Trusting God: Overcoming Worry with Faith
Summary
God is present with us today, just as He was with Adam and Eve in the garden, with Moses in the desert, and with the children Jesus welcomed and blessed. He inhabits our praises and invites us to bring every need, every care, and every burden to Him, because He cares deeply for each of us. There is no need too small or too great for Him, and He alone has the resources to meet every one. We are reminded that our faith is not just about believing in God’s existence, but about trusting Him as our true source—above our jobs, our families, or any earthly provision.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 6 are clear and repetitive: “Do not worry.” He addresses the practical concerns of life—food, clothing, the future—and points us to the heart of the matter: God is our source. Worry is mentioned six times in just ten verses, underscoring how easily we can become confused about where our help truly comes from. Jesus doesn’t call us to irresponsibility or laziness, but to a life of faith that is free from the torment of anxiety. Responsible concern can motivate us to prayer and action, but worry is the opposite of faith and suggests a distrust in God’s ability to care for us.
Throughout Scripture, we see examples of people facing impossible situations: the disciples in a storm, Mary and Martha grieving their brother, the crowds needing to be fed. In every case, human solutions fell short, but God’s provision was more than enough. Worry never contributed to the miracle; faith did. When we worry, we risk compromising our values and our relationship with God, trying to help Him out or solve things in our own strength. Yet, the God who names every star and keeps the universe in perfect order is more than able to care for us.
Trusting God means letting go of the need to control outcomes and refusing to let worry define our theology or our prayers. Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not to lean on our own understanding. Faith comes by hearing the word of Christ, and it is faith—not worry—that aligns us with God’s purposes. If we find ourselves slipping into worry, we are invited to repent, to bring our concerns to God, and to let Him restore our faith and set us free. God is moving among us, and He desires to meet every need as we seek Him first and trust Him fully.
Key Takeaways
- God is our ultimate source, not our jobs, families, or any earthly provision. When we confuse the channel of provision with the source, we risk building our security on something unstable. True peace comes from recognizing that God alone is the provider of every need, and He is never limited by our circumstances. [01:13:01]
- Worry is fundamentally opposed to faith. While responsible concern can lead us to prayer and wise action, worry torments us and suggests that God is either unable or unwilling to care for us. Faith, on the other hand, is a declaration that God is both able and willing, and it frees us to live in trust rather than anxiety. [01:22:16]
- Attempting to “help God out” or control outcomes often leads us to compromise our values and our relationship with Him. When we try to solve problems in our own strength, we risk missing what God is doing and may even hinder His purposes in our lives. Humility and surrender are essential to discerning God’s voice and direction. [01:29:01]
- The vastness and order of creation remind us of God’s infinite wisdom and care. If He names every star and keeps the galaxies in sync, how much more can we trust Him with the details of our lives? Our worries are small in comparison to His power, and remembering His greatness helps us to rest in His faithfulness. [01:26:46]
- Trusting God is a daily, sometimes moment-by-moment choice. Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to trust with all our heart and not to lean on our own understanding. When we are tempted to worry, we are invited to bring our concerns to God, repent of misplaced trust, and allow Him to renew our faith and set us free. [01:31:04]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[44:07] - God’s Presence and Invitation
[01:08:00] - Introduction to the Beatitudes Series
[01:10:44] - “Don’t Worry” – The Heart of Matthew 6
[01:13:01] - God as Our True Source
[01:14:12] - Jesus’ Command: Do Not Worry
[01:17:11] - Biblical Examples of Worry and God’s Provision
[01:18:46] - Feeding the Multitudes: Faith vs. Worry
[01:21:08] - Defining Worry and Responsible Concern
[01:24:06] - Worry vs. Faith: The Real Issue
[01:26:46] - God’s Sovereignty in Creation
[01:29:01] - Compromising Values Through Worry
[01:31:04] - Trust in the Lord: Proverbs 3
[01:33:41] - Faith Comes by Hearing
[01:39:57] - God’s Faithfulness in Provision
[01:41:30] - Seek First the Kingdom
[01:44:34] - Trusting God as a Church
[01:46:23] - Responding to God’s Invitation
[01:48:22] - Closing Prayer and Ministry Time
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Trusting God as Our Source (Based on Matthew 6:25-34)
---
### 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?... 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.”)
- Proverbs 3:5-6
(“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”)
---
### Observation Questions
1. In Matthew 6:25-34, what are the specific things Jesus tells us not to worry about?
(food, drink, clothing, the future) [01:10:44]
2. According to the sermon, how many times does Jesus use the word “worry” in these ten verses, and why is that significant?
