Trusting God: Overcoming Worry and Embracing Peace
Summary
Today’s focus is on the challenge and invitation found in Jesus’ words: “Do not worry.” As we gather at the end of the school year, with graduations and transitions swirling around us, it’s a timely reminder—especially for those stepping into new seasons of life. We often become experts at worrying: about bills, health, the future, and the unknown. Yet, Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6 calls us to a radically different way of living, one rooted in trust rather than anxiety.
It’s important to distinguish between worry and anxiety. Worry is a temporary, specific concern—something the Bible addresses directly and calls us to lay down. Anxiety, on the other hand, can be a persistent, overwhelming state that often requires both prayer and professional help. There is no condemnation for those who struggle with anxiety; God’s peace is available, and seeking help is wise and necessary.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 are both simple and profound: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” He points to the birds and the flowers as living examples of God’s provision. Birds don’t worry about their next meal, and flowers don’t fret over their appearance—yet God cares for them. How much more does He care for us? Worry, at its core, is a trust issue. It’s a sign that our focus has shifted from God’s faithfulness to our own ability to control outcomes.
The antidote to worry is found in proper priorities. Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” When we put God first—whether in our finances, our thoughts, or our daily routines—we open ourselves to His peace, which surpasses understanding. Worry is, in a sense, worship in the wrong direction; it’s giving our attention and energy to our problems instead of to our Provider.
We are invited to cast all our cares on Him, because He cares for us. Like a loving parent who tells their child, “Let me worry about that,” God invites us to trust Him with every concern. As we learn to keep our minds stayed on Him, we discover a peace that transforms how we face life’s challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Worry and anxiety are not the same; worry is a temporary focus on specific concerns, while anxiety can be a persistent, overwhelming state that may require both spiritual and professional support. There is no shame in seeking help for anxiety, and God’s peace is available to all who ask. [55:43]
- Jesus teaches that worry is ultimately a matter of misplaced trust. When we obsess over survival or status—what we eat, drink, or wear—we reveal a lack of trust in God’s faithful provision. Recognizing that God values us far above birds and flowers helps us realign our trust and rest in His care. [01:05:18]
- Worry is a form of worship in the wrong direction. When we fixate on our problems, we give them the attention and reverence that belongs to God. Redirecting our focus to God—especially in moments of stress—transforms worry into worship and opens us to His peace. [01:13:59]
- Our value in God’s eyes is greater than we often realize. If God provides for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, how much more will He provide for us? Reminding ourselves of this truth, even in simple ways, can break the cycle of worry and foster deeper trust. [01:20:25]
- Prioritizing God—seeking His kingdom first—produces peace in our lives. Whether it’s starting our day with Him, honoring Him with our resources, or surrendering our concerns in prayer, proper priorities guard our hearts and minds. Casting our cares on Him is not just a command, but an invitation to experience His sustaining love and peace. [01:32:25]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Offering and Local Outreach Emphasis
[03:45] - Vision for Local Schools and Scholarships
[08:10] - Gratitude and Personal Updates
[10:30] - Graduate Sunday and the Challenge of Worry
[12:50] - Personal Story: Recognizing Anxiety
[15:00] - Distinguishing Worry from Anxiety
[18:00] - Jesus’ Command: Do Not Worry
[21:30] - Birds, Flowers, and God’s Provision
[25:00] - Worry as a Trust Issue
[28:00] - God’s Provision: Needs vs. Wants
[32:00] - The Focus of Our Minds
[35:00] - Worry as Worship in the Wrong Direction
[38:00] - “You Are Better Than a Bird”
[41:00] - Proper Priorities Produce Peace
[45:00] - Casting Cares on God and Walking in Peace
[49:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation to Trust
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Do Not Worry”
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### Bible Reading
- Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? ... But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Jesus in Matthew 6, what are the main things people tend to worry about?
2. What examples does Jesus use to show God’s care and provision?
3. In the sermon, what is the difference between “worry” and “anxiety” as explained by the pastor? [[53:50]]
4. What does Jesus say is the solution to worry in Matthew 6:33?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The pastor said, “Worry is a trust issue.” What does it mean to say that worry reveals where we place our trust? [[01:05:18]]
2. How does the idea that “worry is worship in the wrong direction” challenge the way we think about our problems? [[01:13:59]]
3. Jesus points to birds and flowers as examples. What does this teach us about our value to God and how we should view our needs? [[01:20:25]]
4. The pastor mentioned that seeking God first brings peace. Why do you think putting God first changes our experience of worry? [[01:32:25]]
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### Application Questions
1. The pastor shared that he personally struggled to recognize anxiety in his own life and needed help to see it. Have you ever had a time when you didn’t realize you were worrying or anxious until someone pointed it out? What helped you see it? [[52:22]]
2. Jesus says, “Do not worry about your life.” What is one specific area of your life (finances, health, family, future, etc.) where you find it hardest to trust God? What would it look like to “cast your cares” on Him in that area this week? [[01:30:35]]
3. The sermon said, “Worry is worship in the wrong direction.” When you catch yourself worrying, what is one practical thing you could do to redirect your focus back to God? (For example: prayer, worship, reading a verse, talking to someone.) [[01:13:59]]
4. The pastor encouraged everyone to remember, “You are better than a bird.” How can you remind yourself of your value to God when you start to worry? Is there a simple phrase, verse, or action you could use? [[01:20:25]]
5. The message talked about starting your day with God as a way to set your priorities. What is your current morning routine? Is there a small change you could make to put God first, even if it’s just a short prayer or reading a verse? [[01:32:25]]
6. The pastor made it clear there is no shame in seeking help for anxiety. If you or someone you love struggles with anxiety, what steps could you take to find support—spiritually or professionally? [[55:43]]
7. Think about a recent situation where you worried a lot. Looking back, how did that worry affect your actions, your mood, or your relationships? What might have been different if you had trusted God with it instead? [[01:06:57]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray, asking God to help each person trust Him more, to cast their cares on Him, and to experience His peace in the week ahead.
