I grew up reading MAD magazine. The “spokesperson” for the magazine was a character named, Alfred E. Neuman. His motto was simple, “What, me worry?” Now if I were to take a survey right now of everyone, I would be pretty sure a large majority would be stressing over something.

Worry is something we battle with, whether old or young. For some, because of their personality, they worry more than others. But the fact remains, every one of us worries about some things. Although we cannot eradicate it from our experience, we can learn to handle it in the right way. I thought I would take a few moments again and look closely at the reasons Jesus gives not to be anxious.

Three times in Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus says, “Do not worry.” In verse 25 we read, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” Verse 30 says, “So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?’ or `What shall we drink?’ or `What shall we wear?’” And finally, in verse 34, Jesus says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Obviously from these words, anxiety can be overcome.

We first need to remember that it is not the Father’s will for us to be enslaved by it. His desire is for us to have peace and assurance. That is why Jesus gives clear instructions on how we can fight these thoughts. So I want us to look at seven perspectives we need to have to combat anxiety.

Firstly, we need to remember life is more than food and our bodies are more than clothing. I think the influence of culture and advertising causes us to focus too much on the physical and material. We know life is more than that. The use of the words “more than” clearly implies there is something more important.

In Luke’s version of this account, Jesus said something before this. We read in Luke 12:4-5, “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

Simply, the Lord tells us about what not to worry and what we ought to worry about. Jesus tells us not to worry about food and clothing, but the one who can throw you into hell. What we should be concerned about is not food and clothing, but our spiritual life and the salvation of our soul. Why? Because when this is taken care of, the rest will fix itself.

When the spiritual is taken care of, the physical and material will not be an issue. In Christ, we have found the source of all fulfilment in life. If God is your heavenly Father then everything else can be taken care of. When our relationship with God is right, everything else can be made right.

Secondly, you are more valuable than the birds that God cares for. Jesus says in verse 26, “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?”

Jesus gives us two premises here: firstly, God is so completely in control of the natural universe that He can be said to feed the birds of the air. In other words, every berry ate or worm pulled from the ground is provided by God. He does that for birds. My natural impression is, can this be possible? Will God bothers about such details? And then I remember Matt 10:30 where Jesus says “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” He is serious with us.

The second premise is, you are of more value to God than they. God values you more and is more committed to you, who worship and glorify Him than He is to animals that cannot consciously adore Him. Peter says in 1 Peter 5:7, you can “Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” As if this is still not good enough for us, Jesus went on to convince us:

The third perspective is anxiety accomplishes nothing. We read in verse 27, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” From this, we understand anxiety does no good. It accomplishes nothing. It doesn’t help. Let me encourage you with practical help: Preach this to yourself: I am wasting my time and nothing has changed. “Worry is like a rocking chair; no matter how much you rock, you get nowhere.”

The fourth perspective is this: grace and lilies that God clothes, last for a day, but you are eternal. Again, verse 30 says, “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” We not only have value to God, but we have a destination beyond this life.

I want us to notice something here: God’s sovereign rule over the world of nature extends to the seemingly insignificant colour of a lily. These are not simply natural laws that God set in motion, and then just left them running without His control. These are His doing. Jesus’ inference here is if God is so intimately involved with grass and flowers which are like a vapour, then how shall He not care for His children who are eternal?

So what does this mean for us? We need to trust Him. One of Jesus’ most common critiques of His followers was, “O you of little faith!” The issue is trust. Anxiety is a trust issue. George Muller said, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” Trust your heavenly Father. Come what may, He will take care of you.

The fifth perspective is your heavenly Father knows what you need. Again, Jesus says in verse 32, “and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” The source of much of our anxiety is we do not truly believe knows all. The truth is, God is not at a loss as to what you need. Neither is He at a loss as to what is good for you. The Lord knows what is best and nothing can stop Him from meeting your need.

Sixth, God will supply everything you need to do His will. We read in verse 33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” In verse 32, Jesus reverses this focusing on the world’s pursuit of material things, but those things will be ours. We will receive them in the end. Those who do not know God have to seek after them. For us, we have a loving Father who supplies them to us.

Lastly, God does not overload your days. Jesus tells us, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” We will never be overwhelmed. Each day has its appointed amount of load. Does that mean that we don’t need God’s help in handling life’s challenges? No. We always rely on the Lord. What Jesus is saying here is don’t reach into tomorrow and bring its troubles into today.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Let me end with the two things we should never worry about. One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed, forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. Nor can we erase a single word we’ve said – yesterday is gone.

The other day we shouldn’t worry about is tomorrow, with its burden, its hopeful promise, and poor performance. Tomorrow is beyond our control. Tomorrow’s sun will rise either in splendour or behind a mask of clouds – but it will rise. And until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn. Many of us suffer from the “what ifs,” but we are told to leave it in God’s hands.

This leaves only one day – today. With the Lord’s help, we can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down. It is not the experience of today that drives people mad, rather it is the remorse of bitterness for something that happened yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.

Jesus has given us all that we need to hear to be freed from anxiety. Receive them. Believe them. Make them how you fight the good fight of faith every day. It’s not what we see but how we see it that determines the quality of our life. If we look at life through the lens of our powerful and good God, we will surely experience His love and peace.

We are living in difficult days. With the uncertainty of the ongoing pandemic and the economic fallout, there are many things to feel uncertain about. But as children of God, we are the one group of people, more than all others that should be free from stress and anxieties of life. Worry is a burden that God never meant for us to bear. So let us trust Him!

Let me close with a story I recently read. A widow who had successfully raised a very large family was being interviewed by a reporter. In addition to six children of her own, she had adopted 12 other youngsters, and through it all, she had maintained stability and an air of confidence. When she was asked what the secret of her outstanding accomplishment, her answer to the newsman was quite surprising. She said, “I managed so well because I’m in a partnership!” “What do you mean?” he inquired. The woman replied, “Many years ago I said, ’Lord, I’ll do the work and You do the worrying.’ And I haven’t had an anxious care since.”

It is interesting to note that Alfred E. Neuman’s middle name is “Enigma.” An enigma is often something hard to understand and that is sometimes how life turns out. But there is hope. As we deepen our relationship with God, may our faith and trust in His love increase and our worries and anxieties decrease.