesus is saying, don't borrow tomorrow's trouble. The one into today, don't borrow tomorrow's trouble that you haven't lived yet into today's time that you're now living. Jesus is trying to help us here that tomorrow have its own troubles. In other words, there's enough troubles there. Don't add to the troubles today because you're going to get overloaded. You're going to overload yourself and you're going to be overwhelmed by worry. And you're going to be overwhelmed. By these problems and you'll break down under the pressure." [05:55] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Worry is anxious thought about the future. Worry is being in a place where you have an uneasiness or anxiety about tomorrow or about the future. Ultimately, when you're filled with anxiety, you're worried. You're worried about tomorrow or about the future. anxiety. It's actually grounded in a lack of trust in God and his purpose. When you think you can better control the world with your worry than God can, then you're not trusting God." [08:54] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I believe that it still applies. I think we live in a very worried world, where people are worried today. They're worried about the cost of living. They're worried about how they're going to pay the bills. They're worried about the election. They're worried about terrorism and politics, the threat of war. You're worried about earthquakes. If you live in California, there was just some in Ontario the other day. And perhaps it's more true today than any other time in history that we're living in uncertain times." [11:46] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Worry is useless. It doesn't do anything for you. He said in verse 27 of our text, he said, who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? He said, you can't add any more time. You can't make yourself any more taller. I can't make myself any more taller. I can tell you that. You can't make yourself any shorter. You can't make yourself any skinnier. You can't make yourself any fatter by worrying. You can't make yourself, you can't add another day to your life by worrying. In fact, I would say that if you live a life that is worrisome, you're short in your lifespan." [13:17] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So Jesus is saying, and the best way I can say is, worry is useless. It doesn't do anything for you. He said in verse 27 of our text, he said, who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? He said, you can't add any more time. You can't make yourself any more taller. I can't make myself any more taller. I can tell you that. You can't make yourself any shorter. You can't make yourself any skinnier. You can't make yourself any fatter by worrying. You can't make yourself, you can't add another day to your life by worrying. In fact, I would say that if you live a life that is worrisome, you're short in your lifespan." [13:17] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "So Jesus knew, listen to me, he knew we would struggle with the concept. He knew we would struggle. Struggle about what's going on. Because we think the more we worry, the more secure we are. Or the more we know what's going to happen next, the more secure we are. The more we could see ahead, the further we could see ahead. If we can know what's going to happen tomorrow, then we would be a lot more secure. But can I tell you, all you have to know is what's ahead of you to keep moving." [17:34] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "See, the future can rob us just as much. As the past. See, we always think about the past. I talk to people all the time. And I'm not belittling what happened in your past. But there's so many people that are so attached to the past, they can't move forward. And they always talk about everything that stopped them. But see, with the power of God, you can move forward. You don't have to stay in the past. And so I realize the past does affect us. But just as much as the past can affect us, the future of not knowing can affect you. And it will. It will rob you of the now. It will rob you of the blessing today." [20:57] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "And so today, when you think about worry, think about that rocking chair. When you ever think about worry, I want you to think about the rocking chair. If there's anything you remember, go, what did Pastor preach about? I just remember a rocking chair. That's right. That rocking chair. I just remember a rocking chair. Just think about that rocking chair. That's all you got to think about." [16:02] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Enjoy what God's doing right now. I was talking about dedicating children. Enjoy your children right now. Don't say, I can't wait till they start walking. I can't wait. I'm telling you, you've missed the moment. You missed that time. In fact, you will have more time with your children grown up than they are with children. They're only children for a little while. And I realize now, all my kids are grown. And I go, I know them longer now that they're grown than I did when they were children. That children, man, that's the precious time. Don't waste your time." [32:28] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "And I'm going to say this for the last part of this, is really, we need to stop worrying about things and put it into God's control. God does a better job than we do. How many can say amen? Now, there's some of you that say, well, maybe you're not concerned about the future, but I am. And you think by worrying, you're going to change something. Some of you worry, citizens of the kingdom, okay, you're like this worry, group that you think if you worry that you got to have this group that's worrying about everything and it's going to balance the effects of the future, your worrying doesn't change a thing. It doesn't change a thing." [35:12] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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