[01:10:44]
3. What does Proverbs 3:5-6 say about how we should approach our own understanding versus trusting God?
[01:31:04]
4. The sermon mentions several Bible stories where people faced impossible situations (like the disciples in a storm or the feeding of the 5,000). What was the common outcome in these stories?
[01:17:11]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus repeats “do not worry” so many times in Matthew 6? What does this repetition tell us about human nature and our relationship with God?
[01:10:44]
2. The sermon says that “worry is the opposite of faith.” In your own words, what does that mean? How does worry show a lack of trust in God’s ability to provide?
[01:22:16]
3. According to the sermon, what is the difference between “responsible concern” and “worry”? How can we tell when we’ve crossed the line from one to the other?
[01:24:06]
4. The pastor said that trying to “help God out” or control outcomes can lead us to compromise our values and relationship with Him. Can you think of a time when this might happen in real life?
[01:29:01]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon says, “God is our ultimate source, not our jobs, families, or any earthly provision.” Is there an area in your life where you’ve been looking to something or someone else as your main source instead of God? What would it look like to shift your trust back to God in that area?
[01:13:01]
2. Jesus says, “Do not worry about tomorrow.” What is one specific thing you’ve been worrying about lately? What would it look like to bring that worry to God in prayer this week?
[01:14:12]
3. The pastor talked about “responsible concern” leading us to prayer and action, but worry leading to anxiety and distrust. Think of a current concern in your life. How can you turn that concern into a prayer and a step of faith, instead of letting it become worry?
[01:24:06]
4. The sermon gave examples of people in the Bible who faced impossible situations and saw God provide. Can you share a time in your own life when you saw God provide in a way you didn’t expect? How did that experience affect your faith?
[01:17:11]
5. The pastor said, “Trusting God means letting go of the need to control outcomes.” Is there a situation right now where you are trying to control the outcome? What would it look like to surrender that to God?
[01:31:04]
6. The sermon invites us to repent if we find ourselves slipping into worry. Is there a specific worry or area of control you need to bring to God and ask for His help to trust Him more? How can the group support you in this?
[01:46:23]
7. The pastor reminded us that God, who names every star and keeps the universe in order, is able to care for us. How does remembering God’s greatness help you trust Him with the details of your life?
[01:26:46]
---
Closing Prayer:
Invite group members to bring their worries and needs to God in prayer, asking Him to help them trust Him as their true source and to set them free from anxiety.
Devotional
Day 1: God Is Our True Source
In every season of life, it is easy to look to our jobs, families, or other resources as our main providers, but Scripture reminds us that God alone is our ultimate source. When we are tempted to worry about our needs—whether it’s food, clothing, or the future—Jesus calls us to remember that our heavenly Father knows what we need and is more than able to provide. Instead of being consumed by anxiety, we are invited to trust in God’s faithful provision, knowing that He cares deeply for every detail of our lives. [01:13:01]
Matthew 6:25-34 (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? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 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 area of your life where you have been looking to something or someone other than God as your main source? How can you intentionally shift your trust to God today?
Day 2: Worry Is the Opposite of Faith
Worry often disguises itself as responsible concern, but at its core, it is the opposite of faith and reveals a lack of trust in God’s ability to care for us. When we allow worry to take root, it not only robs us of peace but also keeps us from discerning what God is doing in our lives. God calls us to bring every care to Him, trusting that He is both willing and able to handle what concerns us. Faith is not ignoring reality, but choosing to trust God above our fears and anxieties. [01:24:51]
1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)
“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Reflection: What is one specific worry you are carrying today that you can bring to God in prayer, trusting Him to care for you?