Devotional
Day 1: The Power and Purpose of Local Outreach
God calls us to be His witnesses not only to the ends of the earth but also right where we are—in our own communities. Local outreach is not just a program or a line item in the church budget; it is a vital part of living out the gospel, loving our neighbors, and meeting real needs in our city. When we invest in our local schools, support students through scholarships, and partner with other churches, we are embodying Christ’s love in tangible ways. Our giving and serving locally is a direct response to the call of Jesus, who empowers us by His Spirit to make a difference both near and far. [07:40]
Acts 1:8 (ESV)
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Reflection: Who is someone in your local community you can reach out to or support this week as a witness of Christ’s love?
Day 2: Jesus’ Command: Do Not Worry About Your Life
Jesus directly addresses our tendency to worry about daily needs—what we will eat, drink, or wear—and calls us to a higher trust in God’s provision. He reminds us that life is more than material concerns and that our heavenly Father knows exactly what we need. Worrying cannot add a single hour to our lives, but it can rob us of peace and distract us from God’s purposes. Instead of being consumed by anxiety over survival or status, we are invited to rest in the assurance that God cares for us deeply and will provide for every need. [58:30]
Matthew 6:25-27 (ESV)
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 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? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?"
Reflection: What is one specific worry you can choose to release to God today, trusting Him to provide?
Day 3: Seek First the Kingdom—Proper Priorities Produce Peace
Jesus teaches that the antidote to worry is not passivity, but proper priorities: seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. When we put God first—above our needs, wants, and distractions—He promises to take care of the rest. This is not a call to laziness, but to trust; we are to work and steward what God gives us, but not to obsess over making everything happen ourselves. When our focus is on God and His purposes, peace follows, and we are freed from the tyranny of worry over daily concerns. [01:10:48]
Matthew 6:33-34 (ESV)
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 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 way you can intentionally put God first in your day or decisions this week?
Day 4: Cast All Your Cares on Him—God Cares for You
God invites us to bring every distraction, worry, and anxiety to Him, casting them onto His capable shoulders. Just as a loving parent reassures their child, “Let me worry about that,” God says to us, “Let Me handle your concerns.” We are not meant to carry the weight of our worries alone; instead, we are called to trust in His care and provision. When we throw our cares on Him, we make room for His peace to guard our hearts and minds, knowing that He truly cares for us more than we can imagine. [01:30:35]
1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)
"Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."
Reflection: What is one burden you are carrying that you can intentionally “throw” onto God in prayer today?
Day 5: Worry Is Worship in the Wrong Direction
Worry is not just a feeling—it is a focus issue. When we worry, we are giving our attention, energy, and even our worship to our problems instead of to God. Jesus calls us to retrain our minds, to shift our focus from the worst-case scenarios and distractions to the faithfulness and sufficiency of our heavenly Father. By choosing to worship God in the midst of uncertainty, we reclaim our peace and remind ourselves that we are more valuable than the birds He feeds and the flowers He clothes. Let your worship be directed toward the One who holds your life in His hands. [01:13:59]
Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, 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."
Reflection: When worry creeps in, what is one practical way you can redirect your focus to God in worship and trust?
Quotes
well if that's if that's really what worship is about is getting your focus back on God worry is simply worship in the wrong direction because instead of focusing on him as my provider as the meter of every need that I have I'm focusing on the bill that I've got to pay this week I hope I have the cash to cover I'm focusing on I've got that doctor appointment come on anybody in the room y 'all can be honest there's no condemnation for honesty right right you can be honest you ever had a doctor's appointment and instead of instead of trusting God and going you know what God I'm going I'm going to rest in your peace and I'm going to trust you leading into this you spent the entire week thinking of all of the worst case scenarios that it could be right I appreciate those of you who are honest about that because listen that's just natural that's how that's how the human brain works and we have to retrain our brain [01:15:13] (70 seconds)
and Jesus said you're better than a bird if I cared enough to spread all that across the ground so that that little tree sparrow makes sure it has enough to eat why in the world would you sit back and be concerned that I'm not going to care for you are you not better than a bird so I just wanted to tell you the second thing about worry the next time you go to worry I want you to look in the mirror and go you know what I'm better than a bird right you walk in amen sister you walk in you just look in the mirror you go I'm better than a bird and I don't care if somebody's in the room with you I want you to do it out loud I want you to walk in I want you to look at that mirror [01:20:25] (50 seconds)
come on how much do we understand that that's what God's telling us to do in 1 Peter 5 and 7 he's going hey hey hey hey I know I know you're concerned about what your kids going to do now that they're graduating but I want you to let me worry about that you just trust me that I got it handled hey I know I know that you're concerned about that next doctor's visit but just throw that up to me and just let me worry about that and just trust that I I've got it taken care of [01:30:35] (46 seconds)
I know I know you're concerned about this this this this payment coming in next next month that you're not sure how you're going to take care of but but but if you'll just take that and throw it up to me and just trust that I I've got you and I I'm going to take care of you [01:31:23] (23 seconds)
I love you enough to tell you we got that wrong because we did not understand it, we mislabeled it and we told you you could just pray and if you prayed hard enough, the anxiety would leave. [00:55:43] (19 seconds)
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