Minute Meditations

The pessimistic old fellow with the wrinkled brow shook his head and said, ”I have so many worries that if I get a new one it will have to wait until the middle of July before I will have time to worry about it.”

This statement is so extreme it graphically points out how ridiculous it is for any of us to worry, and yet it is easier said than done. It is said that 40% of our worries are about the past, 50% about the future and only 10% about the present, so we can get rid of 90% of our worries by just following the wise advice of the Lord Jesus Christ who told us not to worry about the future ”for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself,” and of Paul who told us to forget those things which are behind.” Planning for the future and learning from the past is not worrying and it is wise to learn from our past mistakes so that we can avoid making the same error again. Certainly we must look forward like Jesus who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This is a different thing, however, from worrying about the past, the future and even the present. Worry is undue concern. It is fretting and fuming over things we cannot change or alter by worrying. It shows a lack of faith. If God is for us, then who can be against us? This is wonderful consolation when we feel that we have really tried to do the right thing. There are times, however, when we must admit to ourselves that we have not done just what we should and then we feel even more distraught because we now wonder if God really is for us. This type of thinking can add greatly to our anxiety and worry. To avoid this, we should certainly try always to be right with God, to feel that we are doing our best, and that truly we are seeking first God’s kingdom. Then we can take comfort in the fact that He is for us and therefore nothing in this world can successfully be against us. This we should do, and by doing it we rid ourselves of ten thousand worries, but like Paul, we are all wretched and do the things we would not do and do not do the things we should do.

This being true, how do we avoid worry when we feel that we have failed or are not living up to the high calling whereunto we have been called’? Since we have ”all sinned and come short of the glory of God,” the answer to this question is vital to each of us. We find the answer in the assurance that ”we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning.” John tells us that ”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Since Jesus understands us, knows our failings and is our high priest and mediator to God for us, we have no need to worry, for we can confess our sins with the absolute assurance that they will be forgiven. Our past mistakes no longer need to worry us, for now we know again that God is for us and who then can be against us? David tells us that ”if the Lord should mark iniquities. who could stand?” Since the Lord is willing to wash us thoroughly from our iniquity and cleanse us from our sins, we have no need to worry about the past and its mistakes. The future belongs to God and with each new day He will give us new strength, so there are no worries about tomorrow. That leaves us only with the present and if we seek first the Kingdom of God, He has promised to give us the things we need, not always what we want, but certainly what we need. So once again, for the true son and daughter of God, there is nothing to worry about.