Don’t Worry… Be Happy
Why We Worry – Part I
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:25-34
Key Verse: Matthew 6:25 NLT
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?”
In 1988 the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” came out and was a big hit. Bobby McFerrin wrote the song, and it was the first a cappella song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
One of the reasons the song was successful is because everyone wishes they could stop worrying and just be happy. However, the reality is that it is not an easy task to stop worrying. It is only when we decide to follow Jesus that becomes possible to live life without worry. Unfortunately, most Christ-followers still struggle with worry and fear.
Jesus said that He came to give us life and life more abundant. You likely agree that worry and fear simply does not fit into an abundant life with Jesus.
Today’s Scripture Reading makes it clear that Jesus wants His followers to stop worrying about the things in this life. Jesus refers to worry five times in this short passage of scripture. The central message of this part of Jesus’s sermon on the Mount is: Don’t worry, your Father in Heaven loves you and will take care of you.
Jesus asked a probing question in Matthew 6:27 NLT:
“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
In other words, worrying is a useless waste of energy. Sometimes we have concerns that call for action, but when there is nothing that we can do, allowing ourselves to worry about it simply drains us of energy.
The Oxford Languages Dictionary defines worry as “the state of being anxious and troubled over actual or potential problems”. My guess is that most of our worries are over “potential problems” … things we fear may come about. You have probably heard the old saying that 80% of what we worry about never comes about.
There is something else that helps Christ-followers not worry. God promises that all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28). That means whatever we think may come about, we can rest in the fact that God will make it turn out good.
I hope this month’s devotional challenges you to take seriously Jesus’s words “don’t worry”. If we allow worry to dominate our thoughts, it is like saying that you cannot trust God. Let’s show God that we trust Him no matter what problems come our way. Instead of worrying, lets rejoice that we are a child of a God who takes care of His children.
Father, I praise You for drawing me into Your family. When troubles come my way, remind me that You have the solution and are always there for me. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.