Day 3: Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart
Trusting God means letting go of our need to control every outcome and refusing to lean on our own understanding. When we submit our ways to Him, He promises to direct our paths, even when the way forward is unclear. This kind of trust is not passive; it is an active surrender that acknowledges God’s wisdom and sovereignty over our lives. As we trust Him fully, we find peace and guidance, even in the midst of uncertainty. [01:31:04]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to rely on your own understanding instead of trusting God? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him today?
Day 4: Faith Comes by Hearing God’s Word
Faith is not something we muster up on our own; it grows as we hear and meditate on the Word of Christ. When we fill our hearts and minds with God’s promises, our faith is strengthened and our worries lose their grip. Regularly immersing ourselves in Scripture helps us to see God’s character, His faithfulness, and His ability to do far more than we can imagine. Let God’s Word be the foundation that builds your faith and dispels your fears. [01:32:00]
Romans 10:17 (ESV)
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Reflection: What is one promise from God’s Word that you can meditate on today to strengthen your faith and silence worry?
Day 5: Call to God and He Will Answer
God invites us to call out to Him with our needs, questions, and concerns, promising that He will answer and reveal things beyond our understanding. When we humble ourselves and seek Him, He delights to respond, bringing wisdom, comfort, and breakthrough. No matter how overwhelming your situation may seem, God is ready and willing to meet you where you are and show you His power and love in ways you could never imagine. [01:38:58]
Jeremiah 33:2-3 (ESV)
“Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
Reflection: What is one area where you need God’s wisdom or intervention? Will you take time today to call out to Him and wait for His answer?
Quotes
Worry is the opposite of faith. So where do you think God fits in that equation? Think he likes the W word or he likes the faith word? He didn't say worry. He didn't say worry. He said, cast your care on me because I care for you and I can do something about it. [01:22:30] (23 seconds)
Worry keeps us from discerning what God is doing. Do you ever say, Lord, I need an answer. I need you to speak into my heart. I need you to speak some wisdom into my life. need to God I need to hear from you I need to hear from you Lord that's a humble and it's a and it's a perfect prayer perfect prayer Proverbs 3 and 5 and 6 says trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. [01:30:22] (32 seconds)
Measured concern can motivate us to prayer and action to deal with a situation. Now, get this, okay? Jesus didn't condone laziness or irresponsibility. That's a whole other issue, okay? He didn't want you to be lazy. He didn't want you to be irresponsible. He wanted you to be managing your affairs properly, okay? In balance, trusting God. Worry is the opposite of faith, suggesting a distrust in God's ability to care for us all and provide for us. [01:24:10] (53 seconds)
He talks about clothing. He talks about the birds. He talks about the, you know, the food of the birds and the different things. You know, he told the disciples, when he sent them out, you know what he did? He said, don't take a bag with you. Don't take any money with you. Don't take extra sandals with you. Just go out. Sent them out. And then he came back, and he said to them, so, were you short of anything? I said, nope, nope, nope, nope, nope, me neither. You know what? There's robins that feed in our backyard. They're down there eating those little worms. There's not one of them has a suitcase. Not a one. [01:39:48] (58 seconds)
Do not allow worry to interfere with your perception or try and reinvent the perception and the personage of God. That's a lie of the devil. Am I right? [01:41:55] (19 seconds)
We trust in God and don't let the devil minimize who God is in your life and what he can do for you. And you know what? We need to rise up. As a church, we need to rise up. [01:43:30] (15 seconds)
If Satan could minimize you and make you somehow doubt, God's interest in seeing you through the dark of the night, minimize your ability to trust him when you raise your kids, or that your job is going to last, or your health is going to last, all of these kinds of things. And Jesus said, the birds don't even think about tomorrow. They don't have a suitcase, remember? Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Trust in the Lord. [01:45:03] (43 seconds)